2024-25 Basketball Season Recap
In a year filled with change and adversity, the Lions’ women’s and men’s basketballs were able to demonstrate individual triumphs and reach new highs.
Women's Basketball
The Ambrose Women found early success in their season as the team followed the QE2 north to Edmonton and earned their first win of the season in a 58-48 victory over the Thunder.
Little did they know that one of the greatest performances of the year would happen at home the following weekend as the team triumphed over the highly ranked Keyano College Huskies! The game was nothing short of a battle, with freshman standout Prissy Chuoi recording 17 points alongside veteran guard, Ariana Dela Paz, putting up 25 of her own. Ambrose finally took the game thanks to an impressive last-minute defensive showing from Andrijana Bokan to keep the Huskies at bay, ending 79-74.
Bokan consistently dominated on defence for her squad, leading the ACAC in rebounds for the entirety of the 2024-25 season. This performance earned her a spot on the ACAC All-Conference second team, her second consecutive all-conference selection as a third-year player.
“Having Dre lead the ACAC all season in rebounds per game was a huge accomplishment for her and the team,” said Aphia Ward, the team’s lead assistant coach. “She did the little things that led to the team getting many second chance opportunities.”
The Lions continued to develop under new leadership found in head coach Rodd Sawatzky and lead assistant Ward. Their new skills shone brightly against the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks late in the winter semester. Despite falling to the Kodiaks in overtime, the team came out and fought hard. First-year players Acacia Kubanay, Jovana Prodanovic and Kasey Breitkreuz made huge strides to heavily contribute to the groups game, but Bokan stood out with a double-double on the stats sheet; 30 points, 14 rebounds, five steals, four assists and two steals.
“The 2024-25 season was filled with ups and downs for this group, no one knows better than them. In the face of every potential roadblock, the girls always came out and gave their absolute best practice and game,” said Ward. “Fans and opposing coaches regularly complimented their work ethic and their ability to never quit.”
Recently announced internally at the university, Ward is set and eager to step into the Head Coach position starting in the 2025-26 season.
“Having an extremely young core of players, I am so excited to take over and work with this group next season. I am positive that we have the potential to have the most outstanding season of an Ambrose Lions Women’s Basketball team in history.”
Season Summary
Record: 5-16
Points for: 1222
Points Against: 1596
Point leader:Andrijana Bokan (271)
Assist leader:Audrey Dayrit (60)
Rebound leader:Andrijana Bokan (261)
Steals leader: Andrijana Bokan (67)
Blocks leader:Andrijana Bokan (23)
Men's Basketball
The Ambrose Men’s Basketball team spent the 2024-25 season fighting an uphill battle, riddled with injuries throughout their roster. The adversity faced by this squad from four season ending injuries early in the fall semester did not sway the determination of this young squad to succeed.
For the first time in the team’s history, a Lion has been named the ACAC South Rookie of the Year! Jarom Walton stormed onto the scene and finished his debut season first in the ACAC for three-point percentage while finishing in the top twenty for the league in total points, points per game and steals made.
At the end of January, the team faced cross-town rivals, the SAIT Trojans, at home in the Lions Den. Tensions were high and milestones were on the line. Fourth-year guard Jackson Earle was on the cusp of making his 100th career three-point made. Not only was he able to sink the basket from the right side of the arch, but his family has traveled in from Ontario for the game, and sprung up from the crowd to help celebrate this achievement.
Not only did they find successes in game, the team made great strides from a culture perspective. Graduating athlete, David Mubagwa, was a strong leader on and off the floor to help guide the six freshmen players making up the 13 dressed for second semester.
Paulo Cuesta and James Censon both found their footing and finished the season with impressive numbers. Cuesta led the team in assists this season while putting up 190 points. Censon had a well-rounded stat sheet with 45 three-pointers made in year one, 40 assists, 20 steals, 49 rebounds and 240 points made.
Head Coach Neil Nystrom is feeling incredibly optimistic about the 2025-26 season.
"This was a difficult year in many regards on the court, but our team committed to putting in the work with our habits and accountability,” said Nystrom. “We have built a culture that is lasting and will help us improve in the future and have more success next season. I'm excited about our new recruits who will join our strong young core next year."
Season Summary
Record: 2-19
Points for: 1581
Points Against: 2041
Point leader:Jarom Walton (284)
Assist leader:Paulo Cuesta (59)
Rebound leader:Hunter Snyder (116)
Steals leader: Hunter Snyder (34)
Blocks leader:Dylan Pearson (9)