Local signs with University of Calgary Dinos

By Karlene Skretting
Westwind Weekly News
reporter.karlene@gmail.com

He may have left just last week for his two year LDS mission in New Zealand, but Tim McMahon has more than just reuniting with family and friends to look forward to upon his return. The Zeniths alumni has a University of Calgary Dinos basketball scholarship awaiting him for the 2017-2018 season.
“I’m really excited to play at the University of Calgary,” said McMahon less than 30 minutes before leaving Magrath for the airport. “I really like the pace of the game and the style that they play as a team, they’re really team-oriented.”
 The 5’9″ point guard help lead his high school team to a fourth place finish at this year’s 4A provincial championships.
“He is one of the most committed players to improving himself and working hard that I’ve ever coached,” shared Allen Gallup, Magrath High School Zeniths senior basketball coach, who has coached at various levels for over 43 years. 
Gallup pointed out that it wasn’t uncommon to see McMahon in the gym by 6:30 a.m. working on his shooting and ball handling before school started.
The team captain averaged 25 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals per game and had four triple-doubles this past season. He upped his game even more at provincials, with averages of 28 points, 10 assists, four steals and six rebounds.
McMahon said Dinos head coach Dan Vanhooren was a major reason in him committing to the program. 
“That’s a big deal for a coach to say I’m not 100 per cent sure what’s going to happen two years from now, what the team’s going to look like, but we still want you,” McMahon said. “That helps my confidence level, the trust that’s there between me and him.”
 McMahon knows he will have to spend time getting back into shape after his mission, but he looks forward to the challenge and opportunity of playing CIS basketball.
 “Tim is an exceptional talent and his skills will help our program,” Van Hooren said. “He has the ability to make people around him better with his tremendous space and time skill. Additionally, he is an excellent shooter and competitor, Tim will prove to be a strong asset to the Dinos basketball program.”

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