COLUMN by John Decoste
I got my first look at the 2011-12 Acadia Axewomen basketball team last week in Wolfville, and I have to say, I was impressed with what I saw.
The previous couple of years, the Axewomen have had tremendous pre-seasons, but have been largely unable to sustain their early momentum through the regular season – which says a lot about how good the women’s basketball conference has become, pretty much top to bottom.
The difference between what I saw the past couple of seasons and what I saw in last week’s brief look can be summed up in one word: confidence.
From a team that has lacked experienced players, both starting and coming off the bench, Acadia’s starters last week included one fifth-year, one fourth-year and two third-year players.
And, most notably, one very good – and seemingly, very improved – second-year player.
I was excited when I heard in the summer of 2010 that Kristy Moore had decided to attend Acadia.
Not that I had actually seen her play much during her high school career at Halifax West, but she certainly had a reputation, province-wide and arguably wider than that, as a gifted scorer, a game-breaker.
Kristy had a solid first year at Acadia, one that saw her earn a spot on the conference all-rookie team. But I’ve seen a lot of good first-year players who, for whatever reason, never really improved.
Last weekend, Kristy looked like a young woman on a mission, out to prove last year wasn’t a fluke or a flash in the pan.
After scoring either 23 or 25 points against Ryerson Thursday (there was a bit of uncertainty with the game stats), she lit it up for 28 more the next evening against Laurentian. And she deserved everything she got.
Acadia won both games handily, and while Kristy was by no means alone – Emma Duinker totalled 40 points in the two games, and I thought just about everybody played well – she was certainly the catalyst.
What I liked most about watching the Axewomen play was the teamwork and work ethic.
This is a team that, during the past number of seasons, has had troubles closing out games, whether holding on to a lead or coming from behind.
Last week, albeit not necessarily against the best of competition, I saw a team that just might end up possessing the killer instinct shown by the best teams.
For one thing, Acadia made a total of 30 three-pointers in the two games, and if you’re good at shooting threes, you have the potential at least to pile up points in a hurry.
I don’t expect for a minute they will be that successful in all their games this season, particularly head-to-head against the very best of what should be a very good conference once again this season.
But make no mistake, a big key to winning is knowing how to win, and that’s something that comes from game experience, both positive and negative, because sometimes you can learn a lot from losing.
Success in a team sport is always a team effort, but at the same time, most successful teams have one ‘go-to’ player on whom they can count when the chips are down.
Entering this season, I felt Acadia arguably had one of those players in Emma Duinker, who should be primed for a great season in her fifth and final year of eligibility.
Emma did some good things last week, but so did Kristy, which says to me that Acadia just may have at least two of those players.
