Doug Connors would rather be the right-hand man than the head honcho.
But the long-time Cape Breton Capers assistant coach had filled in admirably as bench boss of the women’s program for the past three weeks while Fabian McKenzie has been sidelined with an illness.
With Connors at the helm, the fourth-ranked Capers – with seven first-year players and only two seniors – pulled off their biggest win of the season on Saturday, beating the No. 1 and defending champion UPEI Panthers 74-54 in the Atlantic university women’s basketball semifinal at Scotiabank Centre.
I like being an assistant a lot better. I went from the suggestion box to the decision box. It’s much easier when you can suggest something. If it doesn't work out, it isn’t your fault.
“I can tell you I like being an assistant a lot better,” joked the affable Connors, who has been an assistant at CBU for 29 years, 23 of those under McKenzie. “I went from the suggestion box to the decision box. It’s much easier when you can suggest something. If it doesn't work out, it isn’t your fault. But all eyes are on you in this spot.
“I’m just trying to do my best. I’ve had the No. 1 seat for learning for a number of years. I think the world of Fabian. He’s a friend and a great coach. I’m soaking it all in. I just have to have a good demeanour with the kids. They’re nervous enough. I don’t want to get them rattled. I want them to believe in themselves and things will be OK.
“I'm happy to step in for him, keep the seat warm and happy to give it back.”
AUS rookie of the year Kiyara Letlow followed a 22-point, 13-rebound quarter-final with a 21-point, 22-rebound performance for the Capers, who return to the conference title game for the first time since winning the AUS banner in 2017.
They will face the second-seeded Acadia Axewomen in the final. Acadia defeated the Saint Mary’s Huskies 86-82 in Saturday’s late semifinal.
Hailey MacLeod had a game-high 22 points in 28 minutes of action and Mackenzee Ryan added 16 points and seven assists for CBU, which led 36-28 at the half and outgunned the Panthers 22-12 in the third quarter.
UPEI – which has been without Jenna Mae Ellsworth, the 2020 U Sports player of the year, since she underwent season-ending knee surgery in November – was paced by Lauren Rainford’s 19 points and 18 from Reese Baxendale, in her final AUS game.
“I’m super proud,” Connors said. “We have a bunch of young players here on their first trip to this tournament. It’s about having a plan, earning their trust and not panicking. They have responded despite what they have gone through with COVID, injuries and coach not being here. They have been battling their tail off.
“I would be remiss that they are missing a large piece in Jenna Mae Ellsworth, in my mind the best player in the conference, in the country maybe. Not to take away from the rest of the team, they are fantastic and well coached. But we stuck to our plan and it came to fruition. It’s a big win for our program.”
Axewomen 86, Huskies 82: Player of the game Eva Widmeyer came off the Acadia bench and scored 19 points and added five boards and three assists in 27 minutes as Acadia reaches its fifth straight women’s final.
Reserve Sarah Delorey also had 19 points while conference MVP Jayda Veinot managed just 11 points on 5-for-15 shooting.
The Axewomen led by 11 midway through the fourth only to see SMU pull to within one on Marlo Steenbakkers’ three-pointer with 1:29 remaining. But the Huskies couldn’t get that next basket.
Carla Gacoigne paced the Huskies with 21 points while Alaina McMillan and Lucina Beaumont each had 18.
