Niagara College Report Dec. 3
Young women interested in coaching basketball, volleyball or soccer are invited to attend the Niagara College Women’s Coach School at the Welland campus on Dec. 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Casey Montambault at cmontambault@niagaracollege.ca. Registration fees include lunch both days, coaching package and guest speakers.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara College’s men’s basketball team closed out the first half of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association season with a 87-84 loss to the Fanshawe Falcons.
Niagara led 27-15 after one quarter and 50-35 at the half but Fanshawe erased that by outscoring the Knights 36-14 in the third quarter.
“A tough game tonight in London as we continue to battle with playing consistently through four quarters,” Niagara head coach Phil Mosley said. “The positives we will take is that our compete level is very high and as a group we believe we will continue to learn and grow from these tough games.”
Leading the way for Niagara were: Lequan Hylton, 29 points and seven assists; Jordon McDonald, 19 points and 17 rebounds; Saint Paul product Johnnie Richardson, 12 points and eight assists; and Welland’s Kennon Larmand, 11 points and six rebounds.
Niagara (3-6) returns to action Jan 10 when it hosts Conestoga.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s women’s basketball team dropped a 94-48 decision to the eighth-ranked Fanshawe Falcons (9-1).
The Knights trailed 16-15 after the fist quarter but the Falcons then took control by outscoring Niagara 30-9 in the second half.
Performing well for Niagara were: Eden alumnus Mackenzie Schroeder, 11 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists; Denis Morris product Francine Smith, 11 points and four rebounds; Smithville Christian grad Terin Hultink, eight points and 10 rebounds; and, Jessyka Maliksi, eight points.
Prior to hosting Conestoga Jan. 10 in their return to league play, the Knights will play an exhibition game at home Tuesday against Niagara County Community College in an exhibition match on Tuesday and then host a tournament Jan. 2 and 3.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The Niagara Knights women’s volleyball team will head into the Christmas Break with a 6-3 record after going 1-1 in play last week.
Competing against the fourth-ranked and undefeated Fanshawe Falcons, Niagara lost 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 19-25 and 25-22).
“We definitely came out flat,” Niagara head coach Steve Dow said. “I think this is five games in a row where have dropped the first set. The positive I saw was our improvement from set to set.”
He also liked the fact that his team never gave up.
“It’s always tough playing one of the top teams in the league, but I would say we made them earn their third set and match win,” Dow said. “If we side out the serving run at the end of the fourth set, we may have taken it to a fifth and in fifth sets, I will always bet on our girls.”
Dow was impressed with the play of third-year middle Tamara Edwards, who entered the game in the third set and recorded five stuff blocks in two sets.
“She gave us a big spark coming off the bench.”
Niagara rebounded with a 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-22, 23-25 and 25-20) over St. Clair.
“I loved the energy we started with in the first two sets,” Dow said. “We went up early and took advantage of our size and physicality at the net. We needed a bit more focus in the third to try and close out the match but winning three straight is the hardest thing to do in volleyball. Regardless we showed resiliency in winning the fourth set and the match.”
Top performers for Niagara: Brooke Parkes, 14 kills and an ace; Jean Vanier grad Natasha Dejardins, 13 kills and 17 points; Eden product Montanna Taylor, 36 assists and eight digs; and, Kristen Oudman, 12 kills, seven digs and 14 points.
“I am pretty happy with the first half but the break is coming at a great time for us,” Dow said. “We will rest up and be fully healthy for the second half push.”
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s men’s volleyball team will also head into the break with a 6-3 record after a 1-1 week.
Against Fanshawe, Niagara won 3-0 (29-27, 25-22 and 25-15) led by Samuel Otten with 22 points on 16 kills, five service aces and nine digs.
Niagara then dropped a 3-2 decision (21-25, 22-25, 25-18 25-20 and 15-13) to St. Clair.
Top performers for Niagara were: Colin Prelaz, 10 kills and five digs; Elijah Bugiardini, 15 kills and five digs; and, Robert Zalewski, 37 assists and nine digs.
TOP ATHLETES NOV. 26-29
A pair of basketball players were named Niagara College’s top athletes for the week of Nov. 26-29.
Earning male honours was former Centennial and Ridley College player Kennon Larmand.
The first-year fitness and health student scored 29 points in his first game back since suffering an injury in a pre-season game. In a 79-71 loss to Redeemer, the Welland native drained 17 points.
Named top female was Cole Harbour, N.S., native Kaisen MacKinnon. The transfer from Acadia University scored a game-high 20 points in her team’s 79-76 win over Redeemer. She is a sports management student at Niagara.
