58th Annual Abbotsford Snowball Tournament tips-off January 17 - January 20th.
The years tournament features 12 teams, eight of which are ranked provincially as well as the #2 ranked team in Toronto, the St. Michaels Blue Raiders. How can some of BC’s best rank up against the cross country powerhouse?
Game 1 Wednesday Jan 17 - 12:30pm: Robert Bateman vs Abbotsford
The lone game on Wednesday will have the host team, Abbotsford Panthers, play the Robert Bateman Timberwolves. In an exhibition game early in the season, the Panthers won a close one 62-58. During school hours, the gym will surely be packed with students making for an intense Abbotsford showdown to start the tournament on a high note.
Game 2 Thursday Jan 18 - 9:00am: #7 “AAAA” WJ Mouat vs #5 “AAA” North Delta
North Delta is coming off an impressive weekend at the STM Chancellor Tournament where they finished 3rd, defeating the #3 “AAA” Sir Charles Tupper Tigers by 40 in that game. Their only loss came to the STM Champions and current #1 “AAA” Byrne Creek Bulldogs. WJ Mouat is coming off a disappointing weekend at the Terry Fox Legal Beagle where they finished with a 1-3 record. However, last night they defeated the Walnut Grove 85-63 and will be looking to ride that wave into this weekend.
Game 3 Thursday Jan 18 - 10:45am: HM “AAA” MEI vs HM “AAAA” St. Georges
HM “AAA” MEI will be looking to improve their Honorable Mention ranking against a number of tough teams in the Snowball. The “AAAA” Honorable Mention St. Georges Saints are led by Jerric Palma and are a team to watch as they lost in overtime to #5 “AAAA” Walnut Grove in earlier this year.
Game 4 Thursday Jan 18 - 12:30pm: HM “AAAA” Kelowna vs Yale
The Kelowna Owls were last years Snowball Classic runner-up and will be looking to improve on that result this year. This past weekend, the Owls went 2-2 at the Legal Beagle with wins over #10 “AAAA” Vancouver College and #7 “AAAA” WJ Mouat. Yale will be paced by Bradley Braich, the new Yale Lions Basketball Scoring Record Holder. Bradley scored 66 points Monday night against Sardis, passing Jauquin Bennett-Boire and Riley Braich along the way.
Game 5 Thursday Jan 18 - 3:00pm: #3 “AAAA” Burnaby South vs Winner Game 2
The Burnaby South Rebels play their first tournament of the new year after playing in four in December. Two weeks ago the Rebels beat #4 “AAAA” Holy Cross. Burnaby South will look to guards Baltej Sohal and Jiordano Khan to pace them against the winner of WJ Mouat/North Delta.
Game 6 Thursday Jan 18 - 4:45pm: #5 “AAAA”Walnut Grove vs Winner Game 3
The defending Snowball Classic Champions, Walnut Grove are fresh off of a 3rd Place finish at the Legal Beagle where they defeated the #6 “AAAA” Kitsilano Blue Demons and HM “AAAA” Terry Fox Ravens. Leading the Gators is James Wood who scored 40 points in the 3rd place game against Terry Fox. Walnut Grove will play the winner of MEI/St. Georges
Game 7 Thursday Jan 18 - 6:30pm: #1 “AA”Brentwood College vs winner Game 4
The #1 “AA” Brentwood College team is coming off of two impressive wins and making their case to be fighting with the heavyweights. In last weeks Claremont Tournament, they took down “AAAA” Honorable Mention Belmont Bulldogs. Their most impressive win came in the UVic Alumni Tournament where they defeated current “AAAA” #1 Oak Bay by a score of 89-85. They await the winner of Kelowna/Yale.
Game 8 Thursday Jan 18 - 8:15pm: St. Michael’s (#2 of Toronto) vs Winner Game 1
St. Michael’s makes the trip to Abbotsford all the way from Toronto where they have held down the #2 ranking for the last three weeks. The Blue Raiders are the defending OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) Gold Medal Champions and currently have six alumni playing at NCAA DIV I schools. The winner of Robert Bateman/Abbotsford will have their work cut out for them.
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