The provincially 3A ranked MacNeill Ravens and Richmond Colts senior boys basketball teams will be riding momentum into 2019 after closing out December in impressive fashion.
The Ravens made it 3-for-3 in tournament play by capturing the Bob Gair Classic at New Westminster Secondary. They completed a three-game run with a 105-78 win over the host Hyacks in the championship game.
A 25-point performance from Usman Tung nailed down the tournament MVP award. The Grade 12 standout also earned top player honours at the John Oliver’s Joker Classic earlier in the month.
Grade 10 Jackson Thackwray continues to look right at home at the senior level, scoring 20 points and being named to the all-star team.
MacNeill advanced to the final by outlasting the Churchill Bulldogs 103-100. Tung scored 28 and Thackwray poured in 26. Oscar Hung added 19
Tung drained 30 in his team’s 91-79 opening round win over the Sardis Falcons.
The Ravens will return work at Churchill’s Bulldog Classic Jan. 9. They also sit 4-0 in city play.
The Cambie Crusaders settled for fourth place after being edged 91-87 by Churchill. They opened with an 84-76 win against Maple Ridge, before falling 101-84 to the Hyacks.
Meanwhile, the Richmond Colts made quite a statement at the Rod Thomson Memorial, hosted by Burnaby South.
The Colts surprised the host Rebels with a thrilling 80-79 win in the semi-finals. Burnaby South entered its tournament holding down the No. 1 ranking, along with Lord Tweedsmuir, at the 4A level.
Richmond had battled back from a 41-32 halftime deficit and only a last second desperation basket by the Rebels prevented a win in regulation time.
Grade 12 guard Anton Poburko earned player-of-the-game honours with his 15-point performance.
The Colts then fell 76-61 to the North Delta Huskies in the championship game. The No. 2 3A ranked Huskies pulled away in the late going. The contest was tied at the half and North Delta took a 56-47 advantage into the final quarter.
Grade 10 Arminas Ilclukas had a strong game for the Colts.
Richmond High had opened the tournament with an 83-73 win over Carson Graham, behind a big 34-point performance from player-of-the-game Ace Adano.
The Colts will open the new year on the Island at the Claremont Tournament.
McMath opened the Thomson Memorial with a 78-50 loss to the Huskies. The Wildcats rebounded with a 92-70 win over Windsor before falling 79-57 to Carson Graham in the fifth place game.
