For Bisons women's basketball standouts Darya Rom and Paige Schatkowsky, the future is now.
 
The true freshmen have played in all 18 contests for the Herd, with their minutes and roles increasing throughout the season. Statistically, they have the numbers to back up their play, helping Manitoba to seven wins, their most in the regular season in five years.
 
Rom, a multiple-time MHSAA 4A provincial champion with the Dakota Lancers, is third on the team with 23.8 minutes played, and her 7.9 points per game rank fourth. She's started five straight games for the Herd, scoring in double figures in four straight.
 
Meanwhile, Schatkowsky is averaging 20.8 minutes per game, and is third on the team with 9.7 points per game. She earned her first career U SPORTS start against Alberta on January 25th.
 
It's fitting that the pair are enjoying success together. Their connection began way before university, and their playing styles and personality have mirrored each other perfectly.
 
The duo played together as part of the Targeted Athlete Program (TAP), and have also been on the same club teams. There's also a family history in the sport. Rom's mom played pro for 20 years, while Schatkowsky's sister played university basketball for Winnipeg and CMU.
 
"We're very similar people. We see eye to eye, and I think that always kept us close. We think about life the same way," said the 5'9" Rom.
 
"We instantly understood each other," added Schatkowsky, a Vincent Massey grad.
 
"Especially during COVID was when our relationship evolved, FaceTiming, talking about whatever was happening in life. When there was a time when we could finally practice again, we'd practice at the Dakota Fieldhouse and we became super close. We became friends and not just teammates."
 
On the court, the duo have embraced the "position-less" evolution of the game, with a focus on relentless defence and strong pace in transition.
 
"The pace that we both play with is very beneficial. It's how we played in high school, it's how we played club, it's how we played provincial team. We're always good at getting the ball, running out in transition, head man, layup," said Rom.
 
"That's what our strengths always were. Bringing that pace here helps us a lot, especially to out-run other people."
 

Diverse skill-sets
Rom's versatility was on full display during her time at Dakota. Capable of being the primary ball-handler while also generating turnovers, she was a cornerstone piece during a dominant high school run for the Lancers.
 
In the 2023 provincial final against Garden City for example, Rom had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds along with two blocks. She also guarded three of the Fighting Gophers' best players brilliantly.
 
The do-it-all play-maker credits coaches Eric Sung and Paul Fust for preparing her, and her teammates (many of whom have moved onto the university and college levels) for success.
 
"Paul and Sung were very, very passionate about what they did for us. I don't think I've met anyone who was more into it. They just wanted it so bad, and they took so much time and effort and energy to come into gyms in the morning, before school, or we would have Sunday practices every now and again, we would play against the guys. They did so much more for us than I think anyone else would have," Rom noted.
 
"Them putting that into us, and letting us have the opportunity to grow together, I think that was the biggest thing. We just built on what we already had. When you have a new team every year, you have to go back to the beginning, and get everyone to know each other and know the plays. But with our group, because we all played together and were all the same age, we had the opportunity to be able to add onto what we already knew."
 
Schatkowsky was also a pain to play against in high school. A two-way force, the 5'10" Trojans standout was a double-double machine, averaging roughly 20 points and 15 rebounds per game.
 
She put the time in at the gym as well, earning a reputation as one of the MHSAA's strongest and hardest-working players.
 
"I knew I was going to be fine in the physicality aspect. I worked a lot on my strength throughout high school and getting up to here. I think I've found my place now, with everyone trusting in me, and having good point guards helps. That's one of my favourite parts," Schatkowsky said.
 
"I think one thing that's beneficial that I bring to this team is my speed. I'm always trying to get the ball in as fast as I can, and I'll run to the corners and always try my hardest. You don't always win a game by skill, it's by trying hard and putting in the effort. I'm always trying to do that, and put as much effort in as I can."
 
An added bonus, is Schatkowsky's communication style.
 
She's a self-described extrovert, and that comes out in her play, where she tends to be one of the loudest on the floor.
 
"Communication is one of the most important things. That's something I've always tried to stick to. I do talk a lot, and I try to continue that with sports in a good way. I try to talk off the court and make connections with people, and I talk on the court, because if someone else isn't, then the vibe is so bad when nobody is talking. It makes it easier to play with people," she asserted.
 
"When you have those connections off the court, it makes it easier to do it on the court as well. Talking through plays, it just makes it easier to play the sport of basketball. I don't know why you wouldn't do it. It's always been a strength of mine."
 

Securing the Duckworth Challenge
Calm under pressure, Rom and Schatkowsky stepped up big during the annual rivalry series against Winnipeg a few weeks ago.
 
Schatkowsky scored 17 points in 27 minutes played, while Rom added 16 points in 32 minutes played. With three key players in foul trouble, the pair embraced a larger work load, while helping Manitoba win the Duckworth Challenge trophy for a second straight year.
 
"Usually I'm the one in foul trouble. High school that was me on the bench doing that because I was stronger than everybody," chuckled Schatkowsky.
 
"I was genuinely just trying to have fun. I'm getting the opportunity to play here against people we all knew and had relationships with. It was fun to be there."
 
"I was nervous coming on as a starter in that game," admitted Rom.
 
"Before we went on, Michele looked at me and she said 'you're starting for a reason. You deserve to be in this position. Go out and play hard.' I think that really flipped a switch in my head. I didn't let those nerves let me play poorly."
 
Manitoba enters their final weekend of regular season play against Mount Royal in a three-way battle for the last playoff spot. There's no doubt that the first-year phenoms will play a key role, much like they have all season.
 
But they're not over-thinking things. For Schatkowsky, keeping things in perspective is the focus.
 
"Basketball is a team sport. Everybody has an impact no matter if you're on the court, or if you're on the bench. We're all able to do everything. It allows us to support each other no matter what. We have that mutual understanding."