Lions Open Home Hoop Season With Back-to-Back Dates

201516LHHSTEAMLeo Hayes Brookside Dental Lions will open their home portion of the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association varsity girls’ AAA season with back-to-back outings at The Den Nov. 13 and 14.

Leo Hayes actually opens its 2015-16 season on the road, visiting the Woodstock High Thunder on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Hospitality Town.

The Lions return home under head coach Donnie Forsythe for their season open on Nov. 13, hosting Miramichi Valley High Pulamoo at 7 p.m. Leo Hayes remains home the following day, welcoming Saint John High Greyhounds to the fold for a matinee 1 p.m. contest.

“We’re anxious and ready to begin play, but there is still plenty of work to be done to prepare the team and the girls for the season,” said Forsythe, entering his first year at the helm of the Leos. “We’ve been concentrating on conditioning and getting used to new team mates and new approaches, but you always want to see how you measure up against other teams. We’re excited to begin the season.”

DONNIEForsythe has nine returning players to the varsity squad and three rookies.

Familiar faces back in the Leo Hayes’ pinstripe jerseys include graduating seniors Ashten Anderson, Taylor Forsythe, Taylor Williams, Kenzie Janes, Klaryssa Hawkins, Megan McKeown and Alysia Dutcher. Brook Billings and Ashley Ketch are in Grade 11 after playing varsity as sophomores. Grade 11 student Samantha Brown joins Grade 9 players Lucina Beaumont and Torrie Janes as first-year players.

Forsythe has represented Basketball New Brunswick at national play with under-15 and under-17 summer teams and Billings is a former Team NB U15 player. Beaumont and Torrie Janes played for Team NB at the under-15 and under-14 levels.

All 12 players are graduates of the Northside Minor Basketball Association.

“There is some experience, but the trademark of our team is going to be hard work, discipline and playing for each other,” Forsythe said. “We have told the girls since day one it does not matter one bit what grade you’re in, how much you’ve played before or where. We need to be united to build this program. Players are going to be put in positions that may be uncomfortable at times, but it’s about finding a challenge. When they are successful, it builds their confidence on and off the court.”

Forsythe knows there are three big tests right off the hop, leading into Leo Hayes’ Lion’s Den tournament Nov. 20 to 22, featuring eight girls teams and eight boys teams, using Leo Hayes and Fredericton High School.

“We’re going to hit the ground running this year and have three major tests right off the hop,” he said. “Woodstock is the defending provincial AA champs, Miramichi Valley plays hard and tough and Saint John is as fast as any team out there. We can’t wait to get going.”

You can follow the Lions this season on Twitter @lhhslions

2 Responses to Lions Open Home Hoop Season With Back-to-Back Dates

Leave a reply

Giv'er Fredericton
2281 King George Hwy
Miramichi NB, E1N 3A6

Website Support & Design by