It may be the final stretch drive, but in some ways it also feels like bonus time for the St. Thomas More Knights senior boys basketball team.
Their marvellous rise over the past week culminated in a thrilling string of narrow victories and Sunday’s 58-55 decision over Burnaby rival the Byrne Creek Bulldogs in the Fraser North 3-A zone championship final.
That provided the bounty of a B.C. championship tournament berth – something that was a distant dream a month ago.
“It’s pretty wild. I think this whole year has been a lot of interesting twists and turns,” remarked STM coach Aaron Mitchell. "We faced a lot of good teams and our guys saw each (game) as a measuring stick and a chance to grow.
“They’ve been bonding, growing and learning how to win.”
Considering how 2020 had begun, going 5-6 in January and dropping the first three games in February, some could wonder where did the streak come from. But a number of those losses were close affairs. Then again, a tough schedule often builds resilience.
Take the Fraser North final, for example. Up for most of the first 30 minutes, STM suddenly found itself trailing when a determined and rambunctious Bulldogs squad pulled ahead by three in the fourth quarter. Locked in a grind-it-out affair, the Knights cut it to the quick and reclaimed the lead in what would be a tight finish.
“(Byrne Creek) cranked up the press and we threw the ball away,” remarked Mitchell of how the game took a turn. “Two-to-three weeks ago we probably wouldn’t have clawed back, but these kids didn’t give up.
“We pride ourselves in being defensively minded. We tied it up and just got back on course. It wasn’t what you’d call a pretty game.”
Grade 12 floor marshal Gabe Nicario led the way with 21 points, while Grade 11 swingman Chayze Deza chipped in 13 points.
It was the final step to clinching the berth to the B.C.s, as well as collecting the first Fraser North 3-A banner.
Two days earlier, STM gutted out a thrilling 73-69 overtime victory over Pitt Meadows to advance to the final.
Mitchell noted how that match-up put a lot of pressure on his starters, who had a rough 76-52 loss just two weeks earlier as a motivator.
“That was a tough one – we were up by 14 in our own gym and Pitt blew us out in the second half, out-scoring us 50-18. This time, we battled hard all game, it was back and forth and they could have won it with two free throws with five seconds left.”
The athleticism of his players – including football standouts Kaishaun Carter, Nick Osho and Nacario – has given them the ability to power through some difficult challenges, noted Mitchell.
“We have basketball players, football players and basketball-and-football players, but they all come to play,” he said. “Nothing seems to bother them too much. They just have the ability to bounce back.”
Although 2020 began with a lot of bumps, the central focus was to keep working, stay focused and bring defence to the floor.
“The biggest key is knowing it’s not really about the offence,” Mitchell said. “I’m a firm believer that there are days where your shots won’t fall, but if you attend to defence you still have a shot.”
The North zone playdowns began with a 75-69 decision over Thomas Haney, kick starting the streak that will see them as an underdog when the B.C.s tip off March 4 at the Langley Events Centre. An official draw will be made public in the next few days.
“It’s just a reset for us. The team’s goal to make the B.C.s may have seemed a long shot just a month ago, but it’s the reality. I’m not sure if anyone wants to play us,” added Mitchell.
