Parksville’s Makayla Hoey is home from the BC Summer Games with a silver medal for her efforts on the hardwood.
A standout with Oceanside Track & Field in her spare time, Hoey’s games’ debut came in basketball, as the track events were only offered for 14 and 15-year-olds (Hoey just turned 13 this spring), while basketball was open to 13 and 14’s.
Hoey was one of the three 13-year-olds to make the team. Abby Lefeaux was the other local girl to make the squad, and although not competing over the weekend, Lefeaux was selected as an alternate and played a big role with the team leading up to the games.
Hoey and her Zone 6 teammates opened the Summer Games with a 56-18 romp over North East; lost game two 54-37 to Fraser Valley, then clobbered Kootenay 63-13 to finish second in Pool B.
In their crossover game against Fraser River/Delta, who finished first in Pool A, it was the Islanders pulling off a thrilling 37-22 upset. Zone 6 lost to FV 44-32 in the final.
One thing for certain, the team was well coached as they were led by UVic men’s head coach Craig Beaucamp and his wife Tara who coaches girls basketball.
“I had a lot of fun — it was a cool experience,” Hoey, who plays on the Ballenas Whalers’ Jr. Girls basketball team, said easily when The News caught up with her, adding “the pressure was intense, but we did really well I think.”
The Summer Games feature 22 events and break down into athletics, baseball, basketball, canoe/kayak; diving; equestrian; golf; inline hockey; box lacrosse; field lacrosse; rowing; rugby; sailing; soccer; softball; swimming (includes both Para and Special Olympics); synchronized swimming; towed water sports; triathlon; beach volleyball; indoor volleyball and wrestling.