The Camosun Chargers men’s and women’s basketball teams recently finished their 2019-20 seasons. The men’s team finished the regular season with 8 wins and 10 losses, going on to win the PACWEST provincial bronze medal from Okanagan College with a final score of 84-70. The women’s team ended off the regular season with 7 wins and 11 losses, and came just short of the PACWEST bronze medal, losing the title to the Douglas College Royals with a final score of 74-63.
Chargers women’s guard Sierra Reisig says that despite losing, it was a “hard-fought battle” and the team never gave up.
“At least we went out trying our best, so it wasn’t like we played bad or anything; it just didn’t work out for us,” she says.
Reisig is the league leader in steals and scored second highest in the final game with 12 points, behind Chloe Scaber, who scored 21 points. Reisig is still happy with the team’s performance.
“It was a great season, and no matter what the outcome was, the team itself was just a great group of girls and we had a special bond,” she says.
Stepping into the role of head coach for the women’s team this season is Justin Thiessen, who replaced Cait Haggarty in August. Thiessen is excited to be in the position and thinks he fits in well with the team.
“The system that was already in place has such an awesome group of young ladies, ” he says. “Even though I came in late, I was very fortunate to have an excellent group.”
Reisig says that despite not knowing anyone, Thiessen created a strong environment and developed a play style that accentuated the team’s strengths.
“He created a new culture and environment, and I thought he really benefited our team,” she says. “And he cares a lot, which means a lot.”
Working alongside Thiessen is men’s team head coach Scot Cuachon, who feels that his athletes gave strong performances.
“We were on a five- or six-game winning streak to start the second semester, which always feels good,” he says. “I thought the sustained effort and execution of the entire group through that run was quite exciting, and quite fun to be a part of.”
Cuachon says some of the athletes who performed particularly well included forward Shaquille Maharaj, guard Takeshi Croke, and forward Atlas St. Paul-Butler. He says he appreciated working with the team.
“It was really just an enjoyable group of people to be around; it was a personal highlight to me, to be honest,” he says.
Maharaj was selected as a 1st Team All-Star this year and was one of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)’s players of the week. Maharaj says that the men’s team stayed positive and driven throughout the season.
“We went in with a game plan, and we just stuck to it—whatever happens happens. We just said to the guys, leave it all out on the floor, this is our opportunity to go to nationals, so we just kind of gave it everything we had,” he says. “I thought the guys played with a lot of heart, and we didn’t really give up, we just kept fighting, and I think that same kind of desire and heart that we showed in the semi-final carried over into the bronze medal game.”
On the women’s team, Thiessen says noteworthy performances came from forward Sadie McMillan-Stowards and guards Tamiya Ness and Chloe Scaber; Scaber came in to relieve Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu, who was injured. Despite this setback, Lannon-Paakspuu has been named PACWEST’s Women’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Reisig says that Lannon-Paakspuu was a strong influence on the team.
“Tessa, our fifth-year, she cared so much and gave so much to our team, and was such a good role model to all of our rookies, [showing] that hard work pays off,” says Reisig.
Thiessen is excited for the future of the program.
“In my second year, I’ll really get a chance to start to develop the type of culture that we’re going to expect going forward,” says Thiessen. “We’re bringing in a bunch of talented and exceptional students, and I think this program has a really bright future, so I’m excited to keep moving forward and growing the program.”
Maharaj is proud to have helped developed a strong heritage that the Chargers can leave for future generations.
“We’ve built a culture here over the last few years, so we want to leave a legacy behind, and we want the new guys that come in to continue to carry forward that same culture and attitude, and that’s all we can really ask for.”