The Steveston-London Sharks teased their coach and supporters again on Monday night.
The senior boys basketball team opened up a double-digit halftime lead on the Richmond Colts and was on its way to its biggest win of the season. However, it was all Colts in the second half as the visitors — led by Grade 12 standouts Daniel Afanasiyevskyy and Murad Mohammed — outscored the Sharks by 20 points in the third quarter and went on to post a 88-78 victory.
The result improved the honourable mention 3A team to 5-1 in city league play while the Sharks slipped to 1-4. They are now in a dogfight for the final “AAA” spot in next month’s Richmond Championships with only the top four advancing.
It’s a sharp contrast to when Steveston-London won back-to-back city titles and was a provincial powerhouse, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2016. The rebuild is underway with players that have little experience at the senior level.
“This is the story of a young team,” sighed Sharks head coach Mike Stoneburgh. “You go up by 13 at the half and they think it’s over and it’s not. These are the lessons we have been learning all year. It’s starting to get frustrating. You can’t keep playing first halves like that then just lay a dud.
“We have to tighten it up, learn to play full games and we haven’t done that yet. We just keep giving team’s chances and life.”
Quinn Whyte is the lone returnee who saw regular playing time a year ago. Fellow Grade 12 Johnny Fang was excellent Monday and is having a solid year.
The Sharks have a key league game against Burnett on Wednesday then turn their attention to hosting the annual Bob Carkner Classic. After epic victories over Byrne Creek and Lord Byng the past two seasons, featuring top ranked 3A teams, this year’s field reflects their inexperience.
They will take on Point Grey in their opener Thursday afternoon. The rest of the field features Windermere, Delta, Hugh Boyd, Langley, Valleyview and Byng.
“These are mostly good mediocre 3A teams. There should be a lot of close battles,” added Stoneburgh.
At the buzzer..
- The girls’ side of the Carkner Classic features last year’s Crehan Cup Lower Mainland “AAA” finalists Argyle and McMath on different sides of the draw. The teams should meet in Saturday’s final at 5:30 p.m. The Sharks, South Delta, Killarney, Valleyview, John Oliver and McRoberts round out the girls field.
The boys title game is at 7:15 p.m.
