GIFTED IN MANY WAYS, FOCUS NOW ON HOOPS

Most people learn how to count starting with one.

Aria Charles is one of them, but this week she's changing the format a bit - starting with three and counting down.

Charles, very sociable, genuine and caring, is not having difficulty with numbers.

She just knows what's at stake: three consecutive wins until an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association women's basketball championship.

Nothing wrong with that, or firing up a Huskies team that has had an up-and-down season. It almost collapsed on the Huskies home court other than some late game heroics to squeeze out a sudden-death qualifying win over a Mohawk College of Hamilton team that was horrible from the free throw line.

So, win three games and the Huskies have a provincial gold medal and, even Charles knows, that doesn't happen every year.

It all starts Thursday when the Huskies play Fanshawe College of London in an OCAA quarter-final. Yes, win and advance. Lose, and you guessed it.

History shows George Brown teams have had troubles with teams from the West Conference. But that can always change.

The 23-year old Charles, a graduate of Toronto's Jarvis Collegiate, is gifted in many ways.

She's acted in school plays from Shakespeare to lead role in the hit High School Musical. Got a voice, too, and has written and recorded her own songs. But she's drifted a bit from the entertainment world to the community side - as in the Community Worker Program at George Brown College - wanting to pitch in and help the lives of those who could use a hand here and there.

Pitching in as in basketball, too.

"Things get too tense in the classroom and sometimes you have to find a way to relax," she said. "Basketball does that for me. I like people, the eye-to-eye contact and working with others."
Bingo.

All that adds up to playing sport. Charles says she hasn't had a great season on the hardwood. Statistics, if you believe them, often say the opposite. Charles scored a season-high 19 points in an 87-40 win over Georgian College from Barrie last November. For the Huskies, she's been the top scorer in three of the past four games. In the playoff win over Mohawk, her teamwork was evident in rebounding, hustle and fighting for the ball in the closing minutes when the Huskies stole the victory.

"We've had to make adjustments on the team with new players and it has taken time," she said. "We have to play better and we'll be alright. As long as we show discipline, stay focused and do what we are capable of doing - all the time - we can do it."

Charles likes to interact with others. She exhibits that personality, very approachable, that will help her progress in a challenging career dealing with adolescents having a variety of difficulties.

"There's a different way to speak to people to get better results," she said. "Need to take the interest in people and be sincere. It's all about respect for others."

But, on the basketball court, it's about winning.

Source: George Brown College

Photo Credit: Michael Stefancic