She’s the only north-central zone basketball player on a recent projected list of the province’s best high-school athletes for next year.
And for good reason!
Rachel Loukes was placed among the top 15 ‘AAA’ level players to watch in the 2021-22 season by the BC Secondary Schools Girls Basketball Association (BCSSGBA).
Though COVID-19 cancelled her Grade 10 season, the College Heights (CHSS) student is predicted to claw out a killer campaign for the Cougars when she starts Grade 11 in September, should the pandemic’s situation in B.C. allow it.
“I was really surprised to see that my name was on the list and it really meant a lot because the ‘AAA’ tier has such a large group of talented basketball players,” Loukes told PrinceGeorgeMatters of the recognition.
“I’ll use this as motivation to keep working hard on all aspects of my game to help prepare for the 2021-22 season so that, if we get to play again, I’ll be ready to compete with my College Heights Cougars team.”
Her drive and passion has taken her beyond the high-school court in playing for Basketball BC the last two years, vaulting to a bronze medal at 2019 nationals in Victoria.
The 2020 installment, which Loukes received an invitation to represent the province once more, was cancelled by COVID-19.
Loukes says the pandemic has presented its challenges, but understands others like her are in the same boat.
“This year has been tough for all high-school athletes because game-play is one of the things we really look forward to the most,” she explained.
“Throughout this year I’ve been training lots within the constraints of COVID-19 rules, which I feel fortunate to still have been able to do.”
In her most recent time spent in CHSS blue and white, Loukes was a lethal Grade Nine guard for the Cougars’ junior girls team.
She helped her team claim Prince George city and North Central Zone titles in early 2020, earning CHSS a 15th-qualification ranking for the B.C. provincial championships.
The tournament was fortunate to take place prior to the COVID-19 shutdown of sports in the middle of March 2020.
While in Langley, Loukes combined for a team-high 113 points in five games en route to a 3-2 record and two upset-victories. College Heights’ final ranking was 10th by provincial’s end.
The scores and Loukes’ accumulated points were as follows:
- 52-39 win over Brentwood College (#18) = Loukes, 19 points
- 62-42 Loss to Kelowna (#2) = Loukes, Nine points
- 66-63 (OT) win over Fleetwood Park (#10) = Loukes, 34 points
- 48-29 win over Sa-Hali (#14) = Loukes, 30 points
- 61-51 loss to Claremont (#13) = Loukes, 21 points
Loukes currently trains virtually with Excel Basketball Club in Vancouver and in-person safely with Northern Bounce in Prince George, developing her skills in the senior boys division.
“Humble, hungry and confident are the words that come to mind when we are putting in the work at our gym,” the academy said.
“[Rachel] has a very very bright future ahead of her.”
Loukes has also been participating in online skills sessions with Canada Basketball.
She’s also the younger sister to Hannah Loukes, who committed to MacEwan University in Canada West and U SPORTS last year.
