Katherine McDougall has had success at every step of her life but she’s continued to work hard on and off the basketball court. She was a key member of a very strong A.E. Peacock Toilers high school team in Moose Jaw, Sask., playing in the 2017 Daytona Homes Senior High All Star Classic.
McDougall has even played basketball at a provincial level for team Saskatchewan’s U15 age category.
She also dominated as a cross country runner in high school; placing first in her district last year after finishing third the year before. According to McDougall, playing multiple sports provided opportunities to be better overall and she hopes that she can continue to improve at this next level of her career.
Hailing from Moose Jaw, the point guard was unsure of her plans after high school but women’s basketball head coach Todd Warnick knew right away she would be a good fit for NAIT, and not just because of her skills on the floor.
“ She [ is ] the loudest player in the gym (which is rare in high school sports to find athletes that communicate so readily)” Warnick said.
She [is] a leader, [playing] with endless passion and energy, always [displaying] a team-first attitude that [is] a must-have on any successful team.”
When asked about her passion and leadership, McDougall credits her high school coach for instilling her with those valuable skills.
“She focused on building a good team and also on players being grateful off the court, establishing a family dynamic which was unique.”
McDougall’s leadership might be exactly what this year ’s NAIT women’s basketball lineup needs after losing four veteran players from last year’s team. The drive that Katherine has brought to her athletic pursuits has also translated well to the classroom as she studies alternative energy technology; motivated to doing what she can to impact the environment for the future.
On the court, McDougall plays an all-around game as a player who can score and set up teammates from anywhere offensively while providing a strong defensive presence.
Coach Warnick described McDougall as “a pure point guard” meaning she is “a pass-first floor general … directs traffic in addition to getting the ball to the right people at the right time.”
She gave herself quite a modest scouting report as “not the tallest or most skilled [player] but [a hard worker]” and “… a good teammate on and off the court.”
McDougall expressed that she wants to improve her shooting this year and is always striving to get better, however, she did not want to spend too much time improving in one area while losing what she does best.
McDougall has had plenty of success in her journey to NAIT, but she remains hungry for more. Her determination in the classroom and her hunger on the court is what’s going to help produce the results she needs to have a successful season.
– Josh Hui
