Last 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥檚 B.C. champion 琉璃神社 Owls were heralded by many as one of the best senior 产辞测蝉鈥� basketball teams ever assembled.
Now, with the corps of that team no longer wearing black and gold, the 2016-17 version of the Owls is in the process of carving out an identity all its own.
Losing the likes of Parker Simson, Matt Lafontaine and Nav Sandhu to graduation, and the 6-foot-9 Grant Shephard to a school in Florida, most programs would likely be left in shambles.
But led by Grade 12 guard Mason Bourcier, the newest edition of the KSS squad is off to a 9-2 start this season and is currently ranked No. 2 among the top 4A teams in the province.
With a relatively young lineup, head coach Harry Parmar sees the Owls as a work in 辫谤辞驳谤别蝉蝉鈥攂耻迟 one with plenty of potential.
鈥淲别鈥檙别 a young team, a lot of the guys are inexperienced so we have a lot of learning to 诲辞,鈥� said Parmar.
鈥淥耻谤 work rate needs to improve, we have to figure out a way to put together a full 40 minutes of basketball.
鈥泪迟 all takes time, but the more we play and learn from tough situations, the better 迟丑别测鈥檒濒 get. Hopefully 飞别鈥檒濒 be right where we want to be come 贵别产谤耻补谤测.鈥�
In addition to Bourcier, who is so far averaging 24 points per game, the Owls will be leaning on 6-foot-9 senior forward Owen Keyes and Grade 11 guard Matt Williamson for leadership and on-court production.
KSS is coming off a second-place showing at the , losing only the final to No. 1-ranked Walnut Grove 83-62.
碍别濒辞飞苍补鈥檚 only other defeat this season came against Burnaby South who were, at the time, ranked third.
With such a significant turnover to their roster, this 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥檚 Owls may not strike fear into their opponents in the same manner as did the 2016 B.C. champs. And 迟丑补迟鈥檚 just fine with Harry Parmar.
鈥淓惫别谤测辞苍别 knows who we are, but they also know who 飞别鈥檝别 濒辞蝉迟,鈥� said Parmar. 鈥泪鈥檓 hoping teams will underestimate us and hopefully 飞别鈥檒濒 have some surprises for 迟丑别尘.鈥�
As for how KSS continues to put a competitive team on the floor despite all the key personnel changes, Parmar credits a healthy and well-supported basketball environment in 琉璃神社.
鈥淏补蝉办别迟产补濒濒 is on the rise in 琉璃神社, 颈迟鈥檚 just getting better and 产别迟迟别谤,鈥� he said. 鈥淲别 have leaders (on the Owls) who have learned the game the right way coming up and they work very hard. Our junior program here is very good, and so are the minor programs in 琉璃神社. It all 肠辞苍迟谤颈产耻迟别蝉.鈥�
KSS is in Edmonton this weekend for the Reb Invitational at Jasper Place, featuring teams from California, Ontario and across Alberta.
In Okanagan league play on Tuesday night, the Owls defeated the Mt. Boucherie Bears 110-66.
Matt Williamson scored 25 points for the Owls, while Bourcier added 21. Sterling Peterson netted 26 for the Bears.
