Crusaders avenge 2025 championship loss

by Gary Ahuja

The Holy Cross Crusaders are the 2026 BC School Sports 2A Girls Basketball Provincial Tournament champions. Garrett James photo

Silver medallists a year ago, Surrey’s Holy Cross Crusaders left no doubt this time.

The top-seeded Crusaders captured the BC School Sports 2A Girls Basketball Provincial Tournament title with a commanding 81-51 victory over the No. 3 St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights on Saturday afternoon at Langley Events Centre inside the Arena Bowl on the Ken Winslade Court.


The opening quarter was tightly contested, featuring four lead changes, before Holy Cross began to assert control. The Crusaders carried a 40-32 advantage into halftime, then took over after the break. Their defence clamped down over the final 20 minutes, limiting the Knights to just 19 second-half points to turn a competitive game into a runaway.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Solene Jackson delivered a dominant performance, pouring in 30 points while hauling down a remarkable 25 rebounds. For perspective, St. Thomas More finished with 27 total rebounds as a team. Demicah Arnaldo led the Knights with 20 points.

In the third-place game, the Credo Christian Kodiaks of the Township of Langley rolled past the Westsyde Whundas of Kamloops, 94-44. Hailey Stam, Presley Kobes and Kallie Breuk each scored 22 points for the Kodiaks, while Meena Litt had 16 for Westsyde.

Tournament Awards & Honours

  • MVP: Solene Jackson, Holy Cross
  • Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Kyla Limon, St. Thomas More Collegiate
  • Championship Players of the Game: Solene Jackson, Holy Cross; Demicah Arnaldo, St. Thomas More Collegiate
  • Most Sportsmanlike Team: Fernie Falcons
  • Inspiring Bandit Scholarship: Mia Beliveau, St. Thomas More Collegiate

All-Stars

  • First Team: Kallie Breukelman (Credo Christian), Mia Beliveau (St. Thomas More Collegiate), Demicah Arnaldo (St. Thomas More Collegiate), Alyssa Palma (Holy Cross), Isla Iannuzzi (Holy Cross)
  • Second Team: Hailey Stam (Credo Christian), Ryen Scott (Westsyde), Meena Litt (Westsyde), Amelie Baril (Pacific Academy), Kensie Cole (Collingwood)