Kiera Duffie is a Maritime Women’s Basketball Association veteran.
After winning a playoff game to get them into this weekend’s PRO•LINE Legacy Cup championship, Duffie said her Halifax Thunder was in a different position this year, after dominating with three straight undefeated regular seasons and back-to-back titles.
Duffie indicated things were different in Thunder-land this year where the team finished 7-3 for third place in the seven-team circuit.
She felt the pressure of trying to be undefeated is gone and Halifax can just settle in and play.
If that’s the case, keep an eye on the baby blue Thunder as the team enters this weekend’s championship in Fredericton as the No. 3 seed.
Halifax will face No. 2 seed Miramichi Her-Icanes on Saturday night at the Richard J. Currie Center.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
No. 1 seed Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour meets No. 4 seed Fredericton Freeze at 5 p.m.
Winners move to Sunday’s 3 p.m. championship.
Losers play consolation final at 12:30 p.m.
Let’s have a look at the makeup of Halifax, coming in coached by first-year helmsman Alex Petropolis. His assistants are Kevin Duffie and Keevan Veinot, although the latter is not expected in Fredericton this weekend as he was just activated by the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Ottawa BlackJacks.
Thunder is a veteran-laden crew, a team that can move the ball at will and score in quick transition. It also doesn’t mind the long ball.
Its 737 points scored was third out of seven teams during the regular season, trailing Miramichi (747) and Fredericton (744) and its defence was also third, allowing 630 points over the 10-game regular season.
The numbers may not be as gaudy as past seasons, but this is a dangerous team.
Second team all-stars Alaina McMillan and Sami Russell create a dynamic duo of pass and finish while Duffie shows up with her workboots on every game. Bianca Helmig is a flashy guard and veteran Sandy Saunders loves big game moments. Sophie Atkinson played the third most minutes in the lineup and a supporting case of Hayley Lalor, Hannah Smith, Taya Dixon, Aliyah Fraser, Emily Nunes-Sabean, Jewell Woolfitt and Alexis Evans, who loves her paint battles, create issues for any team.
Yes, Thunder finished third.
Don’t let that fool you.
– Thunder’s Hannah Smith attacks the rim (TC Sports Media Photo)