51��Ƶ

Grizzlies women’s basketball rebounds with resiliency, looking to clinch playoff victory

Feb. 13, 2025

EXCITING UPDATE: After defeating the Redeemer Royals on Feb. 15, the Grizzlies women’s basketball team is moving on to the OCAA quarter-finals! They’ll host the Mohawk Mountaineers at Michele McConney Court this Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. That same afternoon, the men’s basketball team will also host a quarter-final game against the Sheridan Bruins on home court at 3 p.m. Go Grizzlies!

The lit up the Michele McConney Court at the Barrie Campus this season, boasting a strong overall 11-3 record in the regular season matchups. Back on home court for the first round of playoffs, the Grizzlies are looking to rebound after a tough loss in last year’s playoffs. They’ll host the Redeemer Royals this Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. – a classic East meets West battle.

The last five seasons for the Grizzlies team have been filled with ups and downs, truly testing the grit and determination of the players.

A snapshot of the timeline

• The 2019-20 season proved to be a challenge for the Grizzlies going all season without a win and finishing with an 0-16 record.
• In 2020, the COVID pandemic hit, stealing the opportunity for a comeback.
• For the 2021-22 season, the team was eager to rally together to bring back some life into the Grizzly den. Unfortunately, their season was once again out of reach as they couldn’t fill the roster.
• Current women’s basketball head coach Brian Hutton was brought on board to start the 2022-23 season off on the right foot. But once again, the season was cut short by five games due to a small roster and a high risk of injuries.
• Fast forward to 2023-24 and the Grizzlies pull off the greatest season in program history, finishing second in the standings. Janella Viado averaged 19.4 points per game (fourth best in the province) and led the team to their first playoff appearance under Coach Hutton. Heartbreakingly, they lost in the first round of playoffs to Fanshawe College by just 9 points after trailing by more than 20 most of the game.

From being a team of just six players in 2022, the Grizzlies have made a name for themselves in the OCAA East Division and are now playoff contenders for the second year in a row. The journey hasn’t been easy for the student-athletes, but they’re ready to make noise this weekend and advance to the OCAA quarter-finals.

To hear a first-hand experience of this underdog story, we spoke with Sheridan Keen, a guard on the women’s basketball team, a graduate of the Police Foundations program (class of 2024) and a current student in the Maajii-Anishnaabemdaa (Start Speaking the Language) program.

Pandemic brings uncertainty and isolation from basketball

Since she was 11 years old, Sheridan has loved basketball and played competitively all over the province. When the pandemic hit, Sheridan was just 16 years old and her future in basketball became uncertain. She had to learn to navigate practising from home and spending time away from the court.

“The pandemic was really hard on my mental health and it took a toll on me being away from teammates as they’re like my second family. But I learned to develop a deeper appreciation of the game and the privilege of playing and just being able to practice with people. Even to put my basketball shoes on and being able to tie the laces was a privilege.”

Sheridan Keen, guard and current student in the Maajii-Anishnaabemdaa (Start Speaking the Language) program

Sheridan says the pandemic greatly impacted her journey as a person and a basketball player as it took away close to two years of high-level development and training and connecting with friends and family.

“With sports and other things, I still feel like I’m stuck in that timeframe of the pandemic, and never really had a chance to grow and progress. I didn’t get to play the game I love for a long time and was forced to give up other extra-curricular activities. It was also a lot harder to find the space to work out and practise my shooting. But it really made me become stronger.”

Rebuilding begins with new players and new opportunities

Sheridan came to 51��Ƶstraight after graduating high school and knew the Grizzlies basketball team was starting from scratch. Coach Hutton scouted her from Ottawa and brought her on the team for his first year as head coach with the Grizzlies. Everyone on that team was brand new – players and coaches alike.

“My first year on the team was very challenging,” Sheridan says. “We didn’t have the season we expected to have. As a first year, I had to step up and take on a lot of responsibility. There were a lot of ups and downs only having six players, and it became too risky with injuries to continue the season that way. That year, I matured a lot and gained so much resiliency and self-discipline.”

A bright future ahead for Grizzlies basketball

Since that first year, Sheridan explains that everything has been more positive. It’s back to being a competitive, but friendly, environment where teammates challenge each other to be the best they can.

“Getting the chance to play basketball with 51��Ƶhas been amazing and I’ve learned a lot of valuable life skills,” she says. “Everyone on the team is dedicated to their craft, are passionate about the sport, and helping each other.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Sheridan feels it’s important for those who’ve gone through similar experiences to know they’re not alone. “Make sure you reach out to those who care for you, and if you’re struggling, don’t go through it alone. Find new hobbies, try new things, and keep those you love close to you for support.”