Thunder strike for provincial glory

by Gary Ahuja

The Acwsalcta Thunder are the 2026 BC School Sports 1A Girls Basketball Provincial Tournament champions. Garrett James photo

A new school, but the same battle-tested core — Bella Coola’s Acwsalcta Thunder finished what they started three years ago, capturing gold.

The Thunder rode a dominant second half to a 78-62 victory over the Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) in Saturday afternoon’s championship final on Ken Winslade Court inside the Arena Bowl at the BC School Sports 1A Girls Basketball Provincial Tournament.


Six of Acwsalcta’s eight players competed the past two seasons in nearby Hagensborg with the Sir Alexander Mackenzie Grizzlies, earning bronze in 2024 and silver in 2025. On Saturday, they completed the climb.

It was tight early, with five ties and five lead changes in a back-and-forth opening quarter. Acwsalcta seized control in the second, taking the lead for good and carrying a seven-point edge into halftime. The Thunder stretched the margin to 16 after three quarters and closed it out from there.

Kashlyn Mack was named Player of the Game after flirting with a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Ayanna Parr added 19 points, Skylene Andy had 18, and Annika Parr chipped in four.

Cadence Hooft paced the Eagles with 19 points, while Ana Davis added 16.

In the bronze medal game, Vanderhoof’s Nechako Valley Viqueens rallied past Abbotsford’s Dasmesh Falcons 61-52. Abby Dykstra scored 15 to lead the Viqueens, while Gurjaan Mahal had 18 for the Falcons.

Tournament Awards & Honours

  • MVP: Annika Parr, Acwsalcta
  • Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Ayanna Parr, Acwsalcta
  • Championship Players of the Game: Skylene Andy, Acwsalcta; Maeli Kelsh, Cedars Christian
  • Fair Play Award: Ebenezer Timbers

All-Stars

  • First Team: Kashlyn Mack (Acwsalcta), Chloe McEwan (Cedars Christian), Cadence Hooft (Cedars Christian), Abby Dykstra (Nechako Valley), Gurnoor Mahal (Dasmesh)
  • Second Team: Abigail Horner (Bulkley Valley Christian), Gurjaan Mahal (Dasmesh), Mya Hutt (Nechako Valley), Kareena Sandhu (St. John's School), Hannah Young (John Knox Christian)