CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – It was an early season character test for the Holland College Hurricanes women’s hoops team.
The three-time defending Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) champs got blown out in their opener, but bounced back to get a win the next day, despite four players being sidelined with injuries.
The Hurricanes returned home from opening weekend with a split of games in Halifax. They lost 118-61 at Mount Saint Vincent, which included being outscored 42-3 in the fourth quarter, before beating King’s 71-56.
“To get smacked in the face, with the intensity we saw from Mount Saint Vincent, was just a great wakeup call,” new Hurricanes head coach Jared Cheverie said.
He was pleased with what he saw from his team after the disappointing opener.
“Too often young teams will forget the loss before they even get off the court,” he said. “But when we got in there for post-game, I didn't have to say very much because I just looked around the room and everyone’s head is down, everyone is frustrated, but everyone understood the scenario that we were in.”
They came back the next day and got a win and hope to build on that Saturday in their home opener against the UNBSJ Seawolves. Game time is 2 p.m.
“I think right now we’re kind of playing possum because the result everyone got a chance to see or read about from Saturday at Mount Saint Vincent is just not who we are and what we’re going to be like,” Cheverie said. “I think we’re one of the best teams in the conference.”
Cheverie took over the program after Mike Connolly retired during the off-season. He inherited a roster that included all-Canadian Jayla Verney and returnees like Tyleigha Nelson and Kendra Craswell. They have also added Charlottetown Rural graduate Lexi MacInnis and point guard Breauna Rivoli-Johnson from Hammond, Ind.
Rivoli-Johnson will make her debut Saturday while Craswell and Tekara Mateisha Smith are expected to be held out again this weekend after sustaining concussions earlier this year and Keionia Beals will also be out with a knee injury sustained last weekend.
Cheverie said getting the team’s starting point guard Rivoli-Johnson back on the court will be a big boost to the team, but he is confident the squad has depth at each position that will help them as the season progresses.
“She will help us move the ball a little bit smoother and take the pressure off of Jayla in having to do too much,” he said. “I could name drop everybody on the roster and give you something that they’re going to be able to bring (to the team). . .
“We’re going to be … an exciting team to watch.”
