Family mentality helps Fanshawe Falcons as they look for first national women’s basketball title in program history

The Fanshawe Falcons are looking for their very first national women’s basketball championship title. CTV’s Brent Lale with the story.

They are the Cinderella team at the dance.

The Fanshawe Falcons Women’s Basketball Team is looking for the first national title in program history after surprisingly winning the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) championship.

“I think we’re pretty pumped,” said Karyn TeBrake, Falcons’ co-captain. “This is the first time that any of us have made it to a national experience, so we definitely excited.”

The Falcons were never ranked among the top 15 teams in the country this season in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

In the OCAA tournament, they entered as the third seed in the west yet knocked off powerhouses Mohawk and Humber to win the 14th provincial title in school history.

“It’s kind of nice. I mean, being the underdog and non expecting to do it so it feels that much better,” said Ashlyn Anderson, Falcons’ all-Canadian centre.

For coaches Bill and Theresa Carriere, this is the eighth time they’ve captured an OCAA crown.

“We haven’t ever medaled at Nationals,” laughed Bill. “That’s kind of a it’s something that we’ve been wanting to do, and we feel good about this year.”

They two are now joined on the bench by their daughter Katelyn. The trio continue to base their program around a family mentality.

“I consider all the girls as sisters,” said TeBrake. “We’re kind of just this one big family and I think that really helps us to win games because we really care for each other.”

Carriere agrees and considers all his players his daughters.

“That’s how we recruit out of high school,” said Bill. “The kids like to hear that our culture is very family like. It’s going to continue that way for as long as we coach, and that’s how we coach. I’m so fortunate that we I get to do this with my family.”

To win their first ever medal, they’ll have to start by going through the Douglas Royals from British Columbia Wednesday night.

“We’ve been watching a lot of film,” said Bill. “That’s what we just did upstairs for an hour. I’m hoping that the girls clue into this, and they know their roles and how to defend them.”

For Anderson, a 6’3” centre, she expects to see a team who has the size to matchup. They also play a different style of offence than these ladies have seen this season.

“They have some tall post players like myself and some good guards, I think it’ll be a good challenge,” said Anderson.

TeBrake, from Ottawa, is in her final season as a Falcon.

“This is my fifth year playing, so to end my year as an OCAA champion, it definitely is the best way I could have asked to end,” said TeBrake.

She’d love to give the Falcons their first ever CCAA banner.

“That would definitely be something I would love to end with,” she added. “The national gold, especially with these girls, that would really mean something.”

Carriere says he’s doesn’t want to be overconfident, but has a good feeling about their first matchup with the Royals Wednesday night at 8 p.m.