McDonald sparks Laurier fire

When Sudbury's Amanda McDonald went looking for the best place to continue her basketball career at the post secondary level, she went for  the biggest challenge.

McDonald, who starred for several seasons with the Lasalle Lancers, helping them to numerous city and NOSSA titles, decided on Wilfred Laurier, a team which had finished dead last in the OUA West Division. McDonald was intrigued by the fact she could become a cornerstone for the young squad and help build them back into a contender and earn the respect of the entire league.

McDonald has wasted little time transforming the Golden Hawks program into a proven winner.

The 19-year-old has burst onto the OUA scene with vengeance, scoring 101 points in her first 10 games, helping Laurier forge a solid 8-2 record and take claim of second place in the West Division. Last season, Laurier finished 5-17. McDonald is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10-1 points-per-game. The five-foot-nine guard is also averaging 29.3 minutes-per-game and has 4.2 rebounds-per-game. McDonald is second on the team in assists and steals as well.

The former Lancer is excelling in all aspects of the game, especially scoring. McDonald has flexed her scoring muscles all season, which also included a high of 20 points versus Ottawa back in November.

She has earned high praise from the coaching staff.

"Amanda is a freshman who has exceptional skills," head coach Stu Julius said on the Laurier website. "She can penetrate, shoot the jumper and is a very good passer. On top of all that, she is a tenacious defender who will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. Amanda will play a major role in our team's success this season."

McDonald feels great about the progress of her new team and recently took some time out to talk to Northern Life reporter Scott Haddow about her experiences at Laurier.


SH: What gives with your wild start? What can you give credit to putting up big numbers?

AM: I believe I chose the right school, which is a big part of my success. I love my teammates, my coach, and my school. I couldn't be happier here. I feel that it is this comfort level that has given me the opportunity to be successful.  My teammates and I have great chemistry on the court.  We all have faith in each other and our sets.  We run our sets very well, which gives me the opportunity to hit open shooters and hit open shots.  We all work very hard.  It is 100 percent a team effort.  I feel privileged to play on this team, and they are the reason for my success.

SH: Did you ever expect to have such a quick impact?

AM: I believe that staying an extra year of high school really helped me grow up and mature not only as a person but as a basketball player.  This allowed me to make smarter decisions on and off the court.  Choosing Laurier was probably one of the best decisions I have made so far in my life.  I love everything about it here.  It is this extra maturity that has allowed me to fit in so well on my team.  My impact is due to the faith my teammates have in me when the ball is in my hands.  They instill in me any confidence that I lack in myself. This allows me to play loose and free with the ball.
 
SH: Overall, what role and responsibilities did you want this season?

AM: I made the jump to point guard this season, so my role and responsibilities changed.  I now have to take charge on the court and look after the ball.  This means I must be very vocal and a leader on the court.  As a rookie I was shy about this at first, but my teammates helped me adjust very easily and believed in me to lead them.  This gave me the confidence to do the job that is expected of me.
 
SH: What's your motivation and drive for this season?

AM: My drive and motivation has always been the love of the game.  My love of the game has only increased since I arrived at Laurier.  After I got mono, I was a bit discouraged about waiting a whole extra year before attending university.  Now that I am finally here I just want to work hard and enjoy every minute of it.  Not everyone gets this opportunity, so I want to make the best of it.  I have had great supporters throughout my basketball career who have kept me motivated and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.  I was very lucky to have the coaches I had through my basketball career, and very lucky to have a mom that would drive all the way to Windsor to watch me play one game!  Without these people I wouldn't be where I am today.
 
SH: What stands out about this Laurier team?

AM: This Laurier team is young and full of potential.  We work hard every day and I think we bring a lot to the table.  This team has great chemistry and great motivation.  I love being a part of this team.  I cannot say enough about my teammates.  In these few short months I have already made friendships that I know will last a lifetime.
 
SH: What's been the biggest challenge for you at the OUA level?

AM: I think making the jump to point guard was the biggest challenge for me.  I stepped into a leadership role right off the start.  I needed to be vocal and able to lead my teammates.  My coaches and teammates have made this adjustment a lot easier with all their support.  I can now confidentially say I am a point guard. 
 
SH: What do you hope to prove and accomplish this season?

AM: My goal was to get here and to contribute as much as I could first year.  I feel that I have achieved this goal.  I am my toughest critic, so at the end of the day if I am happy with the job I have done, I feel that I have been successful.  I don't worry about proving myself to anyone; I just want to enjoy what I am doing.  As far as accomplishments, as a team I feel that we all want to continue improving everyday and compete in every game we play.  Obviously, continuing on this winning note is the goal.
 
SH: What does it mean to you in your life to be having such a good start?

AM: It feels great to have a good start after what it took me to get here. I went through a lot the last couple years and worked hard to get through it.  I just feel a sense of accomplishment.
 
SH: How do you keep it up?

AM: I have to admit I am a very stubborn person.  I am never satisfied after a practice or game.  I always want more.  I feel I can still do better.  This will keep me going.