Solene Jackson Secures Family Bragging Rights with Dominant Championship Performance
Solene Jackson has officially claimed family bragging rights after leading the Holy Cross Crusaders to a decisive victory in the Double A girls basketball provincial championship. The daughter of former B.C. Lions receiver Paris Jackson delivered a spectacular performance that will be remembered for years to come.
A Historic Victory at Langley Events Centre
The No. 1 seeded Holy Cross Crusaders dominated the No. 3 St. Thomas More Knights with an 81-51 triumph in Saturday's championship game at the Langley Events Centre. Jackson, a 6-foot forward in Grade 12, was instrumental in the victory, scoring 30 points and pulling down an impressive 25 rebounds. Her outstanding performance earned her recognition as one of the tournament's most valuable players.
"I am going to mention that," chuckled Solene when asked about her father's high school basketball achievements. "He doesn't have a title, though. I'm the first in the family to have one."
Following in Athletic Footsteps
Paris Jackson enjoyed an illustrious 11-season career with the B.C. Lions, winning Grey Cups in 2006 and 2011 while recording two 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. Before his professional football success, he was a multi-sport star at North Vancouver's Carson Graham Secondary, earning first all-star team honours at the 1998 Quad A boys basketball provincials.
Crusaders coach Amy Beauchamp described Solene Jackson as "one of a kind" and noted that Saturday's remarkable showing "was just a normal thing for her." Jackson has established herself as one of the province's premier players throughout the season.
Championship Saturday Highlights Across Divisions
The championship games featured compelling storylines across all four tiers of competition:
- Quad A: The No. 1 Argyle Pipers secured their first provincial title with a 72-41 victory over the No. 2 Riverside Rapids. The Pipers held Riverside to the lowest point total in a Quad A final since 2006.
- Triple A: The No. 1 Vernon Panthers captured their first B.C. banner with a 71-62 win over the No. 2 Langley Christian Lightning.
- Single A: The No. 1 Acwsalcta Thunder claimed a historic first basketball title for Bella Coola with a 78-62 victory over the No. 2 Cedar Christian Eagles.
Notable Individual Performances
Several players delivered standout performances during championship weekend:
- Solene Jackson (Holy Cross): 30 points, 25 rebounds, tournament MVP honors
- Isabella Miljkovic (Argyle): 19 points, tournament MVP
- Chloe Collins (Vernon): 32 points, 7-of-15 from three-point range, tournament MVP
- Kashlyn Mack (Acwsalcta): 22 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds
Coaching Connections and Historic Moments
The Quad A final featured an intriguing coaching dynamic between Argyle's Anthony Beyrouti and Riverside's Paul Langford, who co-founded the VK Basketball club program together in 2016. Beyrouti acknowledged the friendly rivalry, noting that Langford "has likely worked with every player on the Argyle team at some point in club ball."
In Single A, twin sisters Annika and Ayanna Parr led Acwsalcta to their historic victory. Annika, named tournament MVP, expressed the significance of the moment: "We did it for our nation. We did it for all the nations around us, all the small communities." Both sisters have committed to play for the UNBC Timberwolves next season.
Attendance and Venue Changes
This marked the second season that tournament organizers moved the Saturday title games to the Langley Events Centre's main arena, which has a capacity of 6,000 spectators. Attendance reached approximately 2,300, slightly down from last year's 2,900. The average margin of victory across all four championship games was 22 points, significantly higher than last season's eight-point average.
The Holy Cross Crusaders utilized their height advantage effectively, outrebounding St. Thomas More 65-27. Forward Alyssia Palmer contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists to support Jackson's dominant performance.
