By Gary Ahuja/Special to Black Press Media
Victoria’s Pacific Christian Pacers, West Vancouver’s Mulgrave Titans, Langley’s Brookswood Bobcats and Port Coquitlam’s Riverside Rapids have earned their respective No. 1 seeds. The Titans and Rapids are both looking to repeat as champions in their respective tiers.
The seeds for all four 16-team tiers were announced on Wednesday, Feb. 21, ahead of the 2024 BC School Sports Girls Basketball Provincial Championships. The four-day tournament featuring 64 teams and 128 games will be played Feb. 28 to March 2 at Langley Events Centre.
The action tips off on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 8:30 a.m. with all four championship finals set for Saturday, March 2. Those game times are set for 1:45, 4, 6:15, and 8:30 p.m.
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1A Tournament
The BC School Sports 1A Girls Basketball Championships sees Victoria’s Pacific Christian Pacers return to the 1A ranks after they finished as finalists in the 2A Tournament in 2023.
And while Pacific Christian holds down the no. 1 seed, Chilliwack’s Unity Christian Flames hold the no. 2 while Langley’s Credo Christian Kodiaks check in at no. 3. The two Eastern Valley foes are very familiar with one another as Credo Christian has won the past four 1A titles, defeating Unity Christian each time. Rounding out the top four seeds is Kamloops’ St. Ann’s Academy Crusaders. The Crusaders were fifth at the 2023 tournament.
The rest of the teams in the field are (in alphabetical order) are the Bulkley Valley Christian Royals (Smithers), Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George), Charles Bloom Timberwolves (Lumby), Grand Forks Wolves (Grand Forks), Immaculata Mustangs (Kelowna), Jules-Verne Albatros (Vancouver), Kelowna Christian Knights (Kelowna), Meadowridge Gryphons (Maple Ridge), Nanaimo Christian Trail Blazers (Nanaimo), St. Margaret’s (Victoria), Sir Alexander Mackenzie Grizzlies (Hagensborg), and the White Rock Christian Academy Warriors (Surrey).
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2A Tournament
Mulgrave looks for a third straight appearance in the BC School Sports 2A Girls Basketball Championships and a second consecutive championship. The Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey), Langley Christian Lightning (Langley) and Notre Dame Jugglers (Vancouver) complete the top four. All three teams finished in the top five in 2023 with Langley Christian placing third, the Crusaders fourth, and the Jugglers fifth.
The rest of the teams in the field are (in alphabetical order) the Abbotsford Christian Knights (Abbotsford), Abbotsford Traditional Titans (Abbotsford), Brentwood College (Mill Bay), Britannia Bruins (Vancouver), Fernie Falcons (Fernie), Kalamalka Lakers (Coldstream), Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria), Nechako Valley Vikings (Vanderhoof), Pacific Academy Breakers (Surrey), St. Patrick Celtics (Vancouver), St. Thomas More Collegiate (Burnaby), and Southridge Storm (Surrey).
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3A Tournament
Led by a young nucleus of primarily Grade 9s, Langley’s Brookswood Bobcats enter as the top seed for the BC School Sports 3A Girls Basketball Championships. Standing in the team’s way are Victoria’s St. Michaels University School Blue Jags, the South Kamloops Titans (Kamloops) and the M.E.I. Eagles (Abbotsford) with those three teams ranked second, third and fourth, respectively. The Blue Jags finished second in 2023, the Titans were third, and the Eagles sixth.
The rest of the field (in alphabetical order) are the Caledonia Kermodes (Terrace), College Heights Cougars (Prince George), Clayton Heights Riders (Surrey), Duchess Park Condors (Prince George), Little Flower Academy Angels (Vancouver), Pitt Meadows Marauders (Pitt Meadows), Mark R. Isfeld Ice (Courtenay), R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond), Reynold Roadrunners (Victoria), Robert Bateman Timberwolves (Abbotsford), Sa-Hali Sabres (Kamloops), and the W.L. Seaton Sonics (Vernon).
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4A Tournament
The defending champion Riverside Rapids are aiming for a repeat performance as they enter the BC School Sports 4A Girls Basketball Championships as the top seed. Joining them in the top four are the No. 2 Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver), the third-seeded Seaquam Seahawks (Delta) and the No. 4 Okanagan Mission Huskies (Kelowna).
The rest of the field (in alphabetical order) includes the Burnaby Central Wildcats (Burnaby), Charles Best Blue Devils (Coquitlam), Claremont Spartans (Victoria), G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack), Kelowna Owls (Kelowna), Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey), Mount Baker Wild (Cranbrook), North Peace Grizzlies (Fort St. John), Oak Bay Breakers (Victoria), Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs (Vancouver), Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) ,and Yale Lions (Abbotsford).
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Single day and tournament passes will be available for sale shortly, and every game of all four championships is also available to stream through pay-per-view at TFSETV.ca. Daily schedules, scores and news can also be found at www.bchighschoolbasketballchampionships.com.
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