By Ashley Shannik
Barriere Secondary School Phys. Ed Department
Barriere’s Basketball season is coming to a close. However, this has been one the most exciting and successful basketball season Barriere has had in recent years.
Both our Junior girls and Junior boys finished in 2nd place in their West Zone Tier 2 Championships. The boys lost to a very talented Chase squad while the girls dropped a very physical hard fought final to Brock Middle school.
Both teams are extremely thankful for their amazing coaching staff. Mr Cory Carmicheal and Chale Boyce who lead the charge for the boys team and Tiffany and Racheal Bowser who did an excellent job with our junior girls program this year.
Barriere Senior boys also finished in second place in West Zone action to league rivals St. Ann’s in a heartbreaking overtime lost that saw the numerous amount of support that made the trip from Barriere for the games turn St. Ann’s gym into Barriere home court advantage. The boys had their chance to win the West Zone title, but it eluded them in the last few seconds of regulation time. Finishing in second place earn the boys a trip to the Okanagan Valley Championship where they finished up in 6th place. Barriere Boys Basketball is sad to see grade 12s, Jacob Peterson and Robert Underhill graduate from the program but with only losing two athletes from the team, next year squad is looking to get out of the Okanagan and qualify for the Provincial Championships. Remember all the hard work is done in the off season!
Barriere Senior girls had a better result at West Zone Championships with their come from behind victory over rivals St. Ann’s winning and capturing the West Zone Championships and securing them an excellent ranking heading into the Okanagan Valley Championships. The girls dominated their first round match up, Princeton which lead to a rematch against St. Ann’s in the semi final. The girls again got the better of the Crusaders securing them a place in the Okanagan Valley Championship game and a birth to the Provincial Championships hosted by Duncan Christian later this month.
The girls are heading into Provincials ranked 10th in the province, and are looking forward to improving on that pre-tournament ranking.
Barriere Senior Girls basketball program is extremely thankful to its group of graduating players. Without their commitment and dedication of Jillian McInnes, Briann Fischer, Vanessa Balatti and Hannah Feller this year’s team would not have experienced the same level of success that they have and hopefully continue to have at the Provincial Championships.
As the winter sports season comes to the close, Spring sport season is already up and running.
This spring we are offering our athletes the chance to participate in girls Soccer, Track and Field, a joint boys Rugby team with Clearwater, and of course our Golf team. If you haven’t signed up already and are interested in playing make sure you talk to the appropriate coach as soon as possible.
Barriere Athletics will be hosting a number of fundraisers in the Spring to help cover the costs associated with running our Athletic programs and the increase costs now that our teams are becoming more successful and qualifying for more and more championships. Please join us in supporting Barriere Athletics this spring.