Niagara’s Harrison an All-Canadian
Janee Harrison capped her basketball career at Niagara College with some impressive personal accolades.
The 21-year-old St. Catharines native was named a Canadian Colleges Athletic Association All-Canadian and an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association West Division First-Team All-Star after leading Niagara in points per game (14.8) and finishing fifth in the OCAA in steals (44) and eighth in rebounding (135). Her play helped Niagara earn West Division Best Defensive Team honours.
“I wasn’t really expecting it. It was a bit of a surprise but it felt really good when I saw it,” said the fitness and health promotions major, who previously earned a police foundations diploma.
The six-foot player, who was a second team all-star last season, was rewarded for her hard work.
“I really focused on developing my game inside the paint and driving more. I was getting to the foul line a lot more and defensively I was contributing a lot more with rebounds and steals and stuff like that. I know all-star awards are based on stats and I had higher overall stats compared to last year.”
Her motivation to get better has always been a part of her DNA.
“I knew that finishing inside, especially with my weak hand, was a thing that I needed to work on so that is what I was focusing on over the summer and in the season. I knew it would make me a more dominant player overall.”
While pleased with her personal success, the Sir Winston Churchill product would trade all her honours for team success. The Knights were upset 56-53 in the quarter-finals Saturday on their home floor against the Fanshawe Falcons.
“We definitely wanted to go farther than we did and it was upsetting but that is how basketball works sometimes when your team doesn’t play their best and the other team is playing well. It can turn around and happen like that.”
Harrison has loved her time at Niagara College.
“It was the best basketball experience I have ever had. It was the best teammates, the best coaches and overall the best atmosphere. It felt like a family.”
That feeling hit home following the loss to Fanshawe.
“It was really sad when we lost on Saturday. It was very emotional for everyone and I had never felt that strongly emotionally about people who I have played with before, especially knowing it was my last time playing with them.”
She has been accepted into the physical education program at Brock and is hoping to finish her basketball eligibility as a member of the Brock Badgers.
“I am talking to the coach right now but there is nothing official yet. I am waiting and seeing what is going on with that.”
She has no desire to hang up her sneakers.
“I love basketball and I have been playing it since I was in Grade 1. I want to play it as long as I can and it’s my passion and my favourite thing to do.”
Harrison was the only player on the Niagara team to be honoured by the OCAA but noted basketball trainer Mihai Raducanu of Mohawk College was named the OCAA Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.
On the men’s side, Niagara’s Khayden Stewart was named an OCAA West Division Second Team All-star.
