Big Ticket 2019: Meet the teams who will compete in the biggest start of the basketball season
North Surrey - Senior Girls
New head coach Sheldon Guy has a young team this year but is hoping the Big Ticket can be a springboard for future success.
"We are looking to highlight our athleticism and our youth" he explained to BC Sports Hub. The core of our seniors are and can probably compete with the tops in the province. Last year they were not used effectively to showcase their talents."
The team is comprised of "75% Grade ten's" and features up and coming talents such as grade nine Avaani Pagely and grade ten Star, Prithika Kumar.
New Westminster - Senior Boys
The Hyacks goal is clear this season; be a playoff team and get a scholarship for one of their players. The Big Ticket can definitely help with the latter, but they were not able to make playoffs last year despite beating local rivals Byrne Creek in league play.
Grade twelve’s Kirk Bothwell, Udhay Mangat and standout grade eleven forward Caleb Johnson should be players to watch during the season.
A.R. MacNeill - Senior Boys
Last year was a record-setting campaign for the Ravens. They qualified for their first-ever provincial tournament after being runners up at Lower Mainlands and then finished fourth at the provincial tournament. Not a bad season to say the least.
"Our expectations heading into the season is quite high," said head coach Stewart Siy. "We have a core group that got some provincials experience last year and we are hoping that experience can help us get there again this year."
Hudson and Everett Swaim should be a great duo, and dynamic guard Jackson Thackwray should be one of the best at his position in the province.
Killarney - Senior Boys
For first-year bench boss Yash Zandiyeh, the founder of BC Hoop Scoop, the goals for his debut season in charge are clear.
"Be competitive throughout the season so we're ready for playoff time" he explained. "Be a cohesive group that believes in one another and carry ourselves as a TEAM."
The team is looking forward to testing themselves right off the bat and "taking part in an expanding, very well run tournament."
Abbotsford Traditional - Senior Boys
The Titans had an excellent season in 2019, finishing first in the Chilliwack Invitational and the Big Bear Classic. This year, they're aiming for an AA provincial title according to head coach Don Haviland. Keep an eye out for Gurshan Sahota and Sami Birdi, two players who are expected to be key contributors for the team.