Steffanie Jenkins

Though usually characterized as a football or hockey community, Cochrane is emerging as a pool for collegiate scouts in the world of basketball.

Longtime Cochrane basketball coach Linda Binder has also noticed an increase in the quality of play.

“I look at a lot of these kids at a pretty high-level. They’ve got the skills,” she said.Binder also gives praise to local coaching.

“You look at all these great summer programs, and a lot of athletes are taking advantage of them,” she said.

Both the Cochrane High School Cobras and the St. Timothy Thunder had successful years.

Former Bow Valley Bobcats star Steffanie Jenkins, right, will hit the basketball court for Keyano College in Fort McMurray this fall. Eagle file photo

Most notably, the Cobras’ junior varsity team nabbed a Rocky View divisional silver medal and the Thunder’s junior varsity girls team won the Calgary city championship.

Though disappointment came for Bow Valley High’s teams — with all four Bobcat squads finishing in last place during the regular season — nonetheless individual talent shone. Case in point, BVHS graduate Steffanie Jenkins.

She impressed Keyano College representatives at the Cochrane Classic tournament this year with her exceptional play. The Fort McMurray institution has since offered her a spot on the team, along with a two-year scholarship.

Keyano College’s head coach Clayton Nielsen said he was impressed with the level of play at a BVHS senior girls game.

“I came to watch specifically two players, Steff being one of them, and they had a few good players that were pretty athletic,” he said. “They all worked pretty hard.”

Remarkably, Jenkins has only been playing since Grade 9 and credits her coach of three years, John Davidson, with her progress.

Jenkins hadn’t planned on playing post-secondary basketball but she is clearly looking forward to the prospect.

“I’m excited and it will be nice to be away and to experience a new atmosphere for basketball,” she said.

Another shining talent emerging in the post-secondary world is Cochrane resident Eli Prochnau.

Prochnau played his Grade 10 year for Bow Valley’s senior high team as the starting point guard, only to move on to Calgary’s Western Canada High School for the remainder of his high school career.

In his senior year at Western, Prochnau played quarterback for the football team, as well as leading the Redmen to a provincial basketball title.

Prochnau caught the eye of  Nova Scotia’s Acadia University football scouts, but while on a visit to the Atlantic province he was able to show off his basketball skills.

Come autumn, Prochnau will play on both Acadia’s football and basketball teams.

“I’m looking forward to a new experience and competing in another province with a more moderate climate,” said Prochnau.
Also, former Cobra Jared McLellan is moving forward with his basketball career.

McLellan, who is currently upgrading his marks at Alta High School in Utah, is hoping he will make Alta’s team.

In the meantime, there continues to be a positive atmosphere surrounding basketball in the Cochrane community.

Binder’s husband Earl, also a longtime coach said there is no shortage of opportunities for kids to pursue similar post-secondary goals in Cochrane.

“There are more opportunities available to kids outside of high school sports,” he said. “There are lots of developmental programs out there.”

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