Living it a second time, Burnaby South junior boys basketball coach Tyus Batiste said there’s no comparison – coaching it topped playing it.
Celebrating a perfect season with Wednesday’s overwhelming 66-37 triumph over the R.A. McMath Wildcats in the B.C. junior boys basketball final, Batiste said the win was better than he imagined.
“This is by far better than winning it as a player (2013), because I’ve now won it as a player and a coach. This is way, way more fun.
A player with the junior boys Rebels’ 2013 B.C. champions, Batiste said an undefeated run through this season seemed possible after they handled McMath the first time, in the Vancouver and District finals two weeks ago.
“When we got through McMath the first time I knew they we were a very, very good team and had a chance. They stuck with the same thing and they were good at it,” he noted.
Tuesday’s rematch unfolded quickly. Burnaby South corralled an early 15-4 lead, showing few nerves considering the stage and prize on the line. The Richmond school struggled with its shooting early, missing three close-in jump shots and an easy layup to end the first quarter.
The Rebels continued their sharpshooting ways, racking up six three-pointers over the first 16 minutes to take a 34-21 advantage into halftime.
But McMath, which advanced to the final by edging No. 2 Vancouver College in overtime, showed some life to start the second half. They racked up eight straight points to pull it to 34-29 with nearly five minutes left in the quarter, before Burnaby South regained its edge. The Rebels countered with a 16-2 run to close out the frame and enter the fourth quarter ahead 50-32.
They were equally as dominant over the final period, limiting McMath to five points while racking up 16 of their own to finish the season 34-0. It was the junior boys program’s second B.C. title in three years.
“As a team we knew we were coming in as the No. 1 seed,” remarked team captain and tourney MVP Jareb Pineda. “We just wanted to come in and play this team hard. We wanted to stay humble, show our game and play them once again. We did our job.
“We had a game plan. Coach Tyus told us their weaknesses and strengths, and we took advantage of that.”
Part of that strategy was to make hay from the outside, an element that has paid dividends all season long. The Rebels ripped the twine for 11 three-pointers, with Pineda collecting six of them.
“(Pineda) is an extremely great shooter and (he’s) been doing it for two years now. He played junior last year and I think by playing junior last year has helped him become a better player this year,” noted Batiste.
The team’s two Grade 9s – six-foot-five post Karan Aujla, and guard Jimmy Zaborniak – continued as major contributors, with Zaborniak tallying 17 points, including three from outside the arc, and Aujla tipping in 13.
“(Aujla and Zaborniak) made this team better because they added some height and some skill as well. Although they are younger we needed that, because losing (Mico Ortinero in Vancouver and Districts final) to an ACL injury was tough. We needed them to step up and do their job and they did,” said Pineda.
Letting them fire away while working within a winning system – Burnaby South’s Grade 8s are also undefeated, while the senior squad is looking to defend it’s B.C. crown if it can advance out of the Lower Mainlands this week – was a reward in itself, said Batiste. McMath’s third quarter run was actually a good thing, as was the deficit in the tournament’s second game against Panorama Ridge – where they trailed 17-13 before going on a 16-4 run.
“We weren’t down much this season, I won’t lie. Our kids were a little shook (by Panorama) but again, I (told them) to stick to what I taught you, stick with what got you here and we’ll be OK. I’m very, very proud of my young kids.”
Earning all-star team honours were Aujla, on the first team, and Zaborniak, who was named to the second team.
The Burnaby South Rebels are: Karan Aujla, Jovan Badial, Conlin Duong, Eric Li, Isaac Lovendino, Mico Ortinero, Jareb Pineda, Nicholas Yu and Jimmy Zaborniak, and coaches Tyus and Travis Batiste.
