By: Monty Mosher
North Sydney's Hannah Brown is almost apologetic to the other universities in the AUS, and abroad.
As a child growing up in Cape Breton, Brown idolized the Capers and the women who wore the orange jerseys.
Her mother brought her to the CBU games. She sat behind the bench, seldom missing a contest. She imagined one day wearing those colours.
The six-foot-one Brown grew up to be one of the top forwards in AUS basketball, winning a conference championship with her beloved Capers last season at Scotiabank Centre.
Now in her fourth year, the Memorial High School product is leading the conference in scoring with 18.3 points per game as the Capers try to earn back-to-back championships and a trip to the nationals.
She is third in rebounding at 10.2 per game, creating a double-double forward tandem with reigning MVP and fellow Cape Breton native Alison Keough.
Keough is scoring 16.5 points per game and hauling down a league-high 10.9 rebounds.
"As great as the other universities are, CBU has always had a very special spot in my heart," the 21-year-old Brown said this week. "I grew up here.
"Every school I went to I compared to CBU. My drive to go to CBU has always been way more than any other school. It was kind of an easy decision."
On top of that, she's known Capers head coach Fabian McKenzie long before she ever could have imagined playing for him.
There's got to be a catch, right? It's never that easy slipping into the lineup for the team you adored when you were younger. The eyes that followed you as a high school and provincial player still watching your every move on the floor.
"It's a very surreal experience to be able to play amongst people who have watched you through you whole life," she said, treasuring the relationship she has with the Cape Breton fans.
"It's pretty exciting to have the support we have. You have your regulars who come to every single game. They care. It's empowering. You don't just play for yourself and your team but for Cape Breton."
MacKenzie said Brown has willed herself to be a better player.
"Hannah has grown into the player she has become through hard work and dedication to self-improvement," he said. "It is a total credit to her and her desire to improve. She has worked on her basketball and physical skills while working very hard on her mental development."
Defending a championship is always a trial. It's hard to be invisible when you are cloaked in a banner.
The Capers graduated three key performers after the championship run and it has led to an uneven year. They are 6-5, comfortably positioned for the playoffs, but in a fight for a first-round bye.
But they have won six of eight since mid-November, pointing the way to another title challenge in March.
"We're dealing with a younger team," Brown, a business administration student, said. "It's very different. But it's good in many ways.
"I wouldn't say this is a rebuilding season for us at all. There were people who worked hard over the summer and came in ready to play this year."
Colleen Keane, Natasha Roach and Jalynn Skeir finished as champions last year. Now Toni Bianchini, Madison Munro, MacKenzee Ryan and Sandra Amoah have been called upon to take a bigger role.
Brown and Keough are the only two players averaging better than 30 minutes on the floor. Guard Valentina Primossi is just shy at 28.5.
"I definitely had an idea I would have to step up this year where we did lose three key players," Brown said. "But, as for me, I'm glad I can contribute."
Leading the league, and her team, in scoring was never part of the plan.
"If I'm doing well, that's fantastic. Obviously, I have personal goals. But it's really great that I've been able to help the team grow."
Some of Brown's success might be related to the fifth-year Keough, who is wrapping up a legendary career at CBU. Those two were bitter rivals going back to high school tussles between Riverview and Memorial. They've swapped a few elbows at practice over the years, too.
"It's funny playing against someone then all of a sudden being on their team," Brown said. "She's such an amazing teammate. If there is anybody who is about the team, and always about the team, it is her.
"She's had so much success in the AUS, but you'd never think that talking to her. She's always been a great role model."
Brown, a business student, admits that a year has flown by quickly. Championship season is coming around fast.
"It is such an unbelievable experience to win an AUS championship," she said. "I can't even describe it—to work so hard all year long and then have the ultimate result. Most of us have had that feeling of winning an AUS banner and are chasing that high again."