MacKinnon helps girls’ playoffs hunt

PICTOU – Kendra MacKinnon loves basketball and feels fortunate to be playing the game at a high level.
A Grade 8 student at Dr. Thomas McCulloch Middle School in Pictou, MacKinnon is a rare example of unusually young players who are able to help high school teams succeed.
Despite standing six-feet tall, MacKinnon is a point guard with the Pictou Academy Pitbulls female varsity team and says she enjoys the role.
“It helps me with my ball handling,” she says.
Six players are in Grade 10, and two others are in Grade 9.
MacKinnon, 13, has been playing basketball since Grade 4 and is enjoying her experience with the Pitbulls.
“I just like the intensity – I always liked that,” she says. “It’s been good. I really like all my teammates.”
MacKinnon’s basketball season is a rather short one. She only recently had a pin removed from a finger she dislocated while playing soccer for the Academy last fall.
“My shooting is coming back,” she says.
Pitbulls coach Shane Hampton says he likes how his young roster has remained competitive.
“We’re a very young team, with only two seniors, but the younger crew has certainly stepped up,” he says. “They’re not afraid to put the hours into the work and it shows in their performance. It’s going to be exciting down the stretch as we figure each other out.”
Hampton sees an opportunity for MacKinnon to help the team and become a better basketball player.
“Kendra’s young but, physically, she has a presence on the court,” he says. “She’s played a lot of basketball for her age. She has lots of time to develop her game.”
The Pitbulls are hoping to secure at least a third seed when regional playoffs begin in February.
Meanwhile, the Pitbulls will visit Middle Musquodoboit today and are looking forward to playing in a tournament hosted by East Antigonish this weekend in Monastary.