DeBoer visits new home
On Tuesday night, Beth DeBoer had an early taste of what lies ahead in her basketball career.
The Grade 12 student from Eden was taking part in the Third Annual Niagara Region Basketball Showcase at Niagara College nine months before she becomes an official member of the Niagara College Knights women’s basketball program.
Niagara women’s coach Mike Beccaria is delighted to have landed the talented 17-year-old player.
“She can score from the outside — she shoots the ball really well — and she can finish at the rim with both hands which is always good and she can finish in contact too.
“She doesn’t shy away from it.”
Beccaria, who also likes that DeBoer sees the floor well and plays hard, expects her to make an immediate impact with the Knights.
“I think she is going to get significant minutes right away,” he said.
He also likes the fact that she is a Niagara-based player.
“It keeps the local interest up and it saves me some driving,” he said, with a laugh.
It was Beccaria who made DeBoer commit early to Niagara College.
“I found the coach extremely kind to me and he showed me more attention than other coaches,” she said. “I think he was just a nice guy overall and I kind of went with basketball over school in this case because I don’t really know what I want to do.”
“I actually chose the basketball program first.”
She admits it’s nice to feel wanted.
“He came to games beforehand and he showed a lot more interest in me than anyone else did and I thought that was really cool,” the Niagara Rangers travel player said.
DeBoer is also excited by the chance to play significant minutes at the post-secondary level right off the bat.
“He has kept on contact with me the whole season and he has confirmed that I will get time and that’s really good,” she said. “I would rather not sit on the bench because I have a limited amount of years to play and I would rather keep playing.”
DeBoer also has some interest from Guelph University but she decided against Ontario University Athletics ball.
“I don’t want to go to university if I don’t know what I am doing so I decided to stay home, stay local and try something else.”
She is confident she can play at the university level, but know she can always be better.
“I think I have to just keep communicating on the floor (with teammates) and just get better every day.”
She also knows she needs to get physically stronger.
“For sure. I am going to do some strength training,” she said.
DeBoer enjoyed getting an early experience on her soon-to-be-home.
“It’s super fun,” she said. “It’s great to be on this floor where I am going to be playing.”
Zone Three 82 Zone Four 46
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s Stars of the Game: Emily Foest of Notre Dame for Zone 3 with 12 points and 4 rebounds; Viktoria Cubelic of St. Francis for Zone 4 with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Zone 3 (points and rebounds listed in order): Foest, 12-4; Alyssa Arcand, Jean Vanier 4-3; Corynn Parker, Jean Vanier, 6-5; Destiny Paquin, Centennial, 3-4; Brenna Ferrara, Centennial, 7-1; Maddie Coleman, Port Colborne, 4-2; Jennifer Kozeli, Port Colborne, 2 rebounds; Megan Hill-Doxtator, Stamford, 1 rebound; Emma Lagace, Stamford, 1 rebound; Alissa Mete, Notre Dame, 9-1; Emily Bonisteel, E.L. Crossley, 4-5; Sydney Grummett, E.L. Crossley, 4-5; Tess Puchalski, E.L. Crossley, 6-3; Tori-Rigas DiDomenico, A.N. Myer, 6-2; Emily Braun, A.N. Myer, 6-3; Taylor Doyle, Fort Erie, 4-6; Also playing: Isabelle Sinclair, Jean Vanier; Abigale Phillips, Notre Dame; Hannah Nicholls, E.L. Crossley.
Zone 4 (points and rebounds listed in order): Cubelic, 12-14; Beth DeBoer, Eden, 1-1; Rachel Bufalino, St. Francis, 2 rebounds; Terin Hultink, Smithville Christian, 2-6; Esther Dehaan, Smithville Christian, 4 rebounds; Michailah Jones, Collegiate, 1 rebound; Selena Jones, Collegiate, 6 rebounds; Leanne Dekorte, Heritage Christian, 1-6; Sarah O’Rourke, Holy Cross, 4-1; Maddie Caughill, Holy Cross, 2-4; Charlize Breulman, Great Lakes Christian, 1 rebound; Lauren Nugent, Grimsby, 1 rebound; Asha-Lee Crooks, Grimsby, 1 rebound; Madelyn Strongitham, Grimsby, 6-1; Olivia Gaspich, Blessed Trinity, 2-4; Mia DiPasquale, Blessed Trinity, 5-1; Makayla Giddings, Blessed Trinity, 5-3; Allie Addy, Governor Simcoe, 2-1; Lily Empringham, Niagara Christian, 2 points. Also playing: Ruth Vandyk, Heritage Christian, Ally Dyck, Holy Cross.
