Champions crowned.
The St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights junior boys basketball squad pulled off the biggest upset of the 2023 provincials, shocking the number-one ranked Tamanawis Wildcats in a 44-42 thriller.
Zeru Abera, who finished with a game-high 22 points, drained a jumper near the free-throw line with two seconds left in regulation to lift the Knights to their first title in 35 years.
"That was pretty sweet. Definitely the biggest shot I have ever hit,” Abera said in a news release after the game.
Abera's heroics earned him championship player of the game and MVP of the tournament.
STMC's Isaac Jimenez was named best defensive player while Shane Deza and Jacob Oreta were named to the first and second all-star teams respectively.
During their title run, STMC defeated four higher-seeded teams including number-six Rick Hansen (57-52), crosstown-rival third-ranked Burnaby South Rebels (45-40) and the number seven-ranked Brookswood Bobcats (66-49) and the number-one seeded Tamanawis Wildcats (44-42).
Traymaine Belanger was the leading scorer for the Wildcats, finishing with 20 points.
