GW Graham basketball star Deanna Tuchscherer helped Team BC to a silver medal finish at U-15 basketball nationals, held last week in Regina.
The Chilliwack native averaged 12.6 points per game, leading Team BC in scoring and field goal percentage (59.5) while pulling down 10 rebounds per match.
Her team opened pool play last Monday with a 75-23 demolition of Prince Edward Island, with Tuchscherer netting eight points and five rebounds.
Team BC’s second outing was closer, a 53-41 triumph over Alberta with Tuchscherer draining a game-high 18 points.
A quarter-final pitted Team BC against New Brunswick, and Tuchscherer’s crew cruised to a 68-37 win.
The semi-final had Team BC facing a heavily favoured Ontario squad that has dominated this tournament in recent years.
Ontario smacked three opponents on their way to the semi-final, but Tuchscherer’s 14 points and 11 rebounds helped Team BC to a 54-51 win and a berth in the final.
Team BC faced Quebec with gold on the line, falling 61-49 despite Tuchscherer’s 15 points and five boards.
“Our goal going into nationals was to medal and we were able to do that,” she said. “Ontario was the number one team going into the tournament and we were able to beat them in the semi-final, but that game took a lot out of us.”
“Unfortunately we came up just short of gold but we’re proud that we were able to get silver.”
Tuchscherer was coached by legendary bench boss Rich Chambers, who was assisted by her father, University of the Fraser Valley coach Al Tuchscherer.
It was a lot of fun and very cool experience being able to represent our province with some of the tops players from British Columbia, and be coached by coach Chambers,” Deanna said. “All summer my teammates and coaches pushed me to take my game to another level and I think I was able to show that at nationals.”