This February, the B.C. School Sports Girls Basketball Provincial Championships will mark their 75th anniversary by taking over the main arena at the Langey Events Centre.
Organizers announced all four championship games will be contested on the arena bowl floor, a milestone for the tournament that started in Kelowna in 1948.
There have been 165 victorious teams over the four tiers in those 75 years, with two Langley teams taking gold in this year's competition.
In March, Langley’s Brookswood won in overtime 69-63 against Victoria’s St. Michaels University School, and Langley Christian Lightning won the 2A title 75-69 over the Mulgrave Titans from West Vancouver.
This year, the championships will feature 64 teams in four tiers, running Feb. 26 to March 1 with all 128 games at Langley Events Centre.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate the 75th edition of these championships, and it is an exciting time to showcase the talent, passion, and determination of young women in high school basketball,” said LEC 75th Girls Tournament Committee member Jason Winslade. “This year’s event promises to be a momentous occasion that honours the past while looking to the future of girls’ basketball in BC.”
The committee is planning several displays, announcements, and events to recognize of the contributions of past teams, coaches and players who have shaped the legacy of girls’ basketball in B.C., including: a 75th edition program with expanded history of the tournament; displays of memorabilia and photos highlighting the history of high school girls’ basketball; an alumni lounge.
Past championship coaches will be recognized, there will be a selection of all-decade teams spanning from 1948 to 2024, and a special Grade 7 three-on-three girls’ tournament will be held in conjunction with the provincial championships.
The committee is currently looking for materials for the archives including programs, photos, and team memorabilia, to help complete the written history of the championships.
Anyone who can contribute is asked to email history@tfse.ca.
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