FSJ Flight U17 boys place second at Swan City Skyline

The Fort St. John Flight Basketball under-17 boys’ black team placed second in the Swan City Skyline basketball tournament. (supplied)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Flight Basketball under-17 boys’ black team finished their season with a second-place win last weekend at the Swan City Skyline basketball tournament in Grande Prairie.

The tournament marked the end of the season for the black team, and according to head coach Ryan Galay, some of his players won’t be returning next season.

“There was four of them that played their last tournament with me in Grande Prairie, that I’ve been coaching for two to three years,” said Galay.

Galay, also the head coach of the North Peace Secondary School senior boys basketball team, said farewell to Bryce Telford, Chance Ross, Jack Hanson, and Chaste Cunningham, who will all graduate in a few weeks.

“It was a good last tournament, but it’s always emotional when you see some play their last game. I know a few of them will go on to play college basketball or other sports.”

Galay hopes his players take away “some lessons that can transfer into life” from the season.

“Work ethic, showing up on time, how you treat people even when you disagree with them,” said Galay.

“The players are supposed to be respectful and never get too excited or too low and always kind of stay even keel. I hope that they take that on to other things they do in life, whether that be sports, another career, or schoolwork.”

The boys’ black team played five tournaments during the season, winning two and placing second in three.

Galay says he looks forward to coaching the NPSS Grizzlies basketball team once the school year begins.

The U17 Flight girls placed second, and the U15 boys’ black team finished third in the Grande Prairie tournament. The U15 boys’ white and U17 boys’ white teams also competed, losing all four games they played.