In a stunning and heartwarming display of teamwork, determination, and community spirit, the Border Valley/Blumenfeld Falcons boys basketball team have captured the Tier 2 Zone 4 championship banner — proving that size doesn’t matter when heart leads the way.
A team from two tiny schools
The Falcons represent a unique partnership between Border Valley and Blumenfeld schools. On their own, neither school has the numbers to field a full basketball team, but together they form a squad of just 160 students — total.
Despite their small size, they found a way to make big things happen. Principal and team manager Donavon Giesbrecht said it best:
“We have kind of this small little school complex, right? Where you start to think, ‘We can’t compete against the bigger schools in town.’ But the guys really stepped up.”
The team included boys from grades 5 through 8 — a rarity in school sports where most opponents field only Grade 7 and 8 players. Yet, the Falcons turned that challenge into motivation.
From “Let’s have fun” to “We could win this!”
At the beginning of the season, the goal was simple: have fun and score a few baskets. But everything changed after one defining moment.
“I think the turning point was when we beat Prairie Dale,” Giesbrecht said.
“In most sports, Prairie Dale is really strong, so that win was huge. I think that’s when the boys started to believe they could actually win the whole thing.”
Belief turned into momentum, and momentum turned into victory. The Falcons capped off their Cinderella season with a dominant performance in the finals against Plum Coulee, leading from start to finish and never giving up the lead.
“Winning felt really good”
The win didn’t just feel good — it felt unreal.
“We started the season just wanting to play,” said Tobias, a Grade 7 student.
“But when playoffs started, we knew we had a real shot.”
Naaven, the team’s Grade 8 leader, added:
“We were up the whole time in the final. They didn’t have the lead once. It kind of just kept going up from there.”
The team lost their first game of the season, and one more later on, but other than that, they found their rhythm, learned how to play together, and trusted each other. The rest is history.
A former student comes home to coach
One of the most inspiring parts of the Falcons’ story is who was on the sidelines. Former Border Valley student Kevin Neufeld — now a standout player for the NPC Storm — volunteered to coach the team.
“It was pretty awesome,” Giesbrecht shared.
“Kevin was an excellent basketball player here, and now he’s come full circle. Not only did he come back to coach, but his younger brothers played on the team too. It was a full-circle moment for our school.”
More than just a banner
For these small-town students, this win represents more than a championship. It’s a message to every kid in a small school who doubts their potential.
“We talked all year about character,” said Giesbrecht.
“It’s about believing in yourself, especially when you’re down. You could be down ten baskets — it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to keep pushing. That’s what the boys did, and look what happened.”
It also sparked a love for the game.
“I wasn’t even really into basketball at first,” admitted Michael.
“But I’m really glad I played. Especially now.”
The Heart of Small Schools
In an era where school sports can feel dominated by large urban teams and deep benches, the Border Valley/Blumenfeld Falcons proved something special — that heart, effort, and belief go a long way.
From Grade 5 beginners to Grade 8 leaders, from early-season losses to raising the banner, this team did more than just win a championship. They inspired a community.
Congratulations, Falcons — your whole school division is cheering you on.