The new BC School Sports landscape is suiting the Delta Pacers just fine.
The senior girls basketball team finished on top in regular season play and will host the inaugural Sur-Del Tier Two playoffs this week. The eight school event features the top four teams from the East and West Divisions with the semi-finals and championship games taking place at DSS on Thursday and Friday.
The Pacers tuned up for the post-season by capturing last weekend’s Battle of the Bay at Elgin Park Secondary — defeating the host Orcas 41-29 in Saturday afternoon’s final.
In a match-up of the top two teams in the West Division, the visitors were in control from the outset — opening up a 22-12 halftime lead behind the strong play of forward Abbey Wigglesworth.
Head coach Kerrie Trotman was able to use her entire bench in long stretches for what has been one of the more enjoyable seasons in her many years of teaching and coaching at DSS.
Her team features just three Grade 12s — Nava Hothi, Wigglesworth and international student Haruhi Sakaki — and some excellent multi-sport athletes including Grade 11s Avielle Wellington and Hannah Beaumont who were aged up a year ago. Both play for the 2003 Coastal FC team of the BC Premier Soccer League.
Emma Webster, Kim Williams, Emily Barron, Alisha Saran and Kendall Downie are other key contributors.
“Abbey is our only basketball first player and she has been dominant for us,” said Trotman. “Hannah is definitely our unsung hero. She hustles on defence and her offence is really coming along. I have seen a big improvement in her and she just doesn’t quit.
“With (coach) Chris (Ainge) having a good group in juniors coming up, the future looks good.”
