Basketball is back at the Pit. 

The annual Vernon Secondary School (VSS) Panther Pit Classic will take place this Friday, Dec. 8, as eight girls teams from across the Okanagan look to claim victory.

Four junior and senior teams will compete: Westsyde Whundas (Kamloops), Valleyview Vikings (Kamloops), Salmon Arm Jewels and the hometown VSS Panthers.

"The tournament has been going on for 25 years, and it is a big deal for our kids to play in front of their school," said Panthers senior girls head coach Dave Tetrault. "We look forward to having a positive experience for the weekend."

This season, Tetrault has high hopes for his Panthers team, which is fourth in the B.C. triple-A pre-season rankings.

Four Grade 10s, four Grade 11s, and four Grade 12s dot the roster, including Grade 11 students Adie Janke and Chloe Collins, who are coming off a summer competing on the provincial team. 

"We are very young," said Tetrault. "But, we will also rely a lot on our veterans Paige Leahy and Kenidy West."

The action starts at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, with the Whundas facing off against the Panthers in junior action. Games will alternate for junior and senior all day Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

For regular season league play, the  Panthers will be competing with just three triple-A teams, Valleyview, South Kamloops and Sa-Hali Secondary (Kamloops). 

Two Vernon schools typically in the league have opted out this year as the W.L Seaton Sonics could not formulate a team, and the Clarence Fulton Maroons will just be competing in exhibition matchups.

Following the Pit Classic, VSS will head to Langley to compete in the four-day Tsumura Basketball Invitational (TBI). 

The Panthers will be competing in the Select 16 Bracket, battling with the Brittania Bruins from Vancouver in their opener. For a full schedule of the TBI, visit

As for the junior team, it will be coached by two former VSS grads: Breanna Falk and Meghan Rouault.

"It has been a fabulous experience coaching with them," said Tetrault. "I have waited a long time to have some of my former players coach with me and it has been awesome to have girls coach girls, which is the ultimate goal."

Falk played five years for the UBC Okanagan Heat in U Sports, while Rouault also played five years with the rival Trinity Western University Wolfpack. The junior team finished 18th out of 24 teams in the provincial championship a season ago. 

Entry to the Pit Classic is free.