Ducheck chosen for Team BC U15 team
When co-directors, Dustin Hyde and Chris Terris established Lake City Basketball in 2016, their hope was that they could foster the development and popularity of the game in the South Okanagan.
After experiencing steady growth for the first few years, plans were interrupted by the Covid pandemic.
“Like a lot of businesses, especially in the sports industry, we had to put everything on hold, which meant we lost a lot of the momentum that we had started to gain,” said Director Dustin Hyde.
After a few years of sporadic starts and stops, things started to turn around in 2022 and now their programs are selling out within a few days of opening for registration.
This Spring, 10 club teams are running, including three girls’ teams–the first female teams since before the pandemic. In 2023, 118 players tried out for an opportunity to participate on a club basketball team. In 2024, that number climbed to 180 athletes.
The organization also has three youth leagues in Penticton for players in grades 2-10 and two skills academies running in Oliver.
According to director, Chris Terris, the rapid increase in programs is starting to pay dividends.
“Dustin and I always hoped that if we were able to create more opportunities for more kids, then ultimately, the players and teams in our communities would thrive, which we’re starting to see again.”
Most recently, three local players attended the Team B.C. ID Camps. Summerland’s Dezi Ducheck, who has been a leader on the Lake City Elite 17 team for the past two years, attended the U17 camp April 5-7 and Mateo Ducheck and Penticton’s, Liam Reid attended the U15 Team B.C. camp April 12-14 at Collingwood Secondary in West Vancouver. Both are members of Lake City’s U15 team, one of the best club basketball teams in the province in their age group.
Mateo Ducheck was chosen as an alternate player on the U15 Team BC.
“It’s incredible that Mateo was selected as an alternate. 95 players attended the camp, and for a player from outside the bubble of the Lower Mainland or Victoria to get chosen as one of the top twelve is pretty remarkable,” said Terris.
Lake City Elite 17 coach Spencer McKay, who played for the B.C. provincial and Canadian National team programs, knows the impact goes beyond a few players.
“All three boys came home confident that they were among the best players in the province. Not only does that give them more confidence, but that confidence filters down in our program. Their teammates gain confidence. Younger players in our program start to dream bigger. It’s fabulous.”