When basketball season ended earlier this month, Danielle Ruocco and Megan Admussen-Blair felt a little lost.
They completed their most successful season with the Princess Margaret Mustangs, finishing ninth at provincials, and returning to school, they had nothing to do when they normally practiced.
Ruocco, one of six graduating players along with Admussen-Blair, thought to herself, “What am I supposed to do?”
“I was pretty bored,” said Ruocco. “Basketball has been a huge part of our life throughout high school.”
For these two ball is life.
They have been inseparable since Grade 3 and have played basketball together most of their life. What they enjoyed this season were the connections made with people, senior players were partnered with rookies, they also won most of their games. In previous seasons they acted like most teens do, goofing around, especially in practices, but this year was different taking a more serious approach. Their coaches didn’t have to get after them and the results showed on the court.
Having their final season of high school basketball end wasn’t easy, though Admussen-Blair kept her emotions in check.
“When everyone else was sad, I was sad too, but I wasn’t crying really hard,” she said.
“Our coaches started crying. Almost everyone started crying,” said Ruocco. “When our coaches started crying it definitely hit us all.”
Both felt they had great seasons individually as they benefitted from off-season workouts and extra time in the gym with co-coach Jeff Goodis to refine their skills.
“I think I played pretty good,” said Admussen-Blair, who enjoyed several big offensive performances, including a few double-doubles. “My shooting got a lot better. My three-point shot. I don’t think I hit as many last year as this year.”
“I think I had a much better season than last year. There is that drive in the last season,” said Ruocco, who loves going up for layups and making finesse plays. “Just want to play as good as you can.”
Last summer, the two also played with the UBC-O Heat junior program which helped their development against strong competition. They also helped each other succeed.
“We have a weird connection on the court,” said Admussen-Blair, adding that they know where each other is.
While both know what’s in store for their future in post-secondary education, Ruocco wants to become a kindergarten teacher and Admussen-Blair a social worker, continuing to play basketball is cloudy. Initially committed to go to the University of Victoria, Admussen-Blair changed her mind because of the commitment level.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play ball fully,” she said, adding that if she does, suiting up for Langara College is an option.
“When you go play college or university, it’s a whole next level,” said Ruocco, who went to Squamish to scrimmage with the Quest University team to start spring break. “It’s basketball all the time with studies. It would be sweet if we got to go to Langara together.”