BC Warriors were undefeated heading into today’s gold medal game against Saskatchewan A

Prince George, BC – It was a hard-fought game that, in the end, saw the BC Warriors beat Saskatchewan A 21-18 to win the 2013 Junior West Regional Wheelchair Basketball Championship at Duchess Park this afternoon.

The three-on-three tournament featured top junior aged athletes from BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan who will be eligible to compete in the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

The BC Warriors were undefeated in six games prior to today’s gold medal match.  "They played really well, they really came together as a team," says Vancouver coach, Marni Abbott-Peter.  "In the three-on-three competition, there’s really no superstar, everybody has to work together and everbody has to contribute."

"I think they all did that and it showed with the end result in the tournament, which is great."

Abbott-Peter says the two BC teams competing at this weekend’s event – 12 athletes in total – were selected from a pool of approximately 25 athletes in the province who are eligible to compete in the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

The Warriors’ Jack Kosterman was selected the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.  Kosterman, shown at right, receiving the honour from BC Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Shirley Bond.

The 14-year-old Langley teen is seen a rising star in wheelchair basketball.  Last year, he received the Junior Athlete of the Year Award from the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society.

Alberta A finished in third place at this weekend’s seven team tournament.  In congratulating all the athletes, coaches and parents, Bond said the gold medal game was an amazing one to watch right down to the final buzzer.  She thanked the Harris family – Pat, Nancy, and Avril (an athlete on the BC Blazers team) – for their role in organizing the Junior West Championship. 

"(They) make a huge difference in Prince George – teaching us about ability and about the importance of participating in sports like this."

Photo below shows members of the gold medal BC Warriors team