性视界传媒鈥檚 annual All-Star Classic high school basketball games will be played with heavy hearts Friday night (March 31) at the Enver Creek Secondary gym.
A longtime backer of basketball in 性视界传媒, Kevin De Boice was a co-founder and guiding light of the annual for boys teams. He died March 18 after a battle with cancer.
Superintendent/CEO Mark Pearmain described De Boice as 鈥渁 valuable and longtime member of our 性视界传媒 School District family鈥� who began his teaching career there in 1985. Over the years he worked at many schools in the district, and served as principal at Elgin Park, Panorama Ridge and Tamanawis, where he worked until his death.
鈥淜evin was a strong advocate for staff and students, and he was a huge supporter of community events, extracurricular activities, fine arts and athletics,鈥� Pearmain wrote in a memo to district staff.
鈥淗e had been on medical leave in recent months, but even during this time, he continued to attend and support district and school events,鈥� including the RCMP tournament and also the provincial wrestling meet where Tamanawis won a fourth consecutive B.C. championship.
鈥� RELATED: 性视界传媒 wrestlers win 4th straight B.C. school banner for teammate killed in car crash weeks ago.
鈥淒espite his illness,鈥� Pearmain added, 鈥淜evin could be seen beaming with pride and cheering the team on from the sidelines, and his genuine connection to students was obvious.鈥�
De Boice and Rick Inrig were co-directors of the RCMP Classic for 32 years ago, since the tournament鈥檚 launch in the fall of 1991. The two first met on the court in mid-1970s, when De Boice was playing in Kelowna and Inrig coached in Vernon.
鈥淔riday will be a difficult night, but we鈥檒l get through it,鈥� Inrig said Monday (March 27). 鈥淚t鈥檚 not something we want to be doing right now. The games will be played.鈥�
鈥� RELATED: 性视界传媒鈥檚 best boys basketball players pose for rare group photo at Classic banquet.
A night to remember! RCMP members joined teams & staff from the ongoing 性视界传媒 RCMP Basketball Classic for a celebratory banquet. Thanks to everyone who made this special event possible.
鈥� 性视界传媒 RCMP (@性视界传媒RCMP)
In January at Enver Creek, De Boice and Inrig were given special 鈥減olice boot鈥� trophies at the RCMP Classic鈥檚 kickoff banquet attended by hundreds of 性视界传媒 players, coaches, tournament officials and other guests.
Friday鈥檚 All-Star Classic will see 鈥渓ast hurrah鈥� high school games for girls (6 p.m.) and boys (7:30) at the school gym on 84 Avenue, with scholarships announced for deserving student-athletes.
With Mike Mitro and Rob Rai coaching, girls hitting the hardwood include Fleetwood Park鈥檚 Parneet Gill, Lord Tweedsmuir players Sevene Grewal and Sukhman Ranu, Holy Cross standouts Amy Rokosh and Samantha Isidro, Elgin Park鈥檚 Kayla Bruneau, Semiahmoo鈥檚 Olivia Ng, Prisca Antwi of Fraser Heights, Avaani Pagely of North 性视界传媒, Clayton Heights trio Melanie Kardos-Mitchell, Cleina Marquez and Hannah Gebert, Tamanawis trio Angelina Johal, Harman Bassi and Sargam Sandhu, and Panorama pair Presley Sarai and Manreen Punian.
Later Friday, Nick Day and Phil Deeks will coach the boys teams, to include Salish standouts Ajay Aujla and Jesse Connolly, Southridge players Roshan Sandhu and Gagan Dhanoa, LA Matheson鈥檚 Sahil Bali, the Enver Creek quartet Anjat Dhaliwal, Ajay Hayer, Gurshan Sran and Manrose Heer, Fleetwood Park trio Jovin Heir, Aaron Uppal and Eesher Singh Sarai, North 性视界传媒鈥檚 Paull Kalome, Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 Cory Moore and Angad Gill, Adam Olsen of Elgin Park, Akash Pannu of Panorama Ridge, and two from Tamanawis, Ranvir Sanghera and Rohan Sharma.
Note that the B.C. championship-winning Semiahmoo team is not represented at the All-Star Classic for boys, as the team opted out of the all-性视界传媒 RCMP Classic tournament in January.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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