The Panthers are stalking their prey, eager to prove themselves at provincials this year.
Consisting of mainly Grade 10s and 11s, the senior Vernon Secondary School (VSS) Panthers are young, but hungrier than ever for a top placement at the AAA basketball competition, set to be hosted at the Langley Events Centre (LEC), Feb. 26-March 1.
"We are focused on ourselves and if we do things the right way, we will be fine," said Panthers head coach Dave Tetrault. "We are focused on being the best that we possibly can."
It has been quite a season for the Panthers. Back in October, there were murmurs that the team would cease to exist due to roster uncertainty and the need to find a coach.
Luckily, Tetrault was plucked out of retirement, and three Grade 10s were brought up to field a roster of nine.
"I had not coached this group of players before, and I think it has been a really positive experience," said Tetrault, who has been involved in coaching for over two decades. "They play unbelievably hard and have responded so well to adversity."
The Panthers, led by a dynamic scoring punch of Grade 11s Chloe Collins and Adie Janke, finished the season with a second-place showing at the Okanagan Valley Championships and a No. 4 overall AAA provincial ranking.
"We likely played our worst game of the season in the valley finals (against the provincial second-seeded Sa-Hali Sabres out of Kamloops)," said Tetrault. "It's a tough matchup because we are a lot smaller then them, but full credit to them and I think if we were to play them again, it would be more of a fight."
Part of the adversity faced this year for the team was a stretch of time when injuries knocked a few players out, necessitating a roster of seven for several games.
"If you can believe it, but during those games, we full-court pressed the whole game," Tetrault said. "We had a mantra that 'you aren't tired.' Tired is in your head, so don't let your brain tell you that you're tired."
With just one player taller than 5-foot-10, defence, grittiness, and five-out basketball are the underlying factors of success for the team.
Besides Janke and Collins, Tetrault singled out Grade 12 Paige Leahy as a player who has impressed throughout the season.
"She is extremely talented," said Tetrault. "She led our team in rebounding and took tough defensive assignments. It is so good to see kids finish their grade 12 season positively and I think she has an opportunity to play past high school."
The Panthers learned their fate on who they would play first in the 16-team provincial tournament on Wednesday night, and it's a date with the Alberni Valley Armada out of Port Alberni.
The 2025 BCSS 3A Girls Championship bracket. #BCSSProvincials pic.twitter.com/3sgKikJkR1
鈥� BC School Sports (@BCSchoolSports) February 20, 2025
"I have already prepped this morning (Thursday, Feb. 20), as this team didn't come off the Island to play so it's harder to get information," Tetrault explained. "But we will be ready."
A quarterfinal matchup against the College Heights Cougars out of Prince George could await the Panthers pending a victory over the Armada.
"College Heights, we have played this year and lost by three, so that would be a battle, but we are looking at what's ahead of us for now."
Heading to the provincial championships will be a special experience for the team, but Tetrault isn't looking at wins and losses as a barometer for success.
"I very rarely talk about what we need to lose and win. Our goal is to play four really great games," said Tetrault. "As a coach, you know that your team could play great and lose, and play bad and win so we don't talk about it as the winning and losing will take care of itself."
Tetrault added that the LEC has done an "unbelievable" job in the post of hosting these events, and the tournament this year (the 75th anniversary) will be done side-by-side with the other divisions, A, AA, and AAAA.
"With 64 teams there, if you are a female athlete, then this is a big deal," he said. "We have unbelievable athletes, and what girls can do skill-wise is unbelievable. The game is skyrocketing in popularity and a lot of it has to do with Caitlin Clark, which showcases that they can do everything on the court."
Game time against the Armada is at 11:45 a.m on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and you can watch the game at tfsetv.ca.
You can stay up-to-date with the provincial championship at bchighschoolbasketballchampionships.com/3agirls.
