The Burnaby South Rebels left their mark in history at the B.C. high school AAA boys' basketball championships.
The Rebels finished up in 10th place following an all-time two-team record for most points scored at the provincials - a 109-105 double-overtime win over South Kamloops - at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday.
The 214 combined points made surpassed those of the former record held by Vernon in a 114-96 win over Mt. Baker set back in 1997. Coincidentally, the most points ever scored in a single provincial tournament game was 118, set by an earlier Burnaby South team that finished in eighth place back in 1977.
The final placement game also set records for most points by a losing team and most free throws attempted - 28 by Jacobs Adams of South Kam.
In a wild, early morning matchup that sadly few were witness to, the two teams exchanged leads 11 times in the contest.
Player of the game Dejan Posavljak led South with 30 points and 12 rebounds as the South Slope school outscored South Kam 40-22 in the paint. The Rebels also outgunned the Thompson-area team from beyond the arc, nailing 15 three-pointers to South Kam's 11.
"It was an unbelievable finish to a great season for us. It was a great way to end the season," said South head coach David Smith.
After its opening day win over eventual eighth-place finish Sardis, South was forced to run the gauntlet against two schools that battled for the No. 1 ranking leading up to the provincials - Yale and eventual B.C. champion Walnut Grove.
While South lost to both programs, including an 89-76 defeat to Yale on Friday, Smith maintained the Rebels proved they deserved better than its non-ranked status.
"We worked hard all year. We don't need a plaque to know where we fit in. Realistically, we feel we deserve to be a few places higher than (10th place). In the end, we finished up a pretty good team," said Smith.
In fact, against Yale, South played the eventual seventh-place-finishing Abbotsford school even for three quarters after digging itself a 26-14 first-quarter hole.
Against South Kam, South held a 40-33 lead at the half. South Kam then rallied to take a two-point lead into the final quarter.
Nick Garcha, who contributed 13 points and 11 boards in the Saturday win, nailed a go-ahead three-pointer for South with just moments left in regulation time.
Gino Pagbalao, who was rarely off the floor in South's final game, finished with 22 points and six assists.
Grade 11 guards, Taylor Smith and Martin Bogajev, chipped in with 15 and 12 points, respectively, including four three-pointers apiece.
"I was nervous today. But the kids played hard and were successful and they went away feeling good," said coach Smith. "But when you're on the back side, you have to ask yourself, 'What's the purpose? What do they get out of it?' But all the players scored and made plays to help the team win - that's what I'm so happy about. All 11 guys got to contribute in some way and they felt good about that."
