Tag: basketball

Alisha Roberts (5’7, G, 2012) signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at NCAA Division 1 Pepperdine Waves in Malibu, California.

Roberts is one of the top high school recruits in the country and received interest from several NCAA and CIS schools. She had narrowed her focus to University of Southern Utah, UBC, UVic and University of Windsor, but opted for Southern California for the combination of basketball and academics that Pepperdine can offer.

Roberts career as a York House Tiger is well documented. Roberts played a crucial role in leading the Tigers to two consecutive ‘AA’ BC Championships and this year will lead the Tigers into the challenge of ‘AAA’ basketball for the first time in school history.

“Growing up I always had dreams of being able to play basketball professionally,” says Roberts. When she steps on to the court in Malibu, she will be one step away from fulfilling that dream.

This past summer, Roberts played with the U17 BC Provincial Team that earned a Silver medal at the Canadian National Championships where she averaged 15ppg, 4asst and 4rbs. “At the end of the day it is about improving myself individually as a basketball player, being the best I can be and not worrying about that pressure,” says Roberts.

In improving her basketball I.Q. she maintains great relationships with her coaches. Coach Winston Brown says, “Alisha is not only the kind of player that coaches dream about having on their team, but also, more significantly, the type of player that forces you to be a better coach. I found myself tirelessly working to find new ways to challenge her as a student of the game, as well as ways for our team to take advantage of the diverse and well-rounded skill package she possesses.”

Roberts’ strong basketball foundation has been shaped by the guidance she receives from York House and Provincial team coaches, but it started with her incredible caring and supportive family with a strong basketball history.

Alisha’s two older sisters, Norma-Jean and Lisa, both attended and played for the CIS Laurentian Voyageurs. Her father, Norm Roberts, has coached at the Provincial, high school and club level for years and has given so much to the basketball community.

“I am fortunate enough to have a father who played basketball and is very good. He was MVP of the Rhodesian Team [Zimbabwe], and has taught me almost everything I know,” says Roberts. Athletic Director, David Prissinotti adds, “Norm has been such a great asset to our program. He brings so much knowledge, experience along with an incredibly caring and supportive approach. It has been very special to have Alisha and her family be such a big part of our Tigers tradition.”

The YHS Athletics department has some very exciting news. For the 2011/12 year, our Senior Tigers Basketball team will be “going AAA” after winning two straight AA BC Championships and eight titles since 1999.

York House has been the most dominant AA basketball program. The Tigers play many AAA teams each year and often rank among the top AAA teams. Many in the basketball community have often asked why the Tigers are not AAA. While it has been debated in the past, we are a small AA school and for many reasons, we are a better fit to play AA in the future. Playing AAA this year will likely be a one year challenge embraced by the most talented team York House has had.

To get the inside scoop, we sat down with Tigers stars, Grade 11’s Cherub and Alisha.

After a very successful season, Tigers Coach Mr. Brown approached the girls with the idea of going AAA. However, the final decision was left up to the girls.

“It had to be a team decision, so the whole team met a couple of times to talk about it,” says Alisha. “We were told that no matter what decision we made, the coaches would support it.”

The overwhelming consensus was to go AAA. “Winning the Provincials made us confident,” Alisha says, noting that the experience the team gained this year has made them feel ready for the challenge.

“It will virtually be the same team as last season. We’ve already had time to grow together as a team, and know what our roles are,” says Cherub, pointing out the advantage of having no Gr. 12’s on the team (no one graduated this year).

The girls both admit that there is no guarantee they will win the big prize at the end of the season. It’s solely about the challenge – the experience.

“We’ve already won two Provincial Championships. We have nothing to lose – no pressure to hold our top ranking like in AA,” says Cherub. “I’m excited. It’s the highest level you can play at. We both know a lot of the players in AAA, some of them are our old teammates on provincial teams.”

“It’s the best teams in the Province,” Alisha chimes in. “When we’ve talked about AAA before, I always thought it would be an awesome opportunity. To accomplish that would be amazing.”

Alisha and Cherub have been playing for YHS since Grade 8, but started off young, developing a passion for the game at six or seven years old. It’s no surprise that basketball runs in both of their families. Alisha’s dad (assistant coach of our junior team), Norman Roberts, was MVP of the Rhodesian team (Zimbabwe), and both her older sisters played at the university level. Both of Cherub’s parents were high school basketball stars, and her younger brothers play as well.

“This is the most talented Tigers team. Despite the many great teams and great players over the years, YHS have not had this level of talent and depth at each position. Next season is the year to go after a AAA title,” says Senior Athletics Director David Prissinotti, nothing that the coaching staff is in full support of the decision and will work hard to ensure the Sr. Tigers benefit from the best resources they can provide the team.

So what does this mean for the Tigers? York House will still be playing in the same league and playing in many of the same tournaments during the year but instead of playing in a couple of AA tournaments, the Tigers will be in the top AAA tournaments all year and will attend the AAA Lower Mainland Championships to qualify for the AAA BC Championships.

Students, parents, staff, alumnae and friends of YHS will be able to see the Senior Tigers play at the highest level in high school sports, and perhaps even cheer them on locally at the Provincials in North Vancouver next year, rather than having to travel up to Kamloops.