The jersey number of Byrne Creek's Bithow Wan says it all. He and his Bulldogs are the new No. 1-ranked team in B.C. senior boys AAA basketball. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2018. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Boys Basketball

12.12.18 December madness edition: Tweedy, South share Quad A’s No. 1 ranking, plus all four polls have new No. 1 teams

LANGLEY — It’s been a crazy atop the four B.C. senior boys provincial polls. 

In what may well be a first since the BCHSBBA went to four tiers of competition, there is a new No. 1 atop each of the rankings.

Well, sort of.

Quad-A features what may well be its first-ever shared No. 1 ranking, a situation dictated by the crazy week enjoyed by Surrey’s Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers in conjunction with the rise of Langley’s Walnut Grove Gators.

The No. 1 ranking at the province’s highest tier is likely a school-best for Tweedsmuir, who share top spot with defending champion Burnaby South, the team they beat in last Saturday’s Tsumura Basketball Invitational final.

Meanwhile, Burnaby, Prince Rupert and Victoria schools have moved into top spot in the province’s three other polls.

A complete look:

SENIOR BOYS

QUAD A  (records, ranking reflect games played Dec. 5 through Dec. 11. Records indicate games against B.C. competition only)

1 tie Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (8-3) (Surrey) (LW-4)

Last week — Won all four games to finish first at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Def. Heritage Woods 78-60, def. North Delta 89-70, def. Holy Cross 96-71, def, Burnaby South 82-77. Lost to Walnut Grove 96-74. Def. Terry Fox 104-97.

This week — Open Dec. 17 vs. Abbotsford at Pinetree Christmas Classic.

1 tie Burnaby South Rebels (6-1) (1)

Last week — Won three of four games to finish second at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Def. Centennial 85-69, def. Oak Bay 77-74, def. Terry Fox 85-82 (OT), lost 82-77 to Lord Tweedsmuir.

This week —Dec. 17 host Burnaby Central. 

3 Terry Fox Ravens (8-2) (Port Coquitlam) (2)

Last week — Won three of four games to finish third at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Def. W.J. Mouat 92-70, def. Byrne Creek 89-56, lost to Burnaby South 85-82 (OT), def. Holy Cross 93-65. Lost 104-97 to Lord Tweedsmuir.

This week — Dec. 13 host St. George’s.

4 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (6-3) (3)

Last week — Split four games to finish fourth at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Def. Rick Hansen 94-80, def. Kelowna 74-59, lost 96-71 to Lord Tweedsmuir, lost 93-65 to Terry Fox. Def. Johnston Heights 108-35.

This week — Dec. 13 at Kwantlen Park, Dec. 18 vs. Fraser Heights.

5 Oak Bay Bays (Victoria) (4-1) (8)

Last week —Def. Walnut Grove 108-103. Won three of four games to finish fifth at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Def. G.W. Graham 91-76, lost 77-74 to Burnaby South, def. Byrne Creek 78-68, def. Kelowna 93-65.

This week — Dec. 13 vs. Belmont, Dec. 18 vs. St. Michaels University School.

6 St. George’s Saints (5-1) (Vancouver) (6)

Last week —Def. Abbotsford 96-80. 

This week — Dec. 12 vs. Byrne Creek, Dec. 13 at Terry Fox, Dec. 18 vs. Handsworth.

7 Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (3-1) (5)

Last week — Lost 70-55 at Ferndale (Wash.). Lost 81-64 to W.J. Mouat.

This week —Dec. 12 vs. South Delta, Dec. 14 vs. New Westminster, Dec. 18 at Earl Marriott.

8 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (6-3) (7)

Last week — Won all four games to finish first at Cariboo Hill Classic invitational. Def. New Westminster ‘B’ 99-83, def. Alpha 81-60, def. Alpha 82-48, def. New Westminster ‘B’ 106-64.  

This week — Dec. 15 vs. Shawnigan Lake.

9 tie Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) (3-1) (NR)

Last week — Lost 108-103 to Oak Bay. Def. Lord Tweedsmuir 96-77.

This week — Open Thursday vs. L.A. Matheson at Guildford Park Sabres Classic. Open Monday vs. Heritage Woods at Pinetree Christmas Classic.

9 tie tie Kelowna Owls (7-4) (9)

Last week — Slit four games to finish sixth at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Def. R.A. McMath 100-54, lost 74-59 to Holy Cross, def. North Delta 89-65, lost 93-64 to Oak Bay. Def. Mt. Boucherie 104-60.

