and both left their mark on Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 basketball community.

This weekend, the duo and former teammates with the KSS Owls are coming home.

Shephard, Bourcier and the T-Birds will pay a visit to the UBC Okanagan campus for a pair of Canada West men害羞草研究所檚 basketball games against the hometown Heat.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be a cool experience, coming home and seeing a lot of the people I played basketball with and grew up with,害羞草研究所� said Bourcier, a 6-foot-4 guard who is averaging 24 minutes and 4.7 points per game in his freshman season. 害羞草研究所淚 know in talking to my dad, he said quite a few people are planning on coming. It should be a fun atmosphere.害羞草研究所�

Ex-Owl teammate Parker Simson is also a member of the UBC roster but has yet to suit up for the T-Birds this season.

As Grade 11 players, Bourcier and Shephard害羞草研究所攁long with Simson害羞草研究所攆ormed a potent combination at KSS, helping lead the Owls to both the B.C. 4A boys high school title and Western Canada Basketball Tournament title in 2016.

When Shephard moved to Florida for his senior year of high school, Bourcier remained in Kelowna, guiding the Owls back to the final of the provincial championship and a silver-medal finish.

Both players spent many hours at the UBC Okanagan campus, honing their skills with the Heat program, eventually leading to the start of their university careers at UBC.

Like Bourcier, Shephard is excited to be headed back into familiar territory. Among the players on the hometown UBCO roster is an ex-Owls害羞草研究所� teammate, Owen Keyes.

害羞草研究所淚 played and trained a lot at UBCO, so it害羞草研究所檚 a special place for me,害羞草研究所� said the 6-foot-10 Shephard. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be great to see friends and family, kind of bit of a throwback weekend, I guess.

害羞草研究所淚 think people will be cheering for both sides,害羞草研究所� Shephard added. 害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 going to be awesome.害羞草研究所�

After signing with UBC last spring, Shephard went on to enjoy international success, helping Canada to its first ever gold medal at the FIBA U-19 world championship in Cairo, Egypt.

害羞草研究所淚t was an amazing experience, something I害羞草研究所檒l never forget,害羞草研究所� he said.

At UBC, Shephard and Bouricer have been on a learning curve in their freshman seasons with the Thunderbirds (11-3), currently ranked the No. 6 men害羞草研究所檚 team in the country.

Shephard, who has been averaging 14 minutes and nine points per game this season, said he feels his 害羞草研究所渄evelopment has come along the last couple of months and my shot is a lot better.害羞草研究所�

Bourcier, logging 24 minutes and averaging 4.7 points per night, says he害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渓earned a lot the first couple of months, not just as a basketball player, but I害羞草研究所檝e grown as a person, too.害羞草研究所�

As for his new team害羞草研究所檚 potential, Bourcier likes the T-Birds chances of taking the 2017-18 season deep into the playoffs.

害羞草研究所淲e have a really good team and lot of good players here,害羞草研究所� Bourcier said. 害羞草研究所淚 feel like we really do have a shot at a national title.害羞草研究所�

The Heat and Thunderbirds will tip off Friday害羞草研究所檚 game at the UBCO campus gym at 8 p.m. The teams will meet again Saturday at 7 p.m.