Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Basketball look to build on last season's results

As Avery Harrison takes over the head coaching duties for Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Basketball, he will be look at vastly improving on last seasons win-loss record in the 2022/2023 Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) campaign.

Last season, the Queens finished with a 7-9 record and fifth place in the ACAC South Division. This gave them the opportunity to compete in a play-in game with a spot in the 2021/2022 ACAC quarterfinals on the line.

The Queens faced the Medicine Hat College Rattlers and fell short losing 66-38 to end their season.

Even though, the Queens campaign ended early, they still finished first in the ACAC in three-point-shooting-percentage (31.2%) and defensive rebounds per game (32.0).

Now, Harrison, who stepped into his role this past spring, will look to turn things around and put Queens Basketball back on the map in the ACAC.

"I love to win. People had their doubts about this team, but I said to them they are better than you think and better than their record. We have a long way to go but the potential is there. And their work ethic, wow, do they ever work hard."

Harrison has had quite the career as a coach. He has won the ACAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year five times. He has also guided his teams to five ACAC Championships and three Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association titles.

During the pre-season, the veteran coach liked what he saw.

"I think they play well together. Our half-court defense right now is outstanding, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. They are playing together, communicating with one another, helping each other out, and when you do that, good things happen."

The Queens retained a majority of the athletes from last years team.

However, Harrison pinpointed three different returning student-athletes that will be vital to this team's success.

He says third-year guard Sophie Melin (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) and fourth-year guard Amy Szymanek will be huge for the team in the upcoming year.

But, the five-time ACAC Coach of the Year spoke very highly of fourth-year guard Sandra Garcia-Bernal, who has changed her game since Harrison stepped in as coach.

"We talked back in the spring about her being a leader and she mentioned 'I just lead by example'. I responded with 'You can not lead by example as a point-guard. You have to talk, communicate, tell people what they need to do and help them through things. She is doing everything we ask of her."

Harrison described a play during an exhibition match with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks on October 6 when Lethbridge had a two-on-one. Garcia-Bernal flew down the floor, past four players and created a two-on-two situation. Those are the plays in the course of a game that can alter and completely change the flow of the game, explains Harrison.

The Queens Head Coach did not have to do much recruiting for the upcoming year. One key member of this squad is local forward Janai Hubert. Harrison told Hubert at their first meeting together, "You have no idea how good you are. You have no idea." She played the whole third quarter against the Kodiaks with three fouls and did not pick up her fourth, which goes to show her discipline.

As for expectations for Hubert and the Queens, Harrison wants to make playoffs. He very much believes they can be a playoff contending team and is looking forward to the ACAC Championship from March 2-4 at Ambrose University in Calgary.

"I will say it again, they have potential. Our objective is to make the post-season and become a contender and become a team that other teams have to take seriously come playoff time. If you take away last year's play-in game, we have not made playoffs in a decade so making the post-season will be a step in the right direction."

The last time Queens Basketball took home ACAC gold was in 1991/1992. Members of the squad will be at the home opener on Friday, October 21 when Red Deer takes on the St. Mary's University Lightning.

The Queens will battle with the St. Mary's Lightning at 6pm at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.