This week —Open play Thursday vs. Spruce Grove (Alta.)-St. Peter the Apostle vs. Lethbridge Collegiate Institute winner at 37th Jasper Place (Edmonton) REB Invitational.

10 W.J. Mouat Hawks (Abbotsford) (5-5) (HM)

Last week — Split four games to finish 13th at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Lost 92-70 to Terry Fox, lost 90-89 (OT) to Sir Charles Tupper, def. Centennial 79-78, def. Belmont 86-76. Def. Tamanawis 81-64.

This week — Open Wednesday vs. St. John Brebeuf-Robert Bateman winner at Abbotsford Police Tournament. 

HONOURABLE MENTION

Semiahmoo Totems (Surrey) (3-3) (10)

Last week — Def. Astoria (Ore.) 71-60, lost 68-61 at Vancouver (Wash.)-Mountainview. Def. Elgin Park 93-30.

This week — Open play Thursday vs. Edmonton-Archbishop O’Leary at Jasper Place (Edmonton) REB Invitational. 

Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (4-0) (HM)

Last week — Won all four games to finish at No Regrets North Shore Invitational. Def. Aden Bowman (Sask.) 82-68, def Mt. Boucherie 73-36, def. Rutland 75-70, def. Charles Hays 69-50.

This week —  Friday vs. Holy Cross at Sir Charles Tupper-Eastside Story series. Tuesday host St. George’s.

Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (3-6) (HM)

Last week — Split four games to finish 10th at 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Lost 78-60 to Lord Tweedsmuir, def. Belmont 81-76, def. Rick Hansen 90-60, lost 95-80 to Sir Charles Tupper.

This week —Open Monday vs. D.P. Todd at Pinetree Christmas Classic. 

Kitsilano Blue Demons (Vancouver) (5-6) (HM)

Last week — Def. Earl Marriott to finish 92-47. Won three of four games to finish third at No Regrets North Shore Invitational. Def. Argyle 71-54, def. Carson Graham 68-55, lost 66-55 to Charles Hays, def. Rutland 89-73.

This week —Open Monday vs. Panorama Ridge at Pinetree Christmas Classic.

(Howard Tsumura, VarsityLetters.ca)

TRIPLE A

1 Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (LW-4) 

2 North Delta Huskies (1)

3 Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (3) 

4 G.W. Graham Grizzles (Chilliwack) (2) 

5 Vernon Panthers (5)

6 Mark Isfeld Ice (Courtenay) (6)

7 Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (HM)

8 Pitt Meadows Marauders (9)

9 Clayton Heights Night Riders (Surrey) (HM)

10 A.R. MacNeill Ravens (Richmond) (HM)

HONOURABLE MENTION — Rick Hansen Hurricanes (Abbotsford) (10), Richmond Colts (7), Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (8), Magee Lions (Vancouver) (NR), G.P. Vanier Towhees (Courtenay) (HM)

(BCHSBBA)

DOUBLE A

1 Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (LW-4) 

2 Westsyde Whundas (Kamloops) (2)

3 St. Patrick’s Celtics (Vancouver) (3)

4 Seycove Seyhawks (North Vancouver) (1)

5 D.P. Todd Trojans (Prince George) (5)

6 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (7)

7 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (8)

8 Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (10-tie) 

9 Elphinstone Cougars (Gibsons) (HM)

10 tie Langley Christian Lightning (10-tie) 

10 tie St. Michaels University School Blue Jags (Victoria) (9)

HONOURABLE MENTION (alphabetical) — Abbotsford Christian Knights (NR), Abbotsford Traditional Titans (6), George Elliot Coyotes (Lake Country) (HM), Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (HM), Southridge Storm (Surrey) (HM)

(Lyle Dhur, SportVictoria.com)

SINGLE A

1 Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons (Victoria) (LW-2) 

2 Kelowna Christian Knights (1)

3 Highroad Knights (Chilliwack) (3) 

4 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (9) 

5 Similkameen Sparks (Keremeos) (8)

6 Northside Christian Northstars (Vanderhoof) (5)

7 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (6)

8 Gabrielle Roy Phoenix (Surrey) (7) 

9 Osoyoos Rattlers (NR)

10 Barriere Cougars (4) 

HONOURