No. 1 Pacific Christian 73 No. 5 Sir Alexander Mackenzie 62
By Nicolas Hauka (Special for Varsity Letters)
LANGLEY — A sense of family and belonging is essential to being successful in life.
No. 1-seeded Pacific Christian Pacers coaches Jen and John Stewart say there’s also a correlation on the basketball court.
It was a feeling that seemed almost palpable Friday afternoon as Grizzlies trailed the underdog No. 5 Sir Alexander Mackenzie Grizzlies late third quarter of the B.C. senior girls Single-A semifinals at the Langley Events Centre before rallying for a 73-62 win.
Last season, Pacific Christian, playing as a Double-A team, lost to West Vancouver’s Mulgrave Titans in the provincial championship final.
“We’re a family,” said Jen Stewart. “Families go through ups and downs, but they always love each other. I feel like we depended on that.”
On the other side of the court, the Grizzlies are led by twin sisters Ayanna and Annika Parr and coached by the twin’s father Ryan Parr.
You can tell by watching the Grizzlies play on the court or cheer each other on from the sideline, that this group is just as close.
This tournament is a huge deal for the Grizzlies according to coach Parr “…just to be here and represent our community, our school, and our Indigenous side is just spectacular.”
The Grizzlies’ Parr sisters are only in Grade 10. Watching them on the court you’d never know it. Out-muscling their opponents on the way to the hoop, throwing full-court passes as if they were quarterbacks while setting each other up in transition the sister’s talent is undeniable.
With Ayanna leading to team with 24 points, teammate Kashlyn Mack finished with 16 and Annika with 14 of her own.
The Grizzlies had the Pacers on the ropes.
Fortunately for the Pacific Christian, they have an underclassman start of their own in Kealayna Tupas-Singh, a Grade 10 who is the heart and soul of the Pacers.
As the team’s primary ball handler, Singh can be seen weaving her way to the hoop with incredible lateral agility and feeding open teammates on the court when the opportunity presents itself.
Not only a star on the court her coaches couldn’t say enough about the person she is in everyday life.
“She’s fantastic every day,” said John Stewart. “She is a gift to our team and our school. We see her bring out the best in all our players. You see this amazing basketball IQ to go along with humility”
Singh finished a terrific outing with a game-high 28 points.
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