After four days of basketball action, champions were crowned in each of the Select 16 and Super 16 brackets as part of the 2024 Tsumura Basketball Invitational Boys Tournament at Langley Events Centre.
Sixty-four teams had tipped off on Wednesday morning, culminating in Saturday’s championship finals.
Select 16
King George Dragons' Faisal Shawwa was named Most Valuable Player after leading his Dragons to the Select 16 Bracket title at the Tsumura Basketball Invitational Boys Tournament. Ryan Molag LEC photo
Through the first three games, the Collingwood Cavaliers offence was unstoppable.
The West Vancouver school twice cracked triple digits and were averaging an even 100 points per game.
But while the Cavaliers were seemingly scoring at will, their opponent – the King George Dragons – prides itself on playing a relentless style of defensive, holding teams to a mere 39 points per game this week.
What would happen when a high-flying offence met such a stout defence? That question was answered on Saturday at Langley Events Centre in the championship game for the Tsumura Basketball Invitational Boys Tournament Select 16 Bracket with the Dragons delivered a 62-58 win.
“We have been the No. 1 defence in points against in five of the last seven years and that is something a lot of teams might not focus on, but that is something we pride ourselves on,” said King George coach Darko Kulic, referencing an analytics website he regularly follows which measures offensive and defensive metrics among B.C. high school basketball team.
King George would score 11 of the first 13 points and never trailed in the contest. And they did so relying primarily on their starting five for the duration of the entire game.
“They just played the whole time and there is no quit in them. Kudos to the kids: they are buying in, and they listen and they are enjoyable to coach,” Kulic said.
This marks the second straight year the Dragons have won the TBI Select 16 title, but Kulic knows their work is not done as it was the Cavaliers who won the provincial title last March.
“Lots of season to go. We won this (tournament) and they won the ring and we are trying to get back to that podium when it matters most,” he said.
Kio Nickel was named the Championship Player of the Game after leading King George with a game-high 22 points while the Tournament MVP went to his teammate Faisal Shawwa.
Shawwa finished with 16 points (well below his average of 28) but that was by design as the game plan called on him to be more of a decoy on the offensive end, creating opportunity for Nickel, Charlie Comrie (13 points) and Filip Puaca (11).
“I know a lot of next-level coaches want athletic, lanky, this and that, but we are coaching basketball, we are not doing an Olympics. Athletics are important but you need basketball players,” Kulic said of his 6-5 forward/centre who is always willing to do whatever is in the best interest of the team. “(Faisal) might not be the most athletic kid, but he does what needs to be done.”
Sam Li led Collingwood with 20 points while Tony Li added 13.
The Rick Hansen Hurricanes needed overtime but claimed third place with a 85-80 win over the Brookswood Bobcats.
Select 16
Consolation Round Select 16 Scores:
Langley Christian Lightning 59 Maple Ridge Ramblers 43
Byrne Creek Bulldogs 63 South Kamloops Titans 45
Grandview Heights Grizzlies 78 College Heights Cougars 66
A.R. MacNeill Ravens 65 Richmond Colts 57
Windsor Wolves 70 Mark R. Isfeld Ice 57
Super 16
Dover Bay's Frank Linder won MVP honours after leading his Dolphins to the TBI Super 16 Bracket championship. Ryan Molag LEC photo
Having seen their double-digit lead whittled down to six points with 10 minutes to play, head coach Darren Seaman didn’t need to say anything.
“I actually just sat down, shut up and let them play,” he admitted.
Seaman’s Dover Bay Dolphins were facing the St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights in Saturday’s championship final of the Super 16 Bracket at the Tsumura Basketball Invitational Boys Tournament at Langley Events Centre.
And while the Knights would open the final period with a bucket, making it a four-point game with nearly a full quarter to play, what followed was the Dolphins outscoring their opponent 33-4 the rest of the way, winning 108-69.
“That fourth quarter is just their training, their fitness, the weightlifting, and everything. It is pretty hard to keep up. The motor they have is pretty special as you saw there in the fourth quarter: they just blew the game apart,” Seaman said.
It wrapped up a four-day run which saw Dover Bay win each game by no less than 16 points.
Leading the way was Frank Linder, who scored a game-high 33 points, 17 of which came in the final quarter. Linder was selected as MVP.
“He affects the game with more than just his scoring. He does all the dirty work too: he defends the best guy, he rebounds. You couldn’t ask for more,” Seaman said.
Linder was part of a big 3 for the Dolphins which also received 24 points from Hudson Trood as well as 17 from younger brother Joe Linder.
The Saints’ Zeru Abera had 32 points for his team in the loss with his efforts earning him the Championship Player of the Game.
In the third-place game, it was the St. Patrick Celtics with the 86-73 win over the Vancouver College Fighting Irish.
Super 16
Consolation Round Super 16 Scores:
Yale Lions 75 West Wellington Wildcats 46
M.E.I. Eagles 63 G.W. Graham Grizzlies 52
Kelowna Owls 94 Sullivan Heights Stars 52
Heritage Woods Kodiaks 74 West Vancouver Highlanders 67
Terry Fox Ravens 79 Burnaby South Rebels 71
St. George’s Saints 71 Centennial Centaurs 57
For full tournament scores, please visit www.langleyeventscentre.com/tbi
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