A memorable and unexpected journey came to an end on Saturday for the Delta Pacers senior girls basketball team.
The Pacers closed out their best season in nearly 40 years with a 63-43 loss to the Pitt Meadows Mauraders to finish 12th at the BC 3A Girls Basketball Championships.
It was less than a month ago this team didn’t even realize what it could accomplish. From playing mostly in a tier two non-playoff league the past several years, a new tier and zone changed the program’s outlook dramatically.
The Pacers won their league playoffs then clinched a BC berth with a second place finish at the inaugural South Fraser Championships. They headed to the Langley Events Centre with realistic expectations as the No. 13 seed in the 16-team tournament and pulled off a 51-42 win over No. 12 Ballenas on day two.
Delta then closed out play against a pair of top 10 schools — falling to No. 8 GW Graham (56-44) and to No. 10 Pitt Meadows.
The effort against GW Graham reflected what this team has been all about. Trailing 34-10 at the half, they stormed back over the final two quarters to cut the deficit to nine points before the Chilliwack school sealed the win.
“Just the heart and soul they put into this,” admired head coach Kerrie Trotman, who was joined on the bench by assistant Paige Collings. “They all play with a passion when they are out there. They want to be out there.They are happy to be out there.
“It’s been an amazing and emotional ride. I was saying to Abbey (Wigglesworth) how in Grade 8 we started with six people on the court and where she and Nava (Hothi) have come in five years and what a ride we have had together. Then everyone else has come involved with the team and stepped up too.”
Without a doubt the Pacers will miss the contributions and leadership of their two graduating players.
Wigglesworth was terrific in the post-season run, earning all-star honours at the South Fraser playoffs and leading her team past Ballenas with 22 points and 14 rebounds. She added 23 more against GW Graham. It was Hothi’s three-point shooting that sparked the comeback in that game. She also had a team-high 15 points on Saturday.
However, Delta will return three starters in Emma Webster, Kim Williams and Hannah Beaumont. They all bring athleticism and a tremendous work rate and gained invaluable experience during the playoff run.
Avielle Wellington, Emily Barron and Alisha Saran also will be back. MacKenzie Campbell and Kennedy Ainge showed they could contribute as junior call-ups at the provincials.
Campbell, who is just in Grade 9, was impressive playing all five positions on the floor. She had 10 points in the win over Ballenas and added 12 more against Pitt Meadows.
It means getting back to provincials in 2021 is certainly within reach. The experience at the LEC last week included attending the championship banquet with 47 other teams from the three competing tiers.
“The girls were just taking in the whole ambience and enjoying the experience,” added Trotman.
“This new tier makes it very exciting and we have a lot of numbers coming up too with a Grade 9 and a junior team this year. “It’s exciting to see what is moving forward and for the future as well.
“It’s a great opportunity and also to create that passion to play basketball at our school too.”
