The Bigger Than Basketball fundraiser continues to grow and the 2023 edition of the charity basketball game in 91原创 on May 11 raised $5,130 for the mental health.
The event, created by former Yale Secondary basketball star Bradley Braich, began in 2018 and raised $2,000 for Canadian Mental Health Association 鈥� BC Division. The 2019 event raised more than $3,000, and the 2022 game collected topped $4,400.
A total of $14,530 has now been raised for CMHA-BC in the four games.
The idea for the game came from Braich, himself, who scored many points on the court for the Lions basketball teams, but also struggled with many of the pressures and expectations associated with the game and being an athlete.
Past editions of the event have featured some of the top boys and girls high school basketball players from across B.C. A three-point contest featuring local sharpshooters has also been a prominent part of the event.
The first two events were held at Abbotsford鈥檚 Robert Bateman Secondary, but both the 2022 and 2023 games were played at the 91原创 Events Centre.
This year saw Chicago Bears wide receiver and Abbotsford Senior Secondary grad Chase Claypool suit up in the alumni game. Claypool is no stranger to basketball and was an excellent high school basketball player with the Abbotsford鈥檚 Panthers.
Claypool and his teammates on the home side defeated the away side 111-107 in the alumni game.
The girls鈥� all-star game saw the away team defeat the home team 84-52. The players of the game were Okanagan-Mission鈥檚 Kanani Coon (away) and Walnut Grove鈥檚 Kiera Pemberton (home).
The boys鈥� all-star game saw the home team earn a 127-122 win over the away team. Elgin Park鈥檚 Adam Olsen (home) and St. Patrick Regional Secondary鈥檚 Kaden Carrion (home) were named players of the game.
The three-point contest was won by Munroop Gill from Lord Tweedsmuir, with Riverside Secondary鈥檚 Avery Sussex finishing in second place.
