No Regrets Tournament Day 3 Recap

Kitsilano Blue Demons Take Home No Regrets Championship
December 9, 2017

Seycove Seyhawks vs Belmont Bulldogs (Boys)

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

The final day of the Tournament is where we get our name. Can players say they’ve left it all on the court after three days of competition. Can they go back to their respective cities and homes with “No Regrets”?

The opening tip-off was won by the Belmont Bulldogs and they were first to strike with a nice inbounds play drawn up for #21 Isaac Ickovich. Seycove was getting a lot of open looks including a pair of and-one opportunities, but #3 Nishad Tarak of Bulldogs answered the call with a pair of 3’s that allowed the Bulldogs to hold a 24-13 lead at the end of the first.

#21 Isaac Ickovich of the Bulldogs continued using his size to control both the offensive and defensive boards. Early on, the difference appeared to be the quality of shots each team was getting - the Bulldogs getting opportunities close to the basket with Seycove being okay settling for contested jumpers. With four minutes remaining in the second the Bulldogs had grown their lead to 21 points. #13 Michael Douhan of the Seyhawks hit a lay-up followed by a three to build some momentum for the Seycove team. #25 Dylon Matthews of the Seyhawks got a block and then saved the ball throwing it off the offensive player to get the ball back to Seycove. From there #3 Nishad Tarak and #25 Dylon Matthews traded three pointers but the score at remained in favour of the out of town Bulldogs 43-29.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

Both teams opened the second half attacking the hoop and extending their pressure into the full court. #3 Nishad Tarak of the Bulldogs got back to what he knows best - attacking the rim for a pair of layups. #25 Dylon Matthews of the Seyhawks was there to answer every call coming back with a midrange jumper and three to beat the shot clock. Halfway through the third Belmont still held onto a 12 point lead.

#3 Douglas Musselman of Seycove hit a three which was immediately responded to by an and one from #21 Isaac Ickovich of the Bulldogs. #23 Cashel Findler hit another driving lay-up to bring the Seyhawks within five. The Bulldogs put the ball in the hands of #3 Nishad Tarak once again who scored another slicing layup to stop the Seycove run. A pair of free throws by Seycove #3 Douglas Musselman at the end of the third quarter put the Seyhawks up one for their first lead of the game..

To start the 4th, #25 Dylon Matthews hit another pull up jumper and the Bulldogs answered with, you guessed it, #3 Nishad Tarak who opened with his own 5-0 run. #10 Chris Ross of Seycove who had been relatively quiet all game got a tough driving lay-up to keep it close. Matthews of Seycove and Tarak of Belmont continued to trade baskets through the fourth but it was the Bulldogs who came out on top. Final score 78-73 in favour of the Bulldogs.

Player of the Game: Belmont Bulldogs #3 Nishad Tarak

Belmont Bulldogs High Scorers:

#3 Nishad Tarak - 25 Points

#21 Isaac Ickovich - 10 Points

Seycove Seyhawks High Scorers

#10 Chris Ross - 22 Points

#23 Cashel Findler - 21 Points

Belmont Bulldogs v Charles Hays Rainmakers

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

The game before the 5th/7th place game was cancelled and it certainly looked like there would be another cancellation as the Belmont Bulldogs were the only players on the court until 12 minutes before tip-off. Enter the Charles Hays Rainmakers heavily delayed due to traffic. Both teams with a long journey home ahead were eager to get the game started.

The Bulldogs, the beneficiary of a more thorough warm up got off to a quick start opening up a quick eight point. Despite the early deficit, #13 Liam McChesney and the Rainmakers staged their own run and we had a tie game with a couple minutes left in the frame. #13 Liam McChesney continued his hot start with a pair of threes (perhaps trying break some tournament scoring records held by his older brother Justin McChesney from 2015). By the end of the quarter the Rainmakers led 27-20.

#8 Julius Kennedy Bulldogs continued his hot shooting going back a game and knocked down deep back-to-back triples to open the frame followed by a three by #3 Nishad Tarak for a quick 9-0 run to take the lead. The Rainmakers stayed steady in their attack including a nice fast break that led to a thunderous dunk for #13 Liam McChesney. Joining the party was #14 Kai Leighton adding a five point run of his own that pushed the lead to 44-33 with three minutes to play in the half. Holding for the last shot #2 Kuga Kawai of the Bulldogs put in a bucket to close the half. Rainmakers 49. Bulldogs 35.

#14 Kai Leighton of the Rainmakers stayed hot and opened the second half with another triple. #3 Nishad Tarak scored a tough left handed lay up over the outstretched arms of two defenders for the first bucket of the half for the Bulldogs and another triple. He followed up with a personal 10-0 run to cut the Rainmakers lead to 14. The Rainmakers continued their attack capitalizing on a number of Bulldog turnovers resulting in easy transition buckets. #3 Nishad Tarak rattled off two more three balls single handedly keeping the Bulldogs in the fight before the quarter was done. The Rainmakers held for the last shot and #5  knocked down a tough jumper over the defender at the buzzer. Score 71-56 for the Rainmakers.

