Joey Payeur
More coaches hopefully will translate into more polish for the Muskie junior girls’ basketball team this season.
Head coach Gord McCabe is joined by assistants Angela Petsnick, who coached the junior boys’ hoopsters last year, and former junior girls’ coach Alyssa Faragher.
“With three coaches, we can break the practices down into smaller groups,” Petsnick explained.
“That way, we can work on specific skills with specific players.”
Although Petsnick said there isn’t the typical six-footer that McCabe has had in recent seasons, there’s still more than decent height on hand for the Muskies.
One of the team’s taller players is last year’s top scorer, Grace Petsnick, who presents all kinds of matchup problems attacking defenders from the point guard spot.
Forwards Jamie Spencer and Angie Redford also will provide an inside veteran presence.
Several rookies also bring some height potential with them, including Joanna Empey, Australian native Ingrid Ellis, Aurora Hutton, and Lauren Penney.
Another newcomer who has caught the coaches’ attention so far is Keisha Debungie.
“She’s just a natural,” Petsnick said about Debungie.
“She knows what she’s doing out there.”
Along with Grace Petsnick, the guard spot will be overseen by veterans Rachel Anderson, Simone Payne, and Carman Hebert.
Anderson, Redford, and fellow veteran Bella Ward all attended basketball camps over the summer–something that encouraged their assistant coach.
“They’re ready to play,” said Angela Petsnick.
“Getting that extra time in really makes a difference.”
Jacy Gagne is the eighth returnee to the junior squad while other newcomers include Kaylyn Levesque and Rebecca Jourdain.
The Muskies are off to Dryden this weekend to attend a pre-season tournament hosted by the Eagles.
But what was to have been a two-day tourney now has been compressed into a one-day affair, with the possibility the Muskie could play as many as four games on Saturday.
The black-and-gold then heads to Kenora on Tuesday (Sept. 19) to open the NorWOSSA regular-season against the Broncos.
The Muskies’ first home game is set for Sept. 26 versus Dryden.
