Delta Secondary graduate Donovan Britten is now 33 and has never cared more for the basketball program at his former high school.
The 2004 graduate is in his first season as head coach of the senior boys team after spending the past four years guiding younger age groups at the Ladner school. He also is actively involved in the Pacer Alumni Basketball Tournament that will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend.
“This is a huge year for us. We just want to see the numbers keep growing. There are a lot of kids playing now who going to return for the alumni tournament. It’s all about replacing yourself. If you are able to do that then you are doing a good job.”
Launched by former longtime DSS athletic director Jim Lawrence, the alumni tourney is believed to be the longest running in the province. To mark this year’s milestone anniversary, there will be a social at the Ladner Community Centre and a day’s worth of basketball at the school on Saturday. There will be plenty of fundraising too.
The Anesto Charles Foundation was formed soon after the former Pacer standout suddenly passed away during a senior men’s game. It established a program that annually provides funding for elementary age students to attend sports camps, in addition to scholarships to graduating DSS players.
There is also plenty of support for the current Pacer teams — everything from helping with typical expenses to making sure qualified coaches are in place in all grades for the boys and girls teams.
It’s all about providing a positive experience for the players.
Britten has no shortage of DSS alumni helping him out as assistant coaches including Brandon and Blake Chancey, MacKenzie Falk and Colton Bakken. Even early 1990s’ star Navi Sekhon was in the stands for the team’s opening game at the Bob Carkner Memorial Classic at Steveston-London and offered some halftime advice.
An ice cold afternoon of shooting resulted in a 67-40 round loss to eventual champion Lord Byng. The Pacers scored a combined 14 points in the second and third quarters despite having a large edge in offensive rebounds.
They closed out the tournament with wins over Windermere (100-85) and Sands (70-58) to finish fourth. Talented senior guard Kavi Bhandal is Delta’s leading scorer and managed 32 against Windermere.
“Kavi is our best player and there is an opportunity for him to move past high school and into something. That’s what (the alumni) is looking at too. We want to focus on these guys on and off the court,” added Britten.
An encouraging showing the previous week at a tournament in Abbotsford the previous weekend, included going down to the wire with 4A honourable mention Walnut Grove. The 3A provincial rankings includ three Fraser Valley teams in the top 10, including the No. 1 North Delta Huskies. However, Britten doesn’t see why his team can’t challenge for a B.C. berth once a favourable seeding is achieved in league play.
Delta takes a 1-0 Fraser Valley West record into Aldergrove on Tuesday and hosts Frank Hurt Thursday. Five more league games will follow.
“We went to Hawaii (last month) and it was great for team building. We just need to show up at the Fraser Valleys and push our way to provincials. Get Delta on the board again. That’s the goal,” added Britten.
The Pacers’ remaining schedule also includes the annual Stebbings/Murray Cup clash with South Delta Sun Devils on Friday, Feb. 1. That game will be played at SDSS in a doubleheader with the girls game.
