After falling short of their goals in 2018-19, the Lions came into the 2019-20 season with one focus.
Redemption.
The Lambton Lions Women’s Basketball Team fell in the OCAA Crossover Game two seasons ago to the Durham Lords, 72-70, in a game that they thought they should have won. That put a chip on their shoulder coming into the new campaign, and they used it as motivation each night out.
Riding the momentum of a five-game winning streak to open the year, the Lions posted an 11-7 record in the regular season to finish fourth in the West Division standings. That earned them a home Crossover Game, where they would race past the Centennial Colts and secure a spot at the 2020 OCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
A loss to the Algonquin Thunder in the Quarterfinals brought an end to the Lions’ season, but it was another step in the right direction for a program that recorded just two wins only two years ago.
Here’s a look at this year’s Lambton Lions Women’s Basketball Award Winners:
GRIT Award: Ashleigh Pettit
From Head Coach Kendel Ross:
“Ashleigh is the definition of GRIT when the lights are on. To no avail she sacrifices her body over and over again to get the job done. She doesn't care is someone outweighs her by 100 pounds. She is going toe to toe with her to get the ball. I am so proud of the effort this player has given our program and she will continue to be a tremendous example of toughness in the years to come.”
Shark Award: Morgan Wagg
From Head Coach Kendel Ross:
“The SHARK Award was created last season when our assistant coach Jeff Gark broke out into a pre-game speech before a big game against Sheridan at home. He had been watching the discovery channel and said, ‘you know the thing about sharks is that they just swim around and kill things. They don't care if yesterday they didn't eat or if there are bigger sharks then them, they just wake up everyday and go eat. Let's go be sharks today’.
I am so impressed with this player. She has become relentless. She was by far our most consistent player in big games this season. Well our team clung onto this and still this season in our locker room the team will say, "Sharks on three" from time to time. Morgan is a shark and every team we played this season knew it.”
Most Improved Player: Akuluel Anyoun
From Head Coach Kendel Ross:
“I love this kid. She isn't a kid at all though. She came into our program after being off a few years from the game one season ago. Our first season she emulated positivity and was very clearly the best teammate. This year she continued this but found her competitive side. She earned a starting position this year by working her butt off and is clearly our most improved player that shows up everyday and makes an impact.”
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Cassidy Crowe and Breanna Pretty
From Head Coach Kendel Ross:
“These two are a 1-2 punch that are a nightmare for teams. Cass led the league in blocks and Bre in steals. I know they saved our butts more than once this season by just digging in and doing EVERYTHING on the defensive end. So excited to welcome these two back as an even better force next year.”
Most Valuable Player: Julia McMichael
From Head Coach Kendel Ross:
“This kid has deserved recognition for years on end. She has only been at Lambton one year but she played 4 years at Lambton and in all of that time has deserved this award. Julia embodies what it means to be selfless for a team goal. She works her butt off, always understands what we are doing and pushes our players to get better. She even improved drastically over season. Putting in her best practices, when our team needed it, at the end of season. I have been proud to know her for years and even more proud to name her this season’s MVP.”