End of an era for Tuchscherer basketball family

It seems like only yesterday that a photo of Al Tuchscherer and his young family was taken at centre court in the UFV Athletics Centre: Al in the early days of his UFV basketball coaching career and daughter Julia not yet in grade school.

Sometimes, time seems to pass like a fast-break offence, and it’d be nice to call a timeout.

In the blink of an eye, Al is finishing up his 24th year as head coach of the women’s basketball team, and Julia is wrapping up her U SPORTS career ( UFV hosts Mount Royal Feb 13 at 5 pm at the UFV Athletics Centre in a Canada West play-in game).

In the blink of an eye, it’s 20 years later. Julia is no longer a toddler, but rather a fifth-year player on the Cascades women’s basketball team. Coach Al is finishing up his 24th year as head coach of the UFV women’s basketball team, and the family is marking the end of special era that saw both Julia and her older sister Deanna (who graduated last year) playing for the Cascades and being coached by their dad.
“It has gone really fast,” Al admitted. “For them to come and play here was an honour for me, and watching their careers unfold and be part of this stage of their life has been incredible.”

Julia, whose mother Denise is another UFV b-ball legend , agrees it’s all gone by in a hurry, especially this year.

A common sight for Canada West foes has been Julia Tuchscherer leaping skyward to swat shots away.

“It doesn’t feel like we should already be at the end of the season,” she says. “I’m feeling like when it all ends, maybe then I’ll finally have that realization it’s over.”

This article is not meant to be a sad reminiscence, however. This is a celebration of a wonderful era of Cascades hoops, one that brought sustained on-court success.

For her part, Julia says she loved playing at UFV, with her sister and her dad. She graduated early from high school (Chilliwack’s G.W. Graham secondary) after Grade 11 to get an extra year with Deanna.

“I loved playing with Deanna, and it brought us closer together on and off the court,” says Julia, who will graduate in June with a Bachelor of Science (biology major). “We became friends and not just sisters.”

Together, they formed one of the more dynamic front-court duos in Cascades history, and the program’s record book speaks to their dominance.

This season, Julia was the Canada West scoring leader averaging 17 points per game.

Career-wise as of Feb. 4, Julia held the program record for most blocks (165), tied for ninth all-time in U SPORTS and third in Canada West. Julia accumulated the second most assists (259), third most rebounds (681) and fifth most points (1,164), while recording the highest field goal percentage of any UFV women’s basketball player ever at 51 per cent. She also set a new program record with 49 blocks in a single season.

Deanna is close behind in most categories, but the most interesting number from her prolific career is the scoring total of 1,142, just five points separating the sisters. (See the bottom of this story for their individual awards/accolades).

Powered by the Tuchscherers, dynamic guard Maddy Gobeil (now playing pro in Spain) and a deep and talented supporting cast, the Cascades posted a 77-21 record between 2019-25, earning the Canada West bronze medal in 2023-24 and qualifying for U SPORTS nationals.

Deanna Tuchscherer teamed with sister Julia to form an imposing front-court duo for UFV.

“Going to nationals was a pretty big deal and very exciting,” Julia says. “And lots of highlights have come off the court as well. I’ve become really close with the two teammates I’m graduating with this year, Esther (Allison) and Charley (Arnold). Esther’s getting married and Charley and I are going to be her bridesmaids. I think that says a lot about our friendship right there.”

Al has enjoyed watching both of his daughters represent the Cascades, and he’s proud of what they accomplished at UFV.

“I really enjoy teams and friendships forming and having your two daughters be part of that — every day seeing them evolve as young women and create great relationships — that’s been fun.”

Individual awards for the Tuchscherer sisters

Julia (as of Feb 4, 2026)

2021 Canada West All-Rookie Team

2021 UFV Female Rookie of the Year

2024-25 Canada West First-Team All-Star

Deanna

2019-20 U SPORTS All-Rookie Team

2019-20 Canada West Rookie of the Year

2019-20 Canada West Third Team All-Star

2019-20 Canada West All Rookie Team

2019-20 UFV Female Rookie of the Year

2021-22 Canada West First Team All-Star

2021-22 UFV Female Athlete of the Year

2023-24 Canada West Third Team All-Star