It took reaching the university level for Tia Tsang and Jessica Jones to at last become regular teammates.
The Grade 12 basketball standouts both signed their National Letter Intent last week with Simon Fraser University after accepting scholarship offers. The pair are part of the Clan’s five player 2016 recruiting class.
Tsang and Jones grew up together in the Richmond Youth Basketball League and were regulars in Basketball B.C.’s Regional Training Centre. They did enjoy one summer as teammates with the U15 provincial team but always have gone their separate ways when it came time for the high school season.
Jones is a key member of a talented McMath Wildcats squad that is one of the favourites to win the B.C. AAA championship this coming season.
Tsang does play basketball at McRoberts but also has a leading role on the senior girls volleyball team that is a provincial medal threat in Vernon next week.
“It was one of my big debates when I was in Grade 7,” smiled Tsang. “I wasn’t sure where I was going to high school but I kind of wanted to stay with my group of friends from my elementary school in my own catchment area. It has been debated right through my high school years too and (my friends from McMath) are always bugging me about it.”
Jones and Tsang will be on the perimeter for SFU and are versatile enough to play any of three positions. There was no plan to sign at the same school but they did make an official visit to UVic together.
Tsang was the first to make a verbal commitment to SFU near the end of her Grade 11 year. Jones followed but not after giving a lot of thought about UBC where her mom — Theresa DeBou — and current coach happened to play.
“I really tried to make both of them see the light,” laughed legendary McMath coach Anne Gillrie-Carre, pointing to the UBC logo on her sweater. “Now I will have to go cheer for SFU next year and it’s something I’m going to have to practice.
“Honestly though, they have both made a great choice.”
The girls got their first taste of SFU Basketball way back in Grade 6 when they attended the annual camp Bruce Langford and his players run in Penticton. This summer, they made regular visits to the Burnaby Mountain campus and took part in unofficial pick-up games.
“Overall, we both have a better relationship with Bruce because we have known him for a long time,” said Jones. “That camp is a tradition for them and it’s kind of neat to know we will be part of it again (as instructors this time).”
Both girls are outstanding athletes that knew they had to eventually put nearly all their focus on hoops.
They were one-time teammates in the Islanders rep softball program and Jones left behind her soccer career after her Grade 9 year. Tsang has managed to juggle her volleyball which is a big part of the athletic culture at McRoberts.
“I just found myself getting more busy and coaches wanted you at their sport,” said Tsang. “But even when I was younger and had conflicts, basketball would be the sport. I kind of knew then that was the way I was going.”
Tsang was part of a successful basketball group at McRoberts that finished fifth at the Grade 9 provincials. Since then, some players have stepped away from the sport. She hopes they will reunite for their Grade 12 year.
It’s a big season for Jones and her Wildcat teammates who got a taste a year ago by reaching the provincial quarter-finals and nearly upset No. 2 ranked Mouat. McMath went on to place fifth and Jones was named a second team all-star.
“(Winning the provincials) is something I think about everyday,” she smiled. “We have learned from the past and have hopefully developed the resiliency to take us over the top.”
