It’s a moment she’ll never forget, and she’s been fortunate enough to experience it twice.
Douglas’ Kinly Rice is a member of the Carleton University Ravens basketball team, which recently earned the U Sports national championship for the second year in a row. The Ravens captured the title in a thrilling 70-67 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The 6’2” Opeongo High School graduate recently told myFM about the incredible experience and how basketball has helped shape her life.
She came to the sport later than some.
She credits Opeongo coach Kevin Grady and assistant coach Larry Grand for their guidance and support over the years. Along with playing for the school team, for the first two years of high school she played for the Upper Ottawa Valley River Dogs Association and then for the Nepean Blue Devils in Grades 11 and 12.
There’s just something about basketball that hooked her. As soon as she started playing she became passionate about it, she said. She loves that it’s a team sport and said she always enjoyed the challenge. She was thrilled to be recruited by Carleton University.
She describes her time with the Ravens as an “amazing opportunity” that taught her a lot, including time management skills, and helped her create and foster long-lasting friendships.
Winning the championships was just icing on the cake.
It’s a memory she’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Kinly is graduating from Carleton this year with her health sciences degree and is going to pursue her masters in physiotherapy.
This summer, she will return home to the family farm and plans to check in with her former high school coaches, as well as with the River Dogs, where she hopes to meet with players to talk to them about her experiences.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)