The Burnaby South Rebels found the perfect stage on which to showcase their basketball team.
The Rebels upset AAA No. 3-ranked Walnut Grove in the opening game of the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. The honourable mention South boys then closed it with a 62-55 victory over the top-ranked AA school Mission on Saturday.
"We really haven't had a chance to prove ourselves," said all-tournament first team all-star South post Nick Irvine, who scored 29 points and had 13 rebounds and five blocked shots in the third-place final over Mission. "We really wanted to come out and show that we can play, and I think we did that."
Playing with just eight players in the final game, South used its bench well, keeping the Fraser Valley attack in check.
The game was a close affair for the first three quarters.
The Rebels held a one-point lead at halftime after a 15-15 opening quarter.
South edged into the lead 45-41 after three quarters with the help of a sevenpoint contribution from Quentin Nguyen.
But it was Irvine's presence under the bucket that proved the difference down the stretch.
The 6-7 forward scored nine points in the final 10 minutes, including his second three-pointer of the game and four-for-four at the foul line.
Junior guard Taylor Smith chipped in with nine points - all treys - including a gameopening bomb off the tipoff.
"(The tournament) gives us the confidence and the ability to play up, and beat these good teams, too," Irvine added.
South upset the third-ranked Langley school 69-67 on Thursday to move into the semifinals against the host Fighting Irish.
Gino Pagliabo hit the gamewinning shot for the Rebels. Pagliabo was later named to the tournament second team.
In the semifinal, the two teams were tied heading into the fourth quarter, before the Rebels let No. 6-ranked Van College off the hook.
But the defining moment was the win over Mission, a team that a week before had upset Vancouver College by double figures.
"We're getting close to where we want to be as a team," Irvine said. "We're still hoping to get higher, but it definitely was a good first step."
The Rebels meet Mission again on Friday in an exhibition game at South. The following week, South is back to league play against New Westminster on Jan. 30.
