The bleachers were packed with family, friends, fans and the occasional giant cardboard cutout head this past Saturday night at the Quest University gym as the Quest Kermodes鈥� Senior鈥檚 final home game of the regular PACWEST season was played out against the Capilano Blues. 聽
The men鈥檚 team said goodbye to four of their members, Dallas Searles, Theo VandenEkart, Paul Getz and Noah DeRappard-Yuswack, with a 93-90 victory against the Blues. The women鈥檚 team wasn鈥檛 able to capture the same.聽
With a loss of 77-68, sole women鈥檚 team senior player Tessa Needham said, 鈥淚t was a little bit bittersweet to be honest. We didn鈥檛 really get the win that we wanted, but at the same time it was really nice to reflect on my four years and kind of go out there and play for my team and Dany who鈥檚 been there for me for four years.鈥�
During the annual Seniors Night Ceremony, Quest Women鈥檚 Basketball coach Dany Charlery made a presentation on behalf of the Quest community and Quest Athletics to thank Needham for her four years in the program.聽
鈥淭essa has a work ethic unlike any other that I鈥檝e coached here at Quest,鈥� said Charlery. 鈥淪he has a passion to compete and a willingness to do what it takes to win.鈥�
But it hasn鈥檛 been an easy run for Needham. Last year she suffered a severe and life changing injury. 聽
鈥淚 bruised my spinal cord, while doing a weight lifting exercise,鈥� said Needham. 鈥淚 was doing a sit-up and I did such an intense and repetitive motion that it actually bruised my spinal cord.鈥�
Needham lost sensation on the entire left side of her body, from her toes to her ribs.聽
鈥淚t was a scary moment. I was like, am I ever going to get that sensation back? Am I ever going to be able to play basketball again or the way I could before? I couldn鈥檛 run the same and none of the doctors could really tell me yes you鈥檒l gain that back or no you won鈥檛,鈥� said Needham. 鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful for Danny, he鈥檚 been an incredible coach these past four years.鈥�
Charlery said it was through her mental toughness, her perseverance and her commitment to overcome her injury that led Needham back to the court for her senior year.
聽Needham says she hasn鈥檛 given up on this year either. With provincials gearing up next month she thinks the Women鈥檚 team has a serious chance to beat the competition.聽
鈥淚f we do the right things and play the way we can we should be able to beat every team,鈥� said Needham. 鈥淚t鈥檚 anybody鈥檚 championship and I think this provincial tournament is going to show a lot about what we can do.鈥�
Quest University is hosting this year鈥檚 PACWEST provincial championship from March 2-4.聽
It will include both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 qualifying basketball teams from the PACWEST conference. For more information, stats and game schedules, visit
