Fanshawe Falcons guard Chuot Angou was named player of the year. “Chuot’s ability to shoot and get to the basket make her a great player and she made sure her team would get another Ontario Colleges Athletic Association crown with an outstanding 30-point performance in the provincial final,” said CCAA women’s basketball convenor Mai-Anh Nguyen. Angou led the Falcons to a 17-1 record, a tie atop the OCAA West division standings, as well as a postseason crown. The fifth-year guard set a new OCAA regular season record for free-throw percentage, shooting 60-67 (.896). She also shot an OCAA best .368 from beyond the arc, while notching 55 boards, 50 assists, 36 steals and 5 blocks. She averaged 18.4 ppg and was chosen OCAA player of the year for the second consecutive season. “Chuot works hard to develop both her skills and leadership qualities and in the process, has made everybody around her a better player,” said Falcons coach Bill Carriere. “Chout has bought in to the team-first mentality that we preach and is always the first one supporting her teammates’ success.” The other nominees for the award were: Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu of the Camosun Charges (PACWEST); Brittney Thibeaux of the Olds Broncos (ACAC); Taisha Exanor of the Dawson Blues (RSEQ); and Vanessa Soffee of the St. Thomas Tommies (ACAA).
Vancouver Island Mariners coach Tony Bryce was named coach of the year, becoming the first bench boss to earn both the men’s and women’s national award. He women the men’s award in 2012. Bryce led the Mariners to a 17-1 record and first overall PACWEST finish and the league’s postseason tournament title. “Tony has inspired his players with his passion, heart and dedication to excellence and I look forward to the future of this program under Tony’s guidance,” said Islanders interim athletic director Danielle Hyde. “I had the pleasure to see Coach Bryce in action at the 2019 CCAA Championship in Quebec City and can see that he is well respected by his players,” said CCAA women’s basketball convenor Mai-Anh Nguyen. “The way he interacts, motivates and communicates with them is a perfect example of why he is this year’s CCAA Coach of the Year.” Other nominees for the award were: Chris King of the Lakeland Rustlers (ACA); Jaime McLean of the Algonquin Thunder (OCAA); Trevor Williams of the Dawson Blues (RSEQ); and Fred Connors of the St. Thomas Tommies (ACAA)
Joining Angou as CCAA All-Canadians were (all were first-team all-conference selections): …………………………………………………… Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu (Camosun). Lannon-Paakspuu was named both the PACWEST player of the year and defensive player of the year. The fifth-year guard finished second in the conference in scoring with 14.5 pgg and third in steals with 43. …………………………………………………… Amber Lease (Vancouver Island). Lease led the Mariners to a first-place finish in the PACWEST with a 17-1 record. The two-time CCAA All-Canadian ranked first in the conference with 4.6 apg, while averaging 11.6 ppg. …………………………………………………… Brittney Thibeaux (Olds). Thibeaux led the defending national champ Broncos to an 18-3 record and first-place finish in the ACAC South Division. The Two-time CCAA All-Canadian and 2019 national player of the year ranked second in the ACAC with 25 ppg, while garnering 139 boards (9.9 rpg), 46 assists, 58 steals and 49 blocks. The fifth-year forward also notched 207 rebounds, 58 steals and 49 blocks. The Lake Villa, Illinois-native was named ACAC player of the year. “Brittney’s impact reaches further than the basketball court,” said Olds athletic manager Trina Radcliffe. “She is a ‘franchise’ player in how committed she is to the game and how she makes the players around her better. All of us in the Broncos family is proud of her accomplishments over the past three seasons and know she will do amazing things as her basketball career continues.” …………………………………………………… Sydney Hurlburt (NAIT). The fifth-year guard averaged 15.3 ppg and shot .385 from the arc. She ended her career as the Ooks all-time leader in games player and treys. …………………………………………………… Kendra Oliver (Durham). Oliver was named the OCAA rookie of the year after leading the Lords to a 13-3 record and tie for second place in the league’s East division. She ranked third in the conference in scoring with 19.4 ppg, and second in rebounding with 12.4 rpg, while notching 52 steals, 32 assists, 9 blocks and 12 double-doubles in 16 games. …………………………………………………… Taisha Exanor (Dawson). Exanor was named RSEQ player of year after leading the Blues to a 15-1 record and first-place finish in the regular season. The third-year off-guard averaged 7.6 rpg. …………………………………………………… Mackenzie Ash-Smith (Dawson). Ash-Smith led the RSEQ in scoring with 19.5 ppg and in rebounding with 13.8 rpg. The third-year forward led the Blues to a first-place finish with a 15-1 record. …………………………………………………… Vanessa Soffee (St. Thomas). Soffee was named both the ACAA player of the year and defensive player of the year after leading the Tommies to a first-place finish with a 15-3 record. The second-year point guard led the conference with 78 steals, and ranked third with 4.7 apg, while notching 5.6 rpg. …………………………………………………… Aki Kobayashi (Holland). Kobayashi was ACAA rookie of the year after leading the conference in scoring with 14.9 ppg, and assists with 5.4 apg. The rookie guard led the Hurricanes to a 13-5 record and third-place finish in the regular season.