A basketball star and a champion volleyball team from Langley are up for top honours at the 56th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards held by Sport BC.
Kiera Pemberton is one of three finalists for high school female athlete of the year, while Trinity Western University men’s volleyball team is one of three team of the year nominees.
READ ALSO: Langley basketball player earns provincial accolades
Pemberton, a power forward basketball player at Walnut Grove Secondary, won the David Gifford Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the top female and male athlete in B.C. in 2023.
An all-time BC provincial championships scoring leader and two-time provincial championship MVP, the freshman now plays for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
North Dakota picks up a weekend sweep at home knocking off Kansas City 76-62 to improve to 2-2 in Summit League play.
— Brian Shawn - Midco Sports (@BShawnMidco) January 13, 2024
Freshman Kiera Pemberton scored a career-high 27 points for the Hawks including 10-11 from the free throw line.
@MidcoSports pic.twitter.com/vXuNlLdoxe
In her last year as a Gator, Pemberton averaged 34 points per game while adding 14 rebounds per contest.
VIDEO: Langley’s Brodie Hofer named athlete of week after back-to-back volleyball wins
Trinity Western Spartans men’s volleyball team won the gold medal match of the 2023 U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship on March 19 in Hamilton, Ontario.
Third-seeded TWU defeated the fourth-seeded Sherbrooke Vert et Or in straight sets to claim the seventh national championship in program history.
TWU suffered only one loss all season.
Including Canada West and U SPORTS Championships, TWU has now won nine of the last 13 banners since 2015, including five conference titles and four national titles.
Sport BC released the list of Athlete Of The Year finalists on Jan. 18. Each was nominated by their provincial or multi-sport organization, high school, college, or university. Winners will be announced Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Sport BC’s President and CEO Rob Newman said the finalists represent “exceptional efforts and accomplishments” representing 24 sports from communities across the province.