and both left their mark on Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 basketball community.
This weekend, the duo and former teammates with the KSS Owls are coming home.
Shephard, Bourcier and the T-Birds will pay a visit to the UBC Okanagan campus for a pair of Canada West men香蕉视频直播檚 basketball games against the hometown Heat.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a cool experience, coming home and seeing a lot of the people I played basketball with and grew up with,香蕉视频直播� said Bourcier, a 6-foot-4 guard who is averaging 24 minutes and 4.7 points per game in his freshman season. 香蕉视频直播淚 know in talking to my dad, he said quite a few people are planning on coming. It should be a fun atmosphere.香蕉视频直播�
Ex-Owl teammate Parker Simson is also a member of the UBC roster but has yet to suit up for the T-Birds this season.
As Grade 11 players, Bourcier and Shephard香蕉视频直播攁long with Simson香蕉视频直播攆ormed a potent combination at KSS, helping lead the Owls to both the B.C. 4A boys high school title and Western Canada Basketball Tournament title in 2016.
When Shephard moved to Florida for his senior year of high school, Bourcier remained in Kelowna, guiding the Owls back to the final of the provincial championship and a silver-medal finish.
Both players spent many hours at the UBC Okanagan campus, honing their skills with the Heat program, eventually leading to the start of their university careers at UBC.
Like Bourcier, Shephard is excited to be headed back into familiar territory. Among the players on the hometown UBCO roster is an ex-Owls香蕉视频直播� teammate, Owen Keyes.
香蕉视频直播淚 played and trained a lot at UBCO, so it香蕉视频直播檚 a special place for me,香蕉视频直播� said the 6-foot-10 Shephard. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be great to see friends and family, kind of bit of a throwback weekend, I guess.
香蕉视频直播淚 think people will be cheering for both sides,香蕉视频直播� Shephard added. 香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be awesome.香蕉视频直播�
After signing with UBC last spring, Shephard went on to enjoy international success, helping Canada to its first ever gold medal at the FIBA U-19 world championship in Cairo, Egypt.
香蕉视频直播淚t was an amazing experience, something I香蕉视频直播檒l never forget,香蕉视频直播� he said.
At UBC, Shephard and Bouricer have been on a learning curve in their freshman seasons with the Thunderbirds (11-3), currently ranked the No. 6 men香蕉视频直播檚 team in the country.
Shephard, who has been averaging 14 minutes and nine points per game this season, said he feels his 香蕉视频直播渄evelopment has come along the last couple of months and my shot is a lot better.香蕉视频直播�
Bourcier, logging 24 minutes and averaging 4.7 points per night, says he香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渓earned a lot the first couple of months, not just as a basketball player, but I香蕉视频直播檝e grown as a person, too.香蕉视频直播�
As for his new team香蕉视频直播檚 potential, Bourcier likes the T-Birds chances of taking the 2017-18 season deep into the playoffs.
香蕉视频直播淲e have a really good team and lot of good players here,香蕉视频直播� Bourcier said. 香蕉视频直播淚 feel like we really do have a shot at a national title.香蕉视频直播�
The Heat and Thunderbirds will tip off Friday香蕉视频直播檚 game at the UBCO campus gym at 8 p.m. The teams will meet again Saturday at 7 p.m.
