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High school basketball fans were treated to yet another classic between the Lambrick Park Lions and St. Michaels University School Blue Jags on Saturday night.
This time, the Lions got the better of the Jags, taking home a 59-56 win in the Island double-A senior boy鈥檚 basketball championship before a packed gym at SMUS. The Blue Jags were looking to win their fourth Island crown in five years.
鈥淭he fans were amazing. It was a special night,鈥� said Lions coach Ed Somers. 鈥淲e have a great rivalry with SMUS and every time we play them it is an outstanding game. I am so proud of our kids and all that we have overcome this weekend. I was so pleased for our guys.
鈥淸Ian] Hyde-Lay always has his team so well prepared,鈥� Somers added of the opposing SMUS coach.
The Lions had also de-clawed the Blue Jags 50-39 in the South Island final the week prior.
鈥淯p 50-43 and 56-51 late, both times with the ball,鈥� said a disappointed Hyde-Lay. 鈥淔ull credit to LP, but we gave the game away.鈥�
On Saturday, Austin Somers led the way for the Lions with 16 points and was named tournament MVP.
Both teams will head to provincials March 9-12 in Langley and they will be joined by the Shawnigan Stags, who defeated Brentwood College 57-47 for bronze in another thriller.
The latter was a game of runs as Brentwood got off to a 8-2 start in the third quarter to take a 39-28 lead, but then surrendered 13 straight points in the loss. It was tight from then to the final buzzer, minus some late free throws.
鈥淲e went down early in that second half, then Vito [coach Vito Pasquale] talked to us in the huddle to bring it home in the end,鈥� said Shawnigan鈥檚 Sheldon Crisp who led his team with 21 points. Ferdinand Schultz had 16 for a very game Brentwood team.
At the triple-A Islands at Nanaimo District, Wellington downed the host team 64-50 in the championship final.
Wellington had surprised previous sa国际传媒 No. 1-ranked Mark Isfeld on Friday, but Isfeld bounced back to defeat Mount Douglas 67-38 in the third-place game to earn the final of three berths to provincials.
At the quadruple-A Island championship at Dover Bay, the Oak Bay Breakers bounced Cowichan 89-57 in the final. The host Dolphins were edged 68-66 by the Belmont Bulldogs in the third-place game, but just the two finalists advance to provincials, also set for March 9-12 in Langley.
Oak Bay is ranked No. 4 provincially.
