This weekend is the second to last "busy" weekend of the season as teams begin to prepare for playoffs and ultimately a shot at a provincial title. Arguably the toughest tournament of the weekend, the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament brings nine provincially ranked/mentioned teams together in this historic Vancouver tournament. Other tournaments include the Robert Bateman and Collingwood Tournaments boasting a number provincially ranked/mentioned teams of their own.
For teams wanting to make a run into March, what better time to start playing your best basketball than now?
Vancouver College Emerald Tournament
Game 1 @ 2:00pm Thursday Jan 25: #2 “AAAA” Tamanawis Wildcats vs HM “AAAA” Vancouver College Fighting Irish
Both Tamanawis and Vancouver College are entering the weekend after losing in the championship finals of their last tournaments, the Surrey RCMP Basketball Classic and BC Catholic Tournament respectively. Tamanawis will naturally look to stand out guard Miguel Tomley to lead them over the tournament hosts Vancouver College. For the Fighting Irish, Jack Cruz-Dumont will pace the home team in front of what will surely be a standing room only home crowd.
Game 2 @ 3:45pm Thursday Jan 25: #5 “AAA” McMath Wildcats vs HM “AAAA” Terry Fox Ravens
McMath is looking to climb back up the provincial rankings after falling three spots from last week. The wildcats will need a big weekend from Victor Radocaj if they are going to be successful in the Emeralds competitive field. The Terry Fox Ravens are riding a three game regular season winning streak after going 2-2 at their own Legal Beagle Tournament. The Ravens and their core of young players, including Jacob Mand, have spent the last five weeks as an “Honorable Mention”, will this be the tournament that helps them break into the Top-10?
Game 3 @ 5:30pm Thursday Jan 25: #4 “AAAA” Semiahmoo Totems vs Pinetree Timberwolves
The #4 Semiahmoo Totems currently hold the highest ranking they’ve held all season and are fresh off a Surrey RCMP Tournament Championship where they knocked off the #2 Tamanawis Wildcats coming back from down 18 points. Look for an even dose of Adam Paige and Vlad Mihaila to lead the Totems. The Pinetree Timberwolves started the season as an “AAAA” Honorable Mention but haven’t been in the rankings for the last five weeks. The Timberwolves are surging in January including a four game winning streak with a Championship at the Churchill Bulldog Classic.
Game 4 @ 7:30pm Thursday Jan 25: #1 “AA” Brentwood College vs #5 “AAA” Walnut Grove Gators
The fourth and final game of the opening day of the Emerald Classic features the second and third place teams from last weekend’s Abbotsford Snowball Tournament and is a rematch from the semifinals where the Gators narrowly edged Brentwood College 83-81. The Walnut Grove Gators lost to St. Michaels (Toronto) in the final and will rely on reigning “AAAA” MVP James Wood to lead them to victory. Despite their “AA” Tier, Brentwood College continues to play and beat the “big schools”. Last weekend, led by Nathan Pasloske and Somto Dimonachie, they defeated “AAAA” Kelowna and Burnaby South both by double digits on their way to a third place finish.
Game 5 @ 3:15pm Friday Jan 26 : HM “AAAA” Belmont Bulldogs vs Winner Game 1
The Bulldogs are relatively new to the provincial rankings, earning their “Honorable Mention” just two weeks ago. Belmont is led by super quick guard Nishad Tarak. Tarak and the Bulldogs await the winner between Tamanawis and Vancouver College. They will also be looking to use this tournament as a tune up before their Island powerhouse match-up with Oak Bay next Tuesday January 30th.
Game 6 @ 3:15pm Friday Jan 26: #1 “AAAA”Oak Bay Bays vs Winner Game 2
The Oak Bay Bays have held the #1 spot in the “AAAA” rankings for four of the last five weeks and are not eager to give that spot up. The Bays won the Legal Beagle two weeks ago and defeated the #6 Kitsilano Blue Demons in exhibition play last week. Grade 11 guard Diego Maffia will look to keep his hot shooting season going against the winner of McMath and Terry Fox.
Collingwood Tournament
Game 1 @ 1:30pm Thursday Jan 25: HM “AA” RC Palmer Griffin vs #5 “AA” Collingwood Cavaliers
Game 2 @ 3:15pm Thursday Jan 25: Claremont vs Carson Graham
Game 3 @ 5:00pm Thursday Jan 25: Okanagan Mission vs West Vancouver
Game 4 @ 6:45pm Thursday Jan 25: Notre Dame vs #2 “AA” Westsyde
Robert Bateman Tournament
Game 1 @ 8:30am Thursday Jan 25: Maple Ridge vs #4 “AAA” North Delta
Game 2 @ 10:15am Thursday Jan 25: Brookswood vs #7 “AAA” G.W. Graham
Game 3 @ 12:00pm Thursday Jan 25: Steveston-London vs Robert Bateman
Game 4 @ 1:45pm Thursday Jan 25: HM “AAA” McNair vs HM “AAA” Rick Hansen
Game 5 @ 3:30pm Thursday Jan 25: Pitt Meadows vs #6 “AAA” Charles Tupper
Game 6 @ 5:15pm Thursday Jan 25: Bodwell vs #1 “AAA” Byrne Creek
Game 7 @ 7:00pm Thursday Jan 25: HM “AAA” Wellington vs HM “AAA” MEI
Game 8 @ 8:45 pm Thursday Jan 25: Caledonia vs #3 “AAA” South Kamloops
Good luck to all teams competing in what could be some of their last games of the 2017/2018 season.
COMMUNITY
