The Acwsalcta Thunder team and their coaches receive the 2026 provincial champions banner for their school in Bella Coola. Photo courtesy BC School Sports
A Youth basketball team from the small Nuxalk community of Bella Coola have become provincial champions after an intense tournament in “Langley.”
Last week, the eight-member Acwsalcta Thunder took the top spot of 16 high-school teams across the province, after winning the 2026 B.C. School Sports 1A Girls Basketball Provincial Tournament.
On Feb. 28, their fourth and final game of the tournament began after singing and drumming the Nuxalk anthem.
The Thunder’s supporters could be seen wearing purple to cheer for the team.
A large Nuxak Nation flag waved in the crowd.
The team gained their final victory over the Cedars Christian Eagles from “Prince George,” winning with a score of 78-62.
Members of the team — now back at school in Bella Coola, a town with under 1,000 residents — spoke to IndigiNews about the recent history-making win as the first team to bring the provincials banner back to the Acwsalcta School. At last year’s championships, the girls came in second place.
Annika Parr, named as the tournament’s most valuable player, spoke proudly of her team’s accomplishments in this year’s games.
“The determination that all of us have, and the support that we have from our community, is definitely a good feeling,” she said.
That support was on full display last weekend, with over 100 fans filling the stands to cheer for the Thunder — many driving the more-than 900 kilometre, 12-hour route from their home community.
There was an exhilarating energy at the championship, and at the final buzzer, family and friends from Bella Coola rushed onto the court to celebrate the Thunder’s win.
‘Show how much pride they have’
The enthusiastic community support was evident across social media platforms, with Bella Coola community members sharing links to watch the game online, and posting their encouragement to the team.
Acwsalcta Thunder asked their supporters to wear purple, the colour of their jerseys. And their fans heeded the call, colouring the stands purple at the Langley Events Centre.
There was also cultural support for the team, with the Nuxalk Rising Facebook page sharing a video of the team’s supporters singing a traditional women’s song, “Ista,” for the girls before they played.
But support for the teen athletes began long before the team left for the tournament. Fundraising is a big part of their team’s efforts, enabling them to compete in many games and tournaments.
Members of the team spoke highly about that backing from their fans, noting their fundraisers consistently sell out of tickets.
“Most of our school went out to watch us,” Parr explained.
“And then others from our community went out as well to support, which just shows how much support that we get from our community.”
Parr’s twin sister, Ayanna, also plays with Thunder — and said she felt that this year their wider community went the extra mile to root for the team, not just friends and family as in previous competitions.
“Everybody was cheering for us,” recalled Ayanna, named Most Outstanding Defensive Player this year.
“It was hyping us up, bringing the energy, and making us better on the court.”
Now that they’ve returned to school, Annika found many posters around the school celebrating their win.
“We want to show everyone that we can do it,” she said.
“It feels so great … this has never happened, especially for our small community.”
The win has also proven inspiring for Bella Coola’s youngest basketball fans, showing them what they too could achieve.
“Especially the younger kids who enjoy the sport,” Ayanna said, “they just look up to all of us, make us more determined on the court, to prove to people what we can really do.”
In their hometown, a community feast is planned for next Monday to celebrate the victory. Feasts and other events are common to celebrate Bella Coola’s Youth basketball stars.
“I just think it really shows how strong the community is and how much they support us,” said Thunder’s starting forward player, Tiara Milton,“considering we also have dinners after Junior All Native [basketball tournament] every year after we won, and just it being now provincials, too.
“It’s really awesome how everyone can come out — and show how much pride they have in us.”
‘Work hard and let your talent shine’
The team practices constantly, both before and after school, and on evenings and weekends. Training ranges from solo exercises, to scrimmages and one-on-one plays.
All six players who spoke to IndigiNews said they’ve been playing basketball since age five, and added they’re hoping to show new generations of younger players what can happen through hard work and determination.
One of their coaches at the provincials tournament, Jonas Anderson, praised the players’ commitment and also enthusiasm for the sport.
“I think the determination part is super easy for them,” he explained, “because it’s always enjoyable.”
The players have also shown dedication to their local team, even while some travel to play with different teams elsewhere as well.
Family connections have kept twin sisters Annika and Ayanna Parr close with fellow teammates Kashlyn Mack and Skylene Andy, who remembered travelling together to tournaments since they were eight.
After the provincials, Andy was named the Acwsalcta Championship Player of the Game, and Mack as Provincials First Team All Star.
Other players who helped win the provincial championship are Lakiesha Pootlass, Shaylen Moody, and Kaylee Cahoose.
Last October, at the recent inaugural World Tribes Invitational tournament in “Las Vegas” — an all-Indigenous competition — the Nuxalk team placed third.
To Annika, the tournaments are always a learning experience, whether or not they win top spot.
“We live and learn,” she said.
Competing in the provincial championship is the culmination of the team’s efforts after training and playing all year.
For Anderson, it was great to see the team’s hard-earned efforts and dedication recognized.
“I think all the awards that our team pulled in were very deserved,” he said.
And even though there are few school tournaments throughout the year, the team keeps busy by playing against other teams in Bella Coola.
Annika spoke of her team’s commitment to always keep improving their game.
“We prepare by playing against guys at our hometown,” she said. “We practice a lot.”
Girls’ and boys’ teams often practice together to sharpen everyone’s skills, Anderson added.
“Usually, we’re in the gym up to four and a half to six hours a week,” he explained, “just working on their skills outside of their game and practice time … with myself and a couple of my junior boys there that want to get better as well.”
It’s inspiring when small teams like Thunder can compete and win against larger teams, Anderson said, believing it proves “you don’t need to have the numbers if you work hard and you let your talent shine.”
More games to come
With some of the team members set to graduate this year, their plans range from continuing education in nursing, arts and sports science; but they intend to keep playing basketball. The Parr twins are even committed to playing with the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves basketball team in the fall.
The school year is not over yet though, with the team headed back to “Langley” for the Junior All Native Tournament that begins March 15 — and which Acwsalcta Thunder have won in their division for the past three years.
For Annika, it was “an uplifting experience just to get our community known” — and a reminder that their countless hours of practice and team-building paid off with last weekend’s proud accomplishment.
Her twin sister agreed, proudly.
“Especially,” Ayanna chimed in, “coming from a school with barely any girls that are really interested in basketball.
“I feel like we have so much faith in one another.”
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