The Burnaby South Rebels won their second ever championship title in what is likely the last Telus Classic high school basketball tournament.
In a well scripped boys’ final, No. 5-ranked Burnaby South outscored the eighth-ranked Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs 77-75 in the championship game at UBC’s War Memorial Gym on Saturday.
“It was a really good high school show, for sure,” said South head coach Dave Smith, who coached South to the final of the very first what was then-called the HSBC Basektball Classic in 2000.
South won its first Classic tournament title under coach Greg Matic.
Telus announced prior to the tournament that it would be channeling its future sponsorship to the provincial high school championships for all four boys’ tiers and the three senior girls’ tiers this season.
Whether the much anticipated preseason tournament will be picked up by other corportate sponsors is still in negotiations.
The loss of the big-name tournament would be a blow to local high school basketball players, said Smith.
“It really felt like it was really special,” he said. To come out and win that tournament is gravy. It’s such a great experience really.”
Although the game itself was far from perfect, the scoring lead that was never more than four points for either school made up for the sloppy play, said Smith.
“We have a lot to improve on,’ Smith added.
Forward Djordje Obradovic led the Rebels with 16 points, while Grade 11 phenom Jermaine Hayley chipped in with 13 points to share a spot on the tournament all-star team with his senior teammate.
Point guard Taylor Smith was named the recipient of the Quinn Keast most complete player award, which also includes a $2,000 scholarship from the Quinn Keast Foundation.
Playing in just its first exhibition games of the season, South looked worthy of its top-five provincial ranking, knocking off Handsworth handily 86-61 in the semifinal at Churchill Secondary on Friday.
Obradovic again led the Rebels with 19 points, while first-year guard Tyus Batiste and Hayley added 18 and 17 points, respectively. Martin Bogajev and Smith also tallied in the double figures.
In the Telus final, Batiste and fellow guard E.J. Mabone both came into the game at key moment of the second half when the Rebels were struggling, sparking South to its fourth straight victory and first tournament title of the season.
“They came in the game and just made up for it and all of sudden, we get steals and layups. It gave us confidence,” said Smith. “We made some great plays down the stretch, and I’m not sure we would have had they not had that confidence.”
South also defeated honourable mention Vancouver College 88-70 in the quarter-finals.
Aside from the provincial championships, the Telus Classic brings a real
The Rebels will meet Churchill again later this week when the two tangle at South for an exhibition matchup on Thursday. Tipoff is at 7:15 p.m.
