Taya Hanson recently celebrated her 15th birthday.
Just a couple of weeks later, the young Kelowna basketball player is celebrating an international title.
A 5-foot-9 guard, Hanson helped Team Canada to the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 girls championship on Sunday in Puebla, Mexico.
In a dramatic gold medal final, the Canadians needed overtime to defeat Brazil 72-71.
Hanson played 59 minutes during five tournament games, including two minutes in the final.
She scored 13 points during the championship tournament, including 11 in Canada’s game against Venezuela.
Hanson attended Grade 9 at Dr. Knox Middle School, but played up a tier this past season with the KSS girls junior program.
Hanson not only helped the Owls win the bronze medal at provincials, but was also named a first-team all-star and the top defensive player at the tournament.
Locals on provincial teams…
The Okanagan is well represented this summer on Basketball B.C.’s provincial teams.
Twenty players from the valley will develop their skills with provincial programs, playing in games and tournaments for the next two months across the country.
Here’s a look at the local players on B.C. teams:
• U17 girls—Nicole Hart ( Immaculata) and Jordyn Cullum (Vernon Secondary)
• U16 girls—Monika Curtis ( Mt Boucherie), Ashlyn Day ( Immaculata), Courtney Donaldson ( KSS).
• U15 girls—Jenna Robinson ( OKM), Rachel Hare (KLO), Jordan Robb (OKM), Kennedy Dickie (KLO), McKenzie Horst (Imaculatta), Deziree Day (KLO), Teaghan Wallace (Immaculata), Chloe Brydon (Penticton)
• U14 girls—Becca Curtis ( Glenrosa Middle)
• U17 boys—Matt Lafontaine (KSS)
• U16 boys—Grant Shephard (KSS)
• U15 boys – Matthew Williamson ( KLO), Rowan Rudrum-Steinhauer ( Dr Knox)
• U14 boys—Nicholas Lafontaine ( Dr Knox), Kieran Chalmers (KLO)
The U16s will participate in the Western Canada Summer Games Aug. 7 to 16 in Fort McMurray, AB, while the U15 and U17 teams will compete at nationals Aug. 3 to 9.
