Dan Stark had always wanted to play college basketball in his hometown.
Saturday night, he played his last home game with the UNBC Timberwolves.
"I've been watching this team since I was in Grade 5, being in the bleachers at CNC, I always wanted to play," he said following a 67-61 loss to the University of Fraser Valley Cascades at the Northern Sport Centre.
"It was getting to see the other players and I was proud playing on the same team as some of my childhood heroes."
Stark, a five-foot-nine guard, finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds.
When he fouled out in the last minute of the game, the crowd saluted him.
Stark wound up playing high school ball at Kelly Road secondary, before enrolling at UNBC. The fourth-year commerce student was one of six T-wolves grads on the men's and women's teams who were honoured Saturday during a special ceremony in between the two games.
During his playing career, Stark used only four of his five years of eligibility, having red-shirted his first year, practising with the team and training, but not playing any games.
"I have a ton of memories playing for this school," he said. "I'm going to miss everything about it. I'm going to do some soul-searching and take some time when the season ends."
Stark sits fifth in team-scoring this year, averaging 7.7 points per game.
Stark's teammate Charles Barton, a fifth-year marketing student whose hometown is Vernon, came to UNBC three years ago when he transferred from Thompson Rivers University.
This season he wound up leading the T-wolves in scoring (14.6 points per game) and rebounding (134 rebounds, average of 6.7 per game).
"It wasn't too emotional, it was emotional when my family came up, it was pretty special."
"I'll remember the friendships, that's a big one and I'll never forget what we built together."
UNBC head coach Todd Jordan will miss both Barton and Stark next season.
"Dan is the ideal player of what you want to build the team on," he told the crowd assembled for the special recognition ceremony. "He goes out and does intangible things. He comes in every single game and practice and does his job every single night.
"Charles is an incredible physical talent... he worked hard every single day to make himself into a better basketball player. He did the little things consistently."
The Timberwolves (4-16) wrap up their regular season this weekend in Calgary when they face the Mount Royal University Cougars.
