There will be a definite Saskatchewan flavour to the Olds College Broncos basketball teams when they take to the court this fall.

Both the women’s and men’s teams have been active in tapping into the talent pool of the prairie province’s capital city.

Last week the Broncos women unveiled a pair of recruits from Regina in Balfour Collegiate grad Mackenzie Taylor and Campbell Mack of Luther College High School. Both are versatile players who can play wing and shooting guard, but also have experience from the highest level of ball in the middle province.

For Taylor, deciding to come to Olds College was predicated on not wanting to be done playing basketball.

"I love it so much and I’m not ready to be finished playing," she said. "Coming here was an opportunity to play college basketball."

Mack is excited to be a part of a solid program that is trending upwards in terms of results and future plans.

"I definitely just want to help out the team and do what I can to help us win," she enthused.

Broncos coach Greg Lendvay believes the two players will bring on-court ability and solid citizenship to the defending Alberta College Athletics League champions. His contacts in Saskatchewan basketball circles allow him to get a good handle on recruits from the province and he believes the ambition of the OC athletics department is also drawing interest from prospective players.

"I know that both kids are going to contribute to our program," Lendvay explained. "Both are products of really good school programs and coaches."

Both players plan on enrolling in the business program at Olds College.

On the men’s side of the ledger, the Broncos also signed a pair of recruits from the same two schools. Sam Kirkness, a 6-foot-1 shooting guard from Balfour, along with Luther College’s Paddy Foley, a 6-foot-1 small forward, will be joining the men’s program in the fall.

Head coach Bob Murray said Kirkness will add a strong shooting presence to the team while Foley will bring defensive ability and grit. The additions also provide more depth to the guard position, something that the coach does purposely to ensure the players fit the team’s up-tempo system.

"With the way we play, we need three guys playing guard all at one time," Murray explained.

The men’s program will feature two teams again this coming season and the coach expects both groups to be competitive again this year. The two teams secured silver and bronze in the ACAL championship tournament this year and the Broncos A team secured the Western Canadian open college championship title.

"We really feel that second group will be equally competitive to this year’s group," Murray added.

Story Written by Andrew Wild, Olds Albertan Newspaper