Cougar Champs pass 250 games!
Cockburn Basketball Association, it's fans and players, would like to congratulate two stalwarts of the club that reached a huge 250 games recently. Fleur McIntyre and Grant Davey are both great clubmen and are an example to the association's younger players. Both reached this milestone playing every single game for the one SBL club which is a rarity in any league.Congratulations Guys!
SBL 2011 - New player Blog! The Cougar Report Some of our SBL players will be contributing and updating a Cougar blog to keep fans up to date on the "life and times of a Cougar". Updates will be from imports Emma Pass and Stan Ocitti and some guest players that have some time to drop a few lines.
April 18 2011 - from Stan Ocitti
"It is my 7th week in Western Australia and we are sitting on top of the league ladder at an impressive 6 – 1.
As good as that sounds I still feel we have not played our best basketball as a team.
We still have a lot of areas offensively and defensively that we have to work and improve on.
However, with every game that we have played we are trying to keep a positive mindset and learn from our mistakes and keep moving forward.
The younger players are gaining valuable experience which can only benefit us down the line in close/must win game situations.
Injuries have been a problem but we don’t want to use them as an excuse for any losses or poor performances.
We know that other teams are faced with similar problems and some teams don’t have their full roster yet.
Hopefully, everyone will be healthy soon and we will be at full strength for the rest of the season.
The fans have been great with their energy that they bring to the games. It’s always helpful knowing that there is so much team support from the spectators.
And we as players sometimes feed off of the crowd’s energy.
The girls are playing unbelievable basketball too, with every game coming down to the nail biting last minutes.
It’s good to see such a young team with so much talent improving and by the end of the season I’m sure they will be one of the top teams in the league.
Wouldn’t it be great if the women and men team could win a championship? Just a thought!! Might as well think big!!
So fans keep doing a great job!! It’s a great and exciting time to be a cougar!! See you at the games!!"
Stan Ocitti
April 4 2011 - from Ty Harrelson
"Ty’s Timeout"
"My college coach used to say G.I.D. (Get it Done).
Our Cougars SBL, Division 1, and WABL teams are all working on getting it done this season.
Today we beat the Magic in Mandurah and Saturday night we defeated a tough Wolves squad.
It has been really fulfilling to be back on the court after such a long time without an official game.
On our way back to Cockburn today we stopped at a beach and I had a little time for reflection.
At 15 I was alone shooting hoops in a tiny town called Sonora, Texas.
I was dreaming of game winning shots, wondering where I would go to college, and if I would ever be good enough to play professionally.
There were a lot of those days over the last 15 years and I can look back on them with a smile.
I have been fortunate enough, through basketball, to play in Mexico, Italy, Spain, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Sweden, Lebanon, Australia and other countries for various reasons.
It has also been a tool to travel around the United States.
I feel really blessed to have had all of these experiences in my career.
The hard part has been making and leaving friends, not seeing my family, and the struggles of playing at a high level all the time.
As I looked out over the waves at Secret Harbor I realized again the rewards are endless.
There are a couple of things that I always found important in basketball; skills, preparation, and passion.
I know I haven’t played at the highest levels. However, I worked on my skills (ball handling especially) for years.
I worked on preparing my body and mind for each game.
And, if I am hitting a teammate with a chest bump, high five, giving a fist pump, or asking the crowd to get on their feet, don’t worry I am not crazy-I am just living in the moment!
My passion comes from a desire to get everything out of basketball, recognizing it will not last forever.
We look forward to seeing you at the Stadium!! G.I.D"
Ty Harrelson
March 22 2011 - from Emma Pass
"I landed back "Home" in WA a little over 2 weeks ago, and it felt so good to be back at the Cougar Den training with the girls.
I was straight back into training and getting reacquainted with the girls and the offences.
As usual the team were making fun of how pale I am due to the cold European winter, and how I sweat so much due to the heat, but like I said its good to be back.
After a solid few weeks of training with a few new faces and some nice size on the team, we donned the Blue and Yellow and stepped out for our first game of the season against Stirling on Saturday night.
After a hard fought 40 minutes of which we lead for the majority of the game, we finished strong with a ten point win for the Cougar Women.
It was such a good feeling to win the season opener the way we did with the major points being spread between the team and everyone putting in the effort to get the job done.
Nic, our new American Import did a great job defensively inside, Leigh nailed some big shots for us, Taz, myself and New recruit Cortney, poured in some steady points to keep the game on track.
Most importantly was the effort and ability coming off the bench.
This season we have a good strong bench, with Kristen Nic, Chelsea and Lauren adding some firepower as they stepped into the game.
In the last 5 minutes Stirling poured on the pressure but huge coast to coast play from our Coach/ player Dr Fleur McIntyre had the opposition in shock and there was no coming back.
Ty, Stan and myself have been busy in the local schools and parks with our coaching clinics, Its been great to get out to your schools and get to see how we are helping to find the next Cougars.
Remember to say Hi to us if you see us out and about, and get down to support the Cougar teams... see you on court!"
Emma Pass
March 15 2011 - from Stan Ocitti
"It has been about two weeks since I landed in Western Australia and I have enjoyed every single day.
The first thing I obviously noticed was the change in weather.
Before coming to play for the cougars I was playing for a team in St. John, New Brunswick Canada.
Even though the people were extremely nice the weather conditions in that area were beyond cold.
So it’s a nice change to be in a place where I can wear shorts and t shirts all day, barbeque and have a selection of beaches from which to choose to lay on.
I had practice the very first day I got here.
So I got to meet my teammates and a lot of people associated with the team.
Everybody has been very welcoming to me and my girlfriend and we really appreciate all the support and help we have received.
It really has made our adjustment a lot smoother.
I know this year the team is hoping to improve on last year’s performance.
Everyone on the team seems to get along and coach really stresses hard work and talking on offense and defence.
I believe that we are getting better with every practice and we should be ready to go on the 19th of March. We have a mix of young players and veteran players.
With this upcoming season I hope that I can help the team in achieving its goal of making the playoffs and winning a championship.
I have already had a little experience of how the games are like in the SBL.
We played in a preseason tournament and I think for the most part we held our own.
It’s going to be a great season and I’m looking forward to being a part of the cougar family and contributing to its rich basketball tradition.
See you at the games!!"
Stan Ocitti.
Ocitti, no stranger to professional basketball, has played several years overseas.
His stops include a finals appearance with Kormend in the 1st League Hungary, BJ Japan League semifinalist with Hamamatsu Phoenix, Norwegian Champion, and he made the All-Star Team in Holland.
Stan will be a familiar face for former teammates Justin Brown of the Kalamunda Suns and Ty Harrelson who will also suit up for Cockburn this season.
Brown and Ocitti teamed up together at NCAA Division I powerhouse University of Connecticut (UCONN) for two seasons.
Later, Harrelson and Ocitti played together for a short stint in Hungary with former champion Falco.
A native of Boston, Ocitti has dual citizenship.
He holds a United States and a Dutch passport.
The last two seasons Ocitti has suited up in the PBL for the Millrats.
In 2009 he averaged over 10 points and 6.8 rebounds and was named to the All-Star Team.
This season he is averaging almost 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks.
"I am looking forward to playing for the Cougars this upcoming season, I am hoping my style of play will benefit the team and we can win a lot of games as a team. ” Ocitti went on to say, “I am really excited about visiting Western Australia. I have heard some amazing things about Perth and its people, and especially the support from Cockburn.”
The Cockburn Cougars look forward to welcoming Stan to the court. His first home game will be on March 20th at 12:00pm against Geraldton during the Cougar Classic at Wally Hagan Stadium in Hamilton Hill.
Cougars Sign Five for 2011. The excitement keeps building around Wally Hagan Stadium for the 2011 SBL Season. This week Cougars Men’s Basketball Team and Head Coach Stephen Charlton took a big step towards getting back in the finals after missing out last season. Grant Davey, Sheldon McIntyre, Steven Van Lit, and newcomer Ty Harrelson have all agreed to terms with the club.
On the Women’s side, Head Coach Fleur McIntyre has announced that 200 Game Life Member Vanessa Cahill will be suiting up this season. The long time team captain joined the Cougars as point guard at the age of 15. After taking last season off for her family, she is ready to get the Cougars back on track and help lead Them into finals.
Grant Davey, team captain and long time Cockburn Cougar point guard will suit up another season for the Blue and gold. Grant is on his way to 250 games for the Cougars with one goal in mind. “We had a young team last Season,” Davey said, “but they all have experience in the league and this season there are no excuses. We want to make the finals.” With the floor generals knowledge of the game and experience it gives the Cougars a great chance to do just that. Last season Davey averaged 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
Sheldon McIntyre looks to improve on a solid season last year as the Cougars small forward position. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists including a 23 point 12 rebound performance to finish last season strong. As the Cougars Vice-Captain the “Mac Attack” has the versatile skills allowing him to go inside and out. He also has strong basketball knowledge and feel for the game.
Talented youngster Steven Van Lit will look to step up his role as well. Last season the Cougar point guard averaged 26 minutes producing nearly 8 points and 3 Assists per game. Van Lit is well known for his end of the game capabilities with two game winners in the final seconds last season. Steven also poured in 17 points in one quarter against SBL Champions Willetton on the road last season. His up tempo style and passing abilities Will be important for the team this season.
Cockburn’s new Operations Manager, Ty Harrelson, will also suit up for the squad. He will bring a wealth of experience to the guard position after stints in Italy, Finland, Hungary, and several seasons in Germany. The club is extremely excited about Ty’s signing with the team in 2011.
the Cougars will look to improve on the 8-18 record and 12th place finish from last season. More signings are expected in the near future as the club wants to lock in the team as soon as possible. Come check out the Cougars Men’s and Women’s teams as they compete in the SBL starting in March.
Cockburn Basketball Association
(Photo courtesy of Mick Cronin) SBL 2010 Awards Dinner
2010 AWARD WINNERS
WomenSBL:
Most Valuable Player - Emma Pass
Runner Up MVP - Sam O'Neill
Coach's Award - Leigh Calderwood
Youth Player of the Year - Chelsea Evans
Players Player - Emma Pass
D-League:
Most Valuable Player - Stacey Cikarela
Runner Up MVP - Kristen Everard
Coach's Award - Alyce Roberts
Men
SBL:
Most Valuable Player - Bryce Burch
Runner Up MVP - Grant Davey
Coach's Award - Will Hannah
Youth Player of the Year - Steven Van Lit
Players Player - Sheldon Mcintyre
Club Person of the Year - Sheldon McIntyre
D-League:
Most Valuable Player - Ben Stanley
Runner Up MVP - Troy Clarke
Coach's Award - Sean O'Neill
Congratulations to the players and coaches, and a huge thanks to all of the volunteers who make it all work!