Two basketball players from the South Okanagan have received scholarships from Lake City Basketball in Penticton.
Dezi Ducheck and Marshel Holt were the recipients of the organization鈥檚 2025 scholarships of $1,000 each towards their post-secondary education.
鈥淲hen we began the process of developing criteria for these awards, our driving mantra was to find student-athletes that represented what our organization valued: hard work, integrity, selflessness and leadership both on and off the court,鈥� said Chris Terris, director of Lake City Basketball. 鈥淏oth Dezi and Marshel exude all of these qualities."
Ducheck, who graduated from Summerland Secondary School in June, will attend Mount Royal University in Calgary where he will pursue a degree in health and physical education. He will also play basketball for the Cougars.
鈥淒ezi is the most talented player to come through our program,鈥� Terris said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 worked incredibly hard to make himself a better athlete and basketball player. It鈥檚 not an accident he鈥檚 become one of the best players in the province.鈥�
Holt graduated from Penticton Secondary School. He will study at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, pursuing a culinary degree. He will also play for the school鈥檚 basketball team.
鈥淢arshel is such a great story,鈥� said Dustin Hyde, who along with Terris established Lake City Basketball in 2016.
鈥淗e just started playing basketball competitively a few years ago. I鈥檓 not sure we鈥檝e had a player improve as quickly as Marshel has.鈥�
The two players were in Lake City鈥檚 development leagues before becoming key players in the club basketball program.
Both have also volunteered with the program. Ducheck was a coach in the development leagues and later as a practice coach for the U14 boys club team. Holt has been a youth coach in the summer and spring break camps.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great for our younger athletes to be mentored by players who have been in our program, especially ones who know how much time and effort is needed to develop into a next-level player. It鈥檚 such a source of pride to see players give back in our programs,鈥� Terris said.
Lake City Basketball has awarded scholarships to graduating players since 2021. Previous recipients were Brix Corday of Summerland Secondary School and Yar Ayuen of Penticton Secondary School in 2024, Sam Plant of Summerland Secondary School and Ollie Jacques of Penticton Secondary School in 2023,
Kayci Loewen of Penticton Secondary School and Kayla Burns of Osoyoos Secondary School in 2022 and Richter Heintz of Penticton Secondary School, Jacob Mullin of Summerland Secondary School and Megan Freeman of Similkameen Secondary School in 2021.
