Shayne Yaschyshyn has spent the past 16 years shaping young athletes on the basketball court in Swan River, but this season is extra special—he’s coaching alongside his granddaughter.
Having previously coached his own kids during their school years, Shayne also cherished seasons without family ties on the roster. Now, as the Tigers push deeper into the season than they did last year, he’s relishing every moment, embracing the thrill of the game and the bond it’s strengthening with his granddaughter.
"Yeah, that's very special to have the chance to coach her," said Yaschyshyn. "It's pretty nice having my granddaughter on the team, pretty special, and something I can brag about."
Swan Valley played in four tournaments this year, opening with a seventh-place finish in Brandon at the Crocus Plains tournament. After that tournament, the team refused to settle. Fueled by a desire to prove themselves, they pushed harder than ever—fine-tuning their game, sharpening their intensity, and stepping onto the court with a fire that couldn’t be ignored. The result? A string of performances that showed exactly what they were capable of.
In their next tournament in Lorette, the Tigers downed the Linden Christian Wings, 52-44, to win the consolation championship. To start the new year, the team found themselves in Neepawa and what a weekend it was. After beating Ste. Rose in their first game, the Tigers came up short against an excellent Vincent Massey Brandon team.
That dropped the group to the bronze medal match where they played the host Neepawa Tigers. Swan Valley got some clutch baskets late and stepped up defensively to finish on the podium with a thrilling 54-49 win.
Then in their most recent tournament, Shayne and his team hosted their tournament at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School (SRVSS). They hammered Margaret Barbour and Kamsack in the round-robin to advance to the winner-take-all championship game.
With their home crowd roaring, the Tigers left it all on the court, locking in defensively and delivering clutch buckets when it mattered most. In a hard-fought battle against the Margaret Barbour Spartans, Swan Valley refused to back down, grinding out a gritty 56-49 victory. As the final buzzer echoed through the gym, they not only defended their home turf—they etched their names in history, raising a championship banner that will hang in the rafters as a lasting testament to their determination and heart.
"It was pretty special to come out of that one with a win, we've struggled in our tournament the past few years," said Yaschyshyn. "Last year we had some nagging injuries, but we've been fortunate enough to stay healthy this year. The girls were so excited to get the job done on our home court, they deserved it."
Proud of their accomplishments, the Tigers knew the job wasn't done. The Tigers played in the Zone 8 championships against the Dauphin Clippers. A best-of-three series with the winner advancing to the provincial championships qualifier.
Swan Valley hit a late three in game one to secure a 62-60 victory at the DRCSS. The two teams returned to Swan River for game two on February 24, and the Tigers had an opportunity to sweep away their Parkland rival. However, it wasn't to be. The Clippers came out on fire, locking up a 74-50 win, which set up a winner-take-all game three.
"That third game was back and forth, it was pretty nice to win at home," continued Yaschyshyn. "Either team could have won, we're just glad it was us."
The Tigers won the game, 52-44. Swan Valley ended Dauphin's season and in the process, advanced to the qualifier tournament this weekend in Virden. The Tigers have a tall task ahead of them as they play the second-ranked Garden Valley Zodiacs. Garden Valley has had an outstanding season with two tournament titles, two silver medal finishes, and a consolation championship.
Yaschyshyn believes this is a special Tigers group that is ready for battle.
"It's always nice to play in March, this is what you play for," ended Yaschyshyn. "Our goal is to get to the provincials and we will see what happens. It's going to be a lot of work to get past the teams we will see this weekend, but I believe we're up to the challenge."
Swan Valley will play Garden Valley at 3:00 p.m. on Friday.
