What a difference a couple of months can make for the Richmond Colts, especially Ace Adano.
It was back on Dec. 3 when the Colts opened their Richmond Senior Boys League Basketball schedule with a 14-point loss to the MacNeill Ravens and Adano’s frustrating night ended when he fouled out.
On Friday, it was redemption time for the Colts and him in a big way.
The Grade 12 guard poured in 27 points and set up his teammates for a number easy baskets too as Richmond High rolled to the city title with dominating 82-50 victory in front of a capacity crowd at Steveston-London Secondary.
“I was unlucky and just not feeling it that night I guess,” recalled Adano. “I did think about it actually. We have been hungry for these guys the whole season and waiting for them in the finals. When your shots start falling like that your confidence goes through the roof and when they play up on me tight that’s when I can attack too. What an experience.”
The first team city all-star was on fire in the opening quarter, scoring 15 points, including four baskets behind the arc, as the Colts raced out to a 27-8 lead. The Ravens’ offensive struggles continued in the second and the margin ballooned to 29 points before they scored their first bucket midway through the second.
The game was essentially over and so was the No. 5 provincial ranked Ravens’ perfect season against Richmond opponents at 12 games. The stage was perhaps a little too large for a young team that didn’t even qualify for the playoffs a year ago.
“This (big game environment) is a new experience for them,” said MacNeill head coach Steward Siy. “Going into it, we told them they have to enjoy it but until you are there, you really don’t how they will respond.
“It’s going to help us for the Lower Mainlands and hopefully the provincials too. But give credit to them as well. They were intense and really brought it tonight. We just couldn’t match their intensity.”
The Colts were on a mission since opening night of the championships. Their three wins en route to the title were by an average of 36 points after earlier games against Cambie (81-33) and McMath (92-64).
“The guys have been just fired up all week and almost on a mission it felt like,” said head coach Brandon Harbour. “Lot of our guys have been in big game situations going to provincials last year. The Grade 12s also won the championship in Grade 10 so they have kind of been in these kind of games before. I think that helped us.”
Harbour added Adano’s early heroics was not part of the game plan but also knows what his sharpshooter is capable of when he is in a rhythm.
“Before the game I told them let’s get some easy ones to start, go to the rim and don’t put up any threes. Ace catches it and shoots right away,” laughed Harbour. When he’s on he is going to hit those all night.”
The Colts also got a big outing from Talhah Farooqi who finished with a triple-double (14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocks) and caused havoc in the paint – earning defensive player of the game honours.
Both teams now turn their attention to the Lower Mainland 3A Championships where they will be joined by the Steveston-London Sharks and McMath. That tournament starts Tuesday and concludes the following week at the Richmond Olympic Oval. The Hugh Boyd Trojans and Cambie will be competing in the 2A LM Championships.
Here are individual award winners who were honoured during the post-game ceremony based on regular season play:
Most Valuable Player: Usman Tung (MacNeill)
First Team All-Stars: Anton Poburko (Richmond High), Ethan Wight (Steveston-London), Nicholas Berda (Hugh Boyd), Sky Tan (MacNeill), Ace Adano (Richmond High).
Second Team Al-Stars: Baltej Nahal (Cambie), Apaar Sahota (McNair), Jackson Thackwray (MacNeill), Marco Wong (Steveston-London), Natrone Gonzales (McMath).
Third Team All-Stars: Umer Shahzad (Steveston-London), Ydai Takahashi (McMath), Talhah Farooqi (Richmond High), Jackie Nguyen (Cambie), Evan Brusse (Richmond High).
