Kootenay River Secondary School in Creston hosted an inaugural Kootenay Basketball All-Star event, Friday April 5, featuring top high school basketball players from around the region.
The Girls’ game, Friday afternoon, followed by the Boys’, offered a chance to recognize the nominated student-athletes’ efforts throughout the season with a fun, yet competitive All-Star Game — a chance to put rivalries aside and build a sense of community within the Kootenay basketball world.
“Opponents can become teammates in one last celebration of the season,” said organizer Josh Nicol, Athletic Director at Kootenay River Secondary. “Being chosen for this team is a remarkable honour and a true reflection of each player’s commitment to excellence in their sport.”
The matches involved teams from the West Kootenay, from as far as Grand Forks versus the East Kootenay team that reached all the way to Golden.
On the Girls side, representing the East Kootenay: Avery McConnachie (David Thompson Secondary School, Invermere), Leila Hannemann and Emilee French (Fernie Secondary School), Ava Alligham and Jayden McKenzie (Golden), and Chloe Davidson and Libby Palmer (KRSS).
On the Girls side, representing the West Kootenay: Kate DeVries, Makenna DeVries and Lexi DeVries (Grand Forks), Liza Konrith and Taya Short (LV Rogers in Nelson), Jenna Hastie and Sophie Veitch (Stanley Humphries Secondary School in Castlegar), and Avery Adsett (KRSS).
On the Boys side, representing the East Kootenay: Blake Olson and Craig Hale (DTSS), Declan Cook and Carson Haggar (Elkford), Jacob Tetrault and Carter Thorne (Golden), Adam Lutka and James Meadows (Sparwood), Tai Strachan and Nick Anderson (Selkirk Secondary in Kimberley), Kye Tuggle and Arden Stuckey (Fernie).
On the Boys side, representing the West Kootenay: Benson Moss and Bodhi Webster (Grand Forks), Nathan Gross and Stuart Koach (JL Crowe in Trail), Levi Konken and Leif Beneteau-Kreutz (LV Rogers), Brendan Beetlestone and Rael Balignasay (SHSS), Jake Adams and Quinn Page and Levi Huber (KRSS), and Lukas Pinchak (Sparwood).
Congratulations to all athletes!