The St. Thomas More Knights got the start they wanted, then kept going.
On the strength of a 63-45 win over the crosstown rival Byrne Creek Bulldogs on Wednesday, the Knights punched their ticket to the 3-A provincials and tonight play the Steveston Packers for the Lower Mainland senior boys basketball title.
The tale of the tape on Wednesday proved to be in the beginning.
The Knights hit their shots early while Byrne Creek struggled.
“We came out and had a positive start,” remarked STM coach Aaron Mitchell. “Talking with (Byrne coach Bal Dhillon) after the game it seemed they couldn’t find their rhythm, six or seven minutes in they weren’t making their shots.”
At halftime the Knights had pried open a 38-14 lead, and while the Bulldogs closed the gap to 10 points at one stage, Byrne Creek had too big a hill to climb.
“We played scared,” said Dhillon. “We played nervous, very, very nervous. (STM) didn’t throw anything different at us, but they just wanted it more.”
Richard Galicia topped the Knights shooters with 22 shots, while Cam Morris, who faced foul trouble in the fourth, chipped in 16. Also playing well were Liam Feenan and Edward Ju.
For Byrne Creek, Bithan Wan netted 26 points.
For STM, getting a shot at its first 3-A Lower Mainland banner should take away any satisfaction of having the B.C. berth locked up, said Mitchell.
“That’s the impressive thing for this group; they’ve played for championships before at various levels so they were happy (to win) but no one was losing their minds.
“There’s another game yet.”
Although they haven’t played Steveston this season, they saw them in two tournaments.
“They’ve got a very big man, 6-foot-9, who is a big part of their game, and they’ve got a lot of skill,” noted Mitchell.
“They are one of the favourites to win the provincial title, so we really have to come in prepared.”
For the Bulldogs, a game yesterday (Thursday, past NOW deadline) against Lord Byng presents the last obstacle to a spot at next week’s B.C.s in Langley. A win over Lord Byng and they’re in.
“The significance is very clear,” said Dhillon. “We’ve played them three times (including wins by four and 11 points) so we know what we’ve got to do.”
The Burnaby South Rebels kept hope alive on Wednesday with a hectic 76-70 victory over the David Thompson Trojans in 4-A Lower Mainland action.
Buoyed by a stellar defensive effort in the first half which saw the Rebels hold No. 7-seed Thompson to just 20 points, Burnaby South twice jumped out to a 20-point lead only to see the East Van school push back.
Some timely shooting late in the contest quelled the Trojans’ comeback hopes.
“We got a little bit comfortable,” assistant coach David Smith said of the 20-point lead the team enjoyed with four minutes to play. “It was a combination of some sloppy play and David Thompson turning it up. It certainly made it uncomfortable for (the coaches).”
Kenan Krupic led the Rebels with 27 points, while C.J. Campbell put up 19. Leading the way defensively were Hadi Honordoust, tasked with covering the Trojans’ top shooter, and Steven Oropel.
Burnaby South faced No. 4-seed Killarney yesterday (past the NOW’s deadline) in a must-win affair. The winner moves on to today’s bronze medal match, another must-win contest, 4:30 p.m. at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
The top-three teams at the Lower Mainlands advance to the 4-A provincials next month in Langley.
