Now retired Acadia women’s coach Bev Greenlaw coached that team, which captured a silver medal at nationals.
That connection “was a big reason I decided to come to Acadia” in the fall of 2013, Smith said, alongside several other players from that provincial team, including Allie Berry, Katie Ross and Maire Burke.
“We had an amazing summer that year,” says 20-year-old Smith. “I really enjoyed being coached by Bev, who had also coached my dad (Thane Smith). Knowing I could come here, play with a lot of the same teammates, and be coached by Bev, sealed the deal for me.”
Smith, who grew up in the Clayton Park area of Halifax and graduated from Halifax West, has no regrets at choosing Acadia. Wolfville is “far enough away from home, but close enough” for her parents to be able to come and watch her play.
No pressure
Despite growing up in an athletic family, and in particular basketball, she felt “no real pressure” to gravitate toward the sport.
“I’ve spent my whole life around basketball, starting when I was about four. Both my parents, and a lot of my aunts and uncles, all played basketball. It was just a natural thing to happen,” she said.
Now in her third year as an Axewoman, Smith believes “this has been my best year, both personally and in terms of the team.”
The Axewomen won their first 15 regular season games. Entering play Feb. 19, their 15-2 record had clinched second place and a first-round playoff bye.
“Overall, it’s a different atmosphere when you’re winning,” Smith said. “I feel we’re closer as a team this year, which makes it a much better experience.”
Things were a lot different a year ago, when the Axewomen lost their first 11 regular season games and didn't make the playoffs with just four wins all season.
“This has definitely been a fun year, especially given where we were last year, which is an accomplishment in itself.”
The addition of Paloma Anderson has been a factor in the turnaround, she said, but more than that, “all of us (including Anderson, also a third-year player) have come into our own, especially those of us in our third year.
“We’ve all worked hard, and it’s nice to see us get some credit for it.”
Smith said Acadia was “pretty much the only place I wanted to go.” As well as the basketball, the school was a good fit academically; Smith is studying toward a Science degree, with a double major in chemistry and biology.
Smith plans to play two more years for the Axewomen.
"It was always a thought, but this year, I started spacing out my courses so I could play a fifth year,” she said, adding that several of her Axewomen teammates have done that as well.
Big changes
Although she isn’t that far from home, university represented a big change, and a big adjustment, from high school for Smith.
“It’s definitely made it easier to have already known a lot of my teammates, from playing against them in high school and with them on the provincial team.”
To Smith, the Axewomen success this season is no surprise.
“We’ve all had a lot of potential to be what we are now. Adding Paloma when we did added a spark. Her confidence rubbed off on the rest of us,” Smith said.
She described it as “perfect timing – the combination of us growing and maturing together, and adding Paloma as a source of energy.”
Smith is one of those who has benefitted from the team maturity. Entering play Feb. 19, she was among the conference leaders in several categories, both offensive and defensive.
“Chanel is an absolute dream to coach,” says first-year Axewomen head coach Len Harvey. “She ‘s a real leader. You always look for players who care deeply about the team like she does. She puts it all out for the team, whatever it is we need.”
Since the beginning of the season, the goal of the Axewomen, as embodied by Harvey, has been “to win the conference.”
But that's not all.
“We also have smaller goals, both personally and for the team. Every game, every practice, every drill within a practice, they all add up,” Smith said.
“I'm happy with my game, but not fully satisfied. I believe I can be better, and have a lot of things to work on.”
As for her future, Smith is still exploring her options.
"I’m having too much fun playing basketball,” she says, to think too far ahead.
Did you know?
With three regular season games remaining, Chanel Smith was second on the Axewomen in scoring at 11.6 points per game. She was seventh in the conference in defensive rebounds with 85, was also among the conference leaders in assists, and had made good on 29.6 per cent of her three-point attempts. She has been a leader on both sides of the ball.
Now retired Acadia women’s coach Bev Greenlaw coached that team, which captured a silver medal at nationals.
That connection “was a big reason I decided to come to Acadia” in the fall of 2013, Smith said, alongside several other players from that provincial team, including Allie Berry, Katie Ross and Maire Burke.
“We had an amazing summer that year,” says 20-year-old Smith. “I really enjoyed being coached by Bev, who had also coached my dad (Thane Smith). Knowing I could come here, play with a lot of the same teammates, and be coached by Bev, sealed the deal for me.”
Smith, who grew up in the Clayton Park area of Halifax and graduated from Halifax West, has no regrets at choosing Acadia. Wolfville is “far enough away from home, but close enough” for her parents to be able to come and watch her play.
No pressure
Despite growing up in an athletic family, and in particular basketball, she felt “no real pressure” to gravitate toward the sport.
“I’ve spent my whole life around basketball, starting when I was about four. Both my parents, and a lot of my aunts and uncles, all played basketball. It was just a natural thing to happen,” she said.
Now in her third year as an Axewoman, Smith believes “this has been my best year, both personally and in terms of the team.”
The Axewomen won their first 15 regular season games. Entering play Feb. 19, their 15-2 record had clinched second place and a first-round playoff bye.
“Overall, it’s a different atmosphere when you’re winning,” Smith said. “I feel we’re closer as a team this year, which makes it a much better experience.”
Things were a lot different a year ago, when the Axewomen lost their first 11 regular season games and didn't make the playoffs with just four wins all season.
“This has definitely been a fun year, especially given where we were last year, which is an accomplishment in itself.”
The addition of Paloma Anderson has been a factor in the turnaround, she said, but more than that, “all of us (including Anderson, also a third-year player) have come into our own, especially those of us in our third year.
“We’ve all worked hard, and it’s nice to see us get some credit for it.”
Smith said Acadia was “pretty much the only place I wanted to go.” As well as the basketball, the school was a good fit academically; Smith is studying toward a Science degree, with a double major in chemistry and biology.
Smith plans to play two more years for the Axewomen.
"It was always a thought, but this year, I started spacing out my courses so I could play a fifth year,” she said, adding that several of her Axewomen teammates have done that as well.
Big changes
Although she isn’t that far from home, university represented a big change, and a big adjustment, from high school for Smith.
“It’s definitely made it easier to have already known a lot of my teammates, from playing against them in high school and with them on the provincial team.”
To Smith, the Axewomen success this season is no surprise.
“We’ve all had a lot of potential to be what we are now. Adding Paloma when we did added a spark. Her confidence rubbed off on the rest of us,” Smith said.
She described it as “perfect timing – the combination of us growing and maturing together, and adding Paloma as a source of energy.”
Smith is one of those who has benefitted from the team maturity. Entering play Feb. 19, she was among the conference leaders in several categories, both offensive and defensive.
“Chanel is an absolute dream to coach,” says first-year Axewomen head coach Len Harvey. “She ‘s a real leader. You always look for players who care deeply about the team like she does. She puts it all out for the team, whatever it is we need.”
Since the beginning of the season, the goal of the Axewomen, as embodied by Harvey, has been “to win the conference.”
But that's not all.
“We also have smaller goals, both personally and for the team. Every game, every practice, every drill within a practice, they all add up,” Smith said.
“I'm happy with my game, but not fully satisfied. I believe I can be better, and have a lot of things to work on.”
As for her future, Smith is still exploring her options.
"I’m having too much fun playing basketball,” she says, to think too far ahead.
Did you know?
With three regular season games remaining, Chanel Smith was second on the Axewomen in scoring at 11.6 points per game. She was seventh in the conference in defensive rebounds with 85, was also among the conference leaders in assists, and had made good on 29.6 per cent of her three-point attempts. She has been a leader on both sides of the ball.
