The Burnaby South Rebels found the perfect stage on which to showcase their basketball team.
The Rebels upset No. 3 AAA Walnut Grove in the opening game of the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament, the honourable mention South boys then closed it with a 62-55 victory over the top-ranked AA school Mission on Saturday.
"We really haven't had a chance to prove ourselves," said South post Nick Irvine, who scored 29 points and had 13 rebounds and five blocked shots in the third-place final over Mission. "We really wanted to come out and show that we can play and I think we did that."
Playing with just eight players in the final game, South
The game a close affair for the first three quarters.
The Rebels held a one-point lead at halftime after a 15-15 opening quarter. South edged into the lead 45-41 after three quarters with the help of a seven-point contribution from Quentin Nyugen.
But it was Irvine's presence under the bucket that proved the difference down the stretch.
The 6-7 forward scored nine points in the final 10 minutes, including his second three-pointer of the game and four-for-four at the foul line.
Junior guard Taylor Smith chipped in with nine points - all treys - including a game-opening bomb off the tipoff.
"(The tournament) gives us the confidence and the ability to play up, and beat these good teams, too," Irvine added.
South upset the third-ranked Langley school 69-67 on Thursday to move into the semifinals against the host Fighting Irish.
The two teams were tied heading into the fourth quarter, before the Rebels let No. 6-ranked Van College off the hook.
But the defining moment was the win over Mission, a team that a week before had upset Vancouver College by double figures.
"We're getting close to where we want to be as a team," Irvine said. "We're still hoping to get higher, but it definitely was a good first step."
The Rebels will meet Mission again on Friday in a junior and senior exhibition matchup at South.
The following week, South gets back to league play against New Westminster Monday, Jan. 30.
