The Oak Bay Breakers senior basketball team are the Island champs for a reason.
They’re led by two of the brightest young players in the province, Grade 10s Morgan Roskelley and Lauren Yearwood.
This week the two will receive a lot of attention as the Breakers look to finish top three at the AAA High School Girls Basketball Provincial Championships, beginning today (March 6) through Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.
Game 1 is 10:15 a.m. Wednesday versus the Burnaby South Rebels.
The dynamic duo of Roskelly at guard and Yearwood under the post garner so much attention, on the court and in the media, the Breakers secret weapon will be right up front, hidden in plain sight. 
“We have 10 Grade 11s that won last year’s junior provincial championship together,” says Breakers coach Rob Kinnear.
“Roskelly is a special player, and Yearwood is likely an under-17 national level player this summer. But we have a strong bench of Grade 11s, including Marissa Harrington, Ashley Dukeshire and Chloe Campbell, who go unnoticed, as well as two very strong Grade 12s,” he said.
Among the Grade 11 core is Maddie Brunt, a track and cross country star in the making, who transitions well on the hard court.
“Dukeshire (and Harrington) played for Team B.C. last summer and Dukshire’s not even in the starting five,” Kinnear said. Katie Hansen and Kelly Young.
“Actually, most of us (Grade 11s) have been together since playing at Monterey middle school and were on the (Zone 6) team that came third at the 2010 B.C. Summer Games,” Campbell said.
“We all know each other and know what to expect.”
The team's two Grade 12s, Kelly Young and Katie Hanson, will be at the Lower Island all-star game at the end of the season.
"Those are voted on by the coaches, so it’s an honour for them. They provide a lot of leadership. They are the core of this team and don’t get enough praise," Kinnear said.
Young is eyeing a spot on the Camosun Chargers for next year. Hansen, a crossover athlete who excels on the soccer pitch, offers more than quick feet, with plenty of big game experience as a member of the former Victoria Highlanders semi-pro W-League soccer team.
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