British Columbia High School 'AAA' Championship

While high school state championship tournaments were taking place in the United States this past weekend, the province of British Columbia, Canada was hosting the 2015 British Columbia High School ‘AAA’ Championship. The tournament provided an opportunity for some future NCAA players to battle it out on the hardwood for the ‘AAA’ crown. Winning a championship takes dedication and teamwork, but winning back-to-back championships is one of the most challenging feats for a team; Brookswood entered this year’s championship tournament looking to do just that.

Led 2016 Aislinn Konig and 2015 UC Irvine commit Tayla Jackson, the Bobcats of Brookswood overcame all challengers to repeat as BCHS ‘AAA’ Champions. The 2014 championship, where Konig won MVP, was her coming out year. In this year’s championship, she was again awarded the MVP, proving that she is the top rated player in the British Columbia Province. Her offensive play was exceptional, consistently hitting the outside jumper, but most impressive was her defensive mindset and ability to shut down the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

Konig’s British Columbia Elite teammate and UC Irvine commit Tayla Jackson showed great discipline as the team’s only post player who battled the likes of Lauren Yearwood and the Roufusse sisters without fouling out. One thing Jackson will bring Coach Doug Oliver and his staff at UC Irvine is her very competitive nature. She hates to lose and is willing to do anything her team needs to win. A player to watch in the future from Brookswood is 6’0” forward Louise Forsyth.

Even though their championship win was an extraordinary accomplishment, Brookswood did not face an easy road getting there. In their semifinal match up, they squared off against the 2014 Runner-Up Oak Bay and 2015 Oregon commit Lauren Yearwood. In a back and forth affair, the difference in Brookswood’s 64-50 victory was the Bobcats’ balanced scoring. Yearwood showed great footwork in the low post and was virtually unstoppable when she got the ball down low. When she steps on campus in the fall for the Ducks, she will make an immediate impact. In the third place game, Oak Bay defeated Riverside 71-49.

Waiting for Brookswood in the championship game was W.J. Mount and their front line of 2015 6’2” forward Alicia Roufosse, 2015 6’2” post Cierra Roufosse and 5’10” wing Penielle M’Bikata. The Roufosse sisters were difficult to stop in the high-low game and on the offensive boards. Alicia is a lefty forward who can post up or face up from the elbow depending on where her mismatch stands. Sierra is efficient in sealing the defender down low and is a menace on the offensive boards. Penielle M’Bikata excels in transition, while her half court game is coming along. The Hawks of W.J. Mount kept the game close with the lead change multiple times, but the win for Brookswood came down to second chance points and timely baskets down the stretch to give the Bobcats the 60-48 victory.

Game film and evaluations from the British Columbia High School ‘AAA’ Championship will be added to the Premier Basketball Report database for subscribing college coaches to check out.