Top dog in the paint
Looking at Sam Cormier’s scoring doesn’t give any sense how important the Grade 12 student is to the fortunes of the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs senior girls basketball team.
The 6-foot-2 post player had no points in the Bulldogs 44-17 victory over the Eden Flyers in championship semifinal play Thursday in the Second Annual BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament at Governor Simcoe and only has four points so far in the tournament, but that isn’t why she is on the floor.
“She is such a big presence,” Churchill head coach Frank Keltos said.”She is a rim protector and she gets those rebounds and she puts it above her head. She is so strong and physical and she is not afraid to take or give contact.”
Keltos has seen her evolve over time.
“She has learned over the last five years that I’ve coached her when you have to give the contact and when not to. She is also understanding the game a lot more. I think she could play at a post secondary level but she is a volleyball player.”
That volleyball interest almost had Cormier not playing basketball for the Bulldogs this season.
“My main focus is volleyball and this is my last year so I wanted to put all my focus towards that,” she said. “But by coming out and seeing the team, it reminded me of how welcoming our team is and how much I wanted to be in that community. I decided to stay on the team.”
The Niagara Rapids travel volleyball player has lofty ambitions for her main sport. She is hoping to land a Division 1 scholarship in the States.
“I haven’t yet decided where I want to go and I have a lot of decisions to make about my future. It is definitely a big step.”
Her ultimate goal is to be a firefighter.
“I want to use my strength for something other than sports,” she said, with a smile.
That strength makes her a major factor on the basketball court even if she doesn’t dent the scoresheet.
“I don’t see myself as scoring a lot of baskets or being the leading scorer. My role is to be out there supporting the girls and being a centre helping and being a good defensive player.”
Cormier likes being thought of as an imposing player.
“I hope so because that is kind of my objective,” she said. “Basketball is not my No. 1 sport and I am not super fluid in it but I try my best and give it my all.”
Basketball is good cross training for volleyball and vice versa.
“It’s the cardio and the atmosphere of the team. And the way I support the girls on my volleyball team is good for this team.”
She admits her volleyball coach is always warning her not to get hurt.
“That is a big thing for me. Don’t get hurt. Don’t get hurt. I am really injury prone and hopeful this year I can keep it to a minimum.”
Other than a woeful shooting night, Keltos was much happier with his team’s start Thursday compared to Wednesday.
“We had a really good first half and then we started kind of one pass, one shot and then we got into a little lull,” he said. “I took the press off and it gets our flow going. Maybe we should have kept doing it but they have to learn how to play a half court game.”
Eden coach Jonathon Thorpe was thrilled with how his young team competed Thursday.
“I could not possibly prouder of this group of girls. We have seven girls, only Grade 11s because our Grade 12s are away on our trip and we have two juniors up.”
Thorpe knows his younger players can only get better competing against a powerhouse squad like Churchill.
“They are a fantastic team and they proved it again tonight,” he said. “They are definitely the elite team of the Niagara Region.”
STATS PACK
Bulldogs 44 Flyers 17
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Churchill’s Megan Barker with 13 points.
For the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs: Barker 13; Yemi Oladipo 12; Brookelyn Keltos 12; Lauryn Cosby 3; Kate Smyth 2; Anya Namestnik 2.
For the Eden Flyers: Ashlynn Caverly 4; Annika Rigby 4; Madelaine Templeman 4; Anna Deliyannis 3; Alyssa Nieuwets.
Up next: Churchill advances to the championship final Friday at 7 p.m. at Governor Simcoe.
The tournament is made possible with the help of primary sponsors, Women Networking in Sports of Niagara and Tora Inc., and secondary sponsors, Alltech Automotive, St. Catharines CYO Basketball, Pelham Panthers basketball, Niagara Falls Red Raiders basketball, Niagara Rangers basketball and the Niagara District Referees Association.
