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Cagers come together
Jan-Christian Sorensen jsorensen@nsnews.com
THE BCCAA basketball season is still five months off, but Capilano College women's team coach Paul Chiarenza already likes how his roster is shaping up.
Chiarenza announced the signing last week of Jordana Miltimore, a Maple Ridge Rambler who played with the provincial U-17 team and helped lead her school team to two top-four B.C. finishes in two years, including a bronze finish this season. She also picked up a high school "AAA" all-star selection for her efforts.
Miltimore, a 5'11" guard/forward who brings some depth to the local squad, will likely find a home in the small forward position this fall when she takes to the college court.
"Our team (just) got a whole lot better. She's big, strong and athletic," says Chiarenza. "She can run, she can pass and she can shoot. She'll be able to do a lot of stuff for us. I'm very excited to have her on the team.
"She's the one I wanted from the start. She's very athletic and smooth and potentially could be one of the best players in our league. There's nothing she can't do. You don't have the success that she's had without knowing how to play."
Miltimore will help fill a big void on the team, which is losing all but four starters - Gill Brooke, Alison Omland and Argyle products Lisa Allan and Michelle Stiphout.
Among the departures are guards Sam Coutts, former West Van Highlanders Kelly Laird and Joey Lee and forward Kate Begley, who hails from Sutherland.
But the biggest loss to get over, says Chiarenza, will be that of 5'5" guard Lisa Iwamoto, who came to Cap from Vancouver's Killarney.
"Losing Lisa will hurt us a lot more than a lot of people think," says Chiarenza. "Lisa's been a huge player for us in many facets in the last three years."
However, he's confident that the addition of Miltimore - and two other imports - will help his team stage a serious run for the BCCAA playoffs next season.
Also donning the colours of the Capilano Blues for Chiarenza this fall will be Thomas Haney product Christina Hines, who will likely inherit Sam Coutts' position as the starting point guard.
"She was their leader all year and she's been killing in our open gym (practices). I think she'll be a formidable replacement, to say the least, for Sam."
Also jumping into the point guard pool will be Little Flower Academy import Lauren Phillips, who helped her "AA" senior girls team to second place in the province for the last three seasons.
"She's got tons of potential," says Chiarenza. "She's a good shooter and she's got good size for a point guard. I also think she'll fit in mentally with what we do. I really like her personality and I like her style and she wants to win."
Chiarenza says he will look to Omland, Stiphout and Brooke to take a leadership role with the team next season and help welcome the new recruits to the fold.
"They pretty much established themselves as our three best kids and next year they'll be the leaders. I think it'll be a perfect fit.
"Gill (Brooke) and Jordana know each other quite well from the provincial team, so that'll be a good fit for them too. Chemistry-wise, we definitely are adding quality players."
While he admits that the roster is shaping up nicely at this early stage, he's also reluctant to speculate on his team's chances to make the postseason. "I've seen very, very, talented teams miss nationals in our league before, but I think we're going to be really tough. I think we're going to be very talented, but I also think we could be our own worst enemy. The key is going to be utilizing our depth and keeping everybody happy. On paper we look great, but that's why they play the games."
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