Penner packs scoring punch for Plainsmen

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This article was published 25/01/2025 (237 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Crocus Plainsmen are certainly glad Kinsley Penner is with them, not against them anymore.

The sophomore guard transferred from Vincent Massey this year, bringing a new dimension to the Plainsmen junior varsity girls basketball team’s offence.

Penner led Crocus to a pair of decisive victories at their home Crocus Invitational Tournament on Friday, punching their ticket to today’s final at 5:20 p.m.

Head coach Mason Kaluzniak said his offence is based on players beating their defender and attacking the rim.

“I find sometimes girls have the skill but don’t necessarily have the mindset of going to the net. That’s what she does better than anybody else,” Kaluzniak said. “She has the mentality that she’s going to get to the net and get hers. That really starts the offence for us.”

Penner said the change of scenery was partly for the trades courses Crocus offers, but mainly for basketball.

“I wanted to play for (varsity coach Adam) Hartman,” Penner said. “It’s been really good. The team’s been really welcoming and just easy to get along with and play with.

“Everybody has really welcoming personalities … we all just get each other and it’s easy on the court.”

Penner’s first taste of competitive ball was with the Westman Youth Basketball Association program in Grade 8. Last year, she joined Basketball Manitoba’s Targeted Athlete Program (TAP) West team while also playing for the Vikings JV squad.

She can feel major growth in her game over the past two years.

“I used to not drive at all with the ball. I used to only shoot it because that was one of my strengths but now I’ve learned to be more of an all-around player,” Penner said.

“That definitely helps me create opportunities to score as well as for my teammates.”

The Plainsmen started with a 74-11 win over the Viking freshmen team, then dropped the Ste. Rose Celtics 74-25.

Penner scored a quick seven points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 23.

But she’s far from a one-woman show. Crocus has plenty of talent around her, starting with Grade 10s Ava Keller, Courtney Giesbrecht and Mary Williams, who Kaluzniak said are the vocal leaders.

Penner’s still on the quieter side.

“But her game speaks for itself,” Kaluzniak said. “The time she spent playing club, she’s got the handle with the ball but she also can set her feet and shoot the ball.

“For somebody who’s coached this for a little while, it’s kind of rare to have this many shooters at the JV girls level. She brings a lot to the table.”

On the other side of the draw, the Souris Sabres downed the Neelin Spartans 58-32, and the Portage Saints topped the Dauphin Clippers 52-45. They meet in today’s semifinal at 10:40 a.m.

• • •

Meanwhile, in the Crocus boys’ tournament taking place at Neelin, the Plainsmen beat the Minnedosa Chancellors 63-52 to reach today’s semifinal at 10:40 a.m. against the Virden Bears, who took a 69-48 decision over the Clippers on Friday evening.

On the top half of the bracket, the Spartans bounced the Sabres 86-52 in the semifinal.

Neelin beat the Massey freshmen 68-35 while Souris topped the Crocus freshmen 64-28 in their quarterfinals.

The boys’ final is at Neelin today at 5:20 p.m.

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