The Thunder, Spectrum Community School's senior boys basketball team, was met with thunderous applause when the provincial champions returned to the Saanich school on March 10.
Just two days before, the squad was in Langley battling the Dover Bay Dolphins in the first all-Island B.C. 4A final since 1978. Four hard-fought quarters saw Spectrum snag an 81-66 victory.
It was a game forward Tyler Felt will remember forever.
B次元官网网址淭he buzzer sounding, everybody storming the court B次元官网网址� even guys we donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� he said, recounting the final seconds of the championship showdown.
For head coach Tyler Verde, who teaches math, chemistry and physical education at Spectrum, those final seconds were his favourite of the game.
B次元官网网址淪eeing them all hugging each other, telling each other how much they love each other as a family, is really what does it for me,B次元官网网址� he said.
This was the second straight year Spectrum has topped B.C. high school basketball rankings.
B次元官网网址淚t's been an awesome journey for us,B次元官网网址� said school principal Aaron Norris. B次元官网网址淭o be in a rare group of schools that have repeated as provincial champions two years in a row, is really, really incredible.B次元官网网址�
Verde explained much of the outfitB次元官网网址檚 success stems from the playersB次元官网网址� connection on and off the court.
B次元官网网址淭hey are a family. They work together, they spend all their time together,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really, really special group thatB次元官网网址檚 been together a long time.B次元官网网址�
Guard Justin Hinrichsen, who is set to play for the University of Victoria next year with Felt, expressed a similar sentiment.
B次元官网网址淲e had 11 returning players from last year, so this team was really close,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲inning together was special.B次元官网网址�
Though connection went a long way in helping the team succeed, the Thunder wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be anywhere without dedication, grit and lots of sweat.
According to guard J. Elijah Helman, the squad runs drills after school every day for two to three hours at a time, and many of the players also squeeze in an hour of practice before most schooldays start.
While all but five of the ThunderB次元官网网址檚 players are graduating in June, the teamB次元官网网址檚 legacy of hard work will endure at Spectrum for years to come.
B次元官网网址淭hat culture is going to remain that theyB次元官网网址檝e helped build,B次元官网网址� said Verde, who added that he has been approached by younger students who want to help the Thunder win another provincial 4A title.
Norris noted that the teamB次元官网网址檚 success has positively affected other Spectrum athletes.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e seeing a resurgence of athletics in our school and itB次元官网网址檚 not just basketball B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 soccer, itB次元官网网址檚 cross-country running, itB次元官网网址檚 volleyball, and weB次元官网网址檙e getting a lot more students involved in school sport,B次元官网网址� he said.
Those entering the Spectrum gymnasium will now be greeted with a reminder of the Thunder's consecutive victories. Hung high on a wall, the team's two provincial 4A titles are immortalized on big, blue banners.
