The X-Falcons continued their dominance at the 30th edition of the Dolphin Basketball Classic and this time it was local talent leading the way.
No team has enjoyed the kind of success the X-Falcons have tasted at the popular four-on-four outdoor basketball tournament, staged once again at the Thompson Community Centre.
It was Aldergrove native and former Lanagra/UBC standout Randy Nohr who led the X-Falcons to an impressive run that included four titles from 2007-2011.
They returned as two-time defending champions to this year’s event thanks to the MVP efforts of one-time UBC stars — Doug Plumb and Josh Whyte.
Original member and longtime Dolphin standout/supporter Navi Skehon is now in charge of assembling the team and turned to some prominent Richmond talent to continue the winning tradition.
They didn’t disappoint.
Led by the MVP efforts of McMath grad Brody Greig, the Falcons held off a strong Academy team, that happened to be organized by Plumb, 55-49, in Sunday night’s championship game.
Greig enjoyed an outstanding career at Lanagra where he was named top player in the country in 2014 after leading the Falcons to their first national title. Another key member of that team was Elliott Mason who also suited up over the weekend and earned all-star honours.
Mason was just steps away from his former high school where he was one of the top players ever to come out of the Burnett Breakers senior boys program.
The women’s side of the draw saw a very competitive weekend conclude with Chaos capturing their first-ever title thanks to the MVP efforts of former Elgin Park star Elle Kerfoot who went on to play at Seattle University.
Calgary native Robbie Sihota, who has been playing professionally in Europe, joined the legendary list of slam dunk winners to earn a $500 first place cheque. Aman Heran continued his dominance of the three-point shooting contest, winning for the fifth time in the past eight years.
Dolphin Park organizers were also proud to present the 2015 Robert Carkner Scholarship to Anthony Demch who enjoyed an outstanding Grade 12 season at McMath, leading the Wildcats to the provincial “AAA” tournament.
The scholarship is donated annually to a top student/ athlete from Richmond in the memory of Carkner — a former principal at Steveston and Richmond High Schools who also had a tremendous influence on the growth of basketball in the city.