#3 Nishad Tarak would just not give up and did not want the long trip home wondering if he could have done any more to help the Bulldogs win. He started the fourth with two more triples to bring the Bulldogs within eight. #10 Christian Clifton of the Rainmakers answered with some sound defence stipping the offence player and ending the ensuing possession with an and one. The Bulldogs kept surging behind their sound defence and fearless play of guard #3 Nishad Tarak who with yet another three pulled the Bulldogs within three points with five minutes to play in the game. #14 Liam McChesney came up with a huge block that ignited the Rainmakers fastbreak leading to a corner three by #10 Christian Clifton to put them up eight with a minute and a half to play. Down 6 with 15 seconds left the Bulldogs draw up a play that results in a four point play opportunity. The ensuing free throw was missed allowing the Rainmakers #14 Kai Leighton to rebound the ball and get fouled with a chance to ice the game. When it was all said and done the Rainmakers held on for the win. Final score 93-88.

Player of the Game: Charles Hays #10 Christian Clifton

Charles Hays High Scorers:

#14 Kai Leighton - 31 Points

#13 Liam McChesney - 30 Points

Belmont Bulldogs High Scorers:

#3 Nishad Tarak - 38 Points

#8 Julius Kennedy - 14 Points

No Regrets Final

Handsworth Royals vs Kitsilano Blue Demons

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

Set in the beautifully renovated Collingwood School Gym, the No Regrets Tournament Final was set to take place between the Handsworth Royals and Kitsilano Blue Demons. The game was sure to look different as Collingwood was able to make space for a full college sized gym that is much bigger than many of the other high school tournament sites teams had been playing through the first two days of the tournament. By the time tip off came, many teams who had participated in the tournament filed back into the gym for the final making for an awesome atmosphere in the gym.

Kitsilano would win the opening tip, striking on their first possession with an easy lay-up. #9 Nate Watters opened the scoring for the Royals with a deep three that sat on the rim for an hour before finally dropping. It was clear both teams were ready to play the final as the intensity and energy coming from the players was through the roof. #6 Stanley Choo of the Royals went a personal 5-0 run after scoring a corner three and getting a steal in the open court resulting in an open lay up. #11 Tyrone Asenoguan was also buzzing on the defensive end getting hands on balls in the Kitsilano 2-2-1 press rewarding him with two easy buckets. Both teams showed full court zone pressure and 2-3 zones throughout the period, which slowed the game down. The victor of this game would likely be who could execute their sets better. At the end of the first quarter it was all tied up at 16.

The second quarter was no different with both teams staying in their zone full court presses. #11 Tyrone Asenoguan continued to be a pest, tipping balls and causing all kinds of problems for the Royals. The fruit of his labour sprung him on another fast break, this time with no defender in sight, he rose up for a monster two hand slam that got the crowd on its feet. The Blue Demons defense rose to a new level after that play, specifically, #34 Tiago Costa who managed a couple blocks in the middle of the zone. #34 Costa also through a perfect touchdown pass to #11 Asenoguan for an easy two on one play that pushed the lead for the Blue Demons to nine with three minutes to play in the half. Score at the half 38-28 for the Blue Demons.

Opening the second half it was clear the Royals weren’t here to be run out of their own tournament. Whatever adjustments they talked about in the locker room worked as the Royals would score the first four points of the second half and eventually cut the lead to just four points three minutes into the frame. The Royals looked more aggressive and were attacking the zone defense. #11 Ben Grant of the Royals made a tough foul and drew a foul, this three point play giving Handsworth their first lead of the game at 42-41. The Blue Demons regained some momentum behind a three from #34 Tiago Costa to beat the shot clock. Turnovers by Handsworth allowed the Blue Demons back out in transition allowing a acrobatic finish and another two hand dunk by #11 Tyrone Asenogian. With no regard for the shot clock or holding the ball for the last shot of the quarter, #4 Jake Horn knocked down a deep three, well behind the college line, to pull the Royals back within one. The ensuing play the demons turned it over and a drive by #4 Blake Mclean got two free throws to go up one before the third quarter expired. Score entering the fourth - 52-51 Royals.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

Turnovers plagued both teams to open the final frame. It took nearly three minutes before the first bucket would go in for either team, with #4 Jake Horn of the Royals recording his fourth triple of the game. As Handsworth was looking to run away with the game #34 Tiago Costa once again got a tough and-one to fall. The Blue Demons didn’t go away and regained the lead off of a nice finish from #43 Cort Armstrong in the middle of the zone. Kitsilano now looked to run away with the game, but a floater by #11 Ben Grant stopped the bleeding. A waved off a basket for the Royals that would have cut the lead to just one with just a few minutes to play.

With just a minute and a half to play the Royals trailed by two. Nice patience in the half court allowed Kitsilano to get a bucket after taking most of the shot clock to protect their lead. 64-60 Kitsilano and the Royals call a time-out with one minute to play. The Royals came up empty but were still in the game, needing a stop to keep their chances alive. Instead, a questionable foul call on #11 Ben Grant sent the other #11 Tyrone Asenoguan to the line for two free throws. He missed both leaving the door open for the Royals. #3 Blake Mclean got the rebound and charged down court drawing a foul of his own before calmly knocking down the free throws to get the Royals within two. The Royals opted to foul #10 Luka Dolman who went one of two from the line, once again leaving the door slightly ajar. The Royals would get a great look to tie the game that fell just short. #10 Luka Dolman grabbed the rebound and was fouled immediately. This time he didn’t miss knocking down both to go up five, but more importantly make it a two possession game. Final score 67-62 Blue Demons.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

The Royals will have a chance at redemption as a rematch is already scheduled for the opening round of the Burnaby South Tournament in a couple weeks. Congratulations to the Kitsilano Blue Demons, Champions of the 2017 “No Regrets” Tournament.

Quinn Keast Player of the Final Game: Kitsilano #34 Tiago Costa

Quinn Keast Scholarship: Seycove #10 Chris Ross