A Foothills Falcon alumnus is providing a charge for the St. Mary’s University Lightning as it bolts to the upper echelon of the college women’s basketball standings.
Hannah Helton, a 2017 Foothills Comp grad, is fourth in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in three-pointers with 48 after the Lightning improved to 16-5 by downing the Red Deer College Queens 72-67 on Feb. 29.
“I am there as a shooter and for defence as well and for rebounding,” Helton said. “This season, I am a lot stronger with the ball, I am more consistent… I would say for sure I have gotten better as a player this season."
Three-point shooting is a key option in the Lightning's offence. The south Calgary based St. Mary's is second in the league in three-point attempts.
“Our offence is dribble, drive and if you can’t get the layup, it’s pass out to the shooter,” Helton said.
That shooter is often Helton.
She also gained some national attention — she was named one of the Canadian Colleges Athletics Association Women Athlete of the Week in late January after she jacked up 52 points in back-to-back victories over Briercrest College. She also had 11 rebounds on the weekend.
“I was kind of surprised — I really didn’t think much of my performance,” Helton said. “It was for sure flattering, but it kind of worried me a little bit because I didn’t want there to be too much pressure on me.
“I have never had that kind of honour.”
Helton played her first year in the ACAC with the SAIT Trojans but transferred to St. Mary’s in 2018-19 to pursue a teaching degree.
St. Mary’s coach Steven Shoults said Helton has become a major component to the Lightning who have rattled off 12 straight victories.
He initially tried recruiting her out of the Comp, but the talented guard went to SAIT.
Helton’s scoring prowess was never in doubt, but the five-foot-six guard is second on St. Mary’s in rebounding at 5.5 per game.
“There have been a few weekends she has been our leading rebounder,” Shoults said. “She just hustles. She’s the first one on the floor, hustles for loose balls… The amount of time she puts in to become a better player, there’s probably not a player that works harder than her.”
At present, she is averaging 34.6 minutes playing time a game.
And like a good future educator, Helton continues to learn.
Helton is still working on her game and on something somewhat surprising for the well-rounded player.
“I am still working on my confidence,” she said with a chuckle.
Helping her with that confidence is playing alongside her fellow Class of 2017 Falcon alumus, Chayle Clark, the starting post for the Lightning.
“I am really happy to play with her again, it’s honestly a game-changer,” Helton said. “She is such a supportive friend and teammate.”
Clark leads the team in rebounding at 9.7 per game.
The ACAC women’s championship tournament is March 5 – 7 in Medicine Hat. The Lightning open against the NAIT Ooks on March 5. For more information go to http://www.acac.ab.ca/tournament/wbball/2019-20/index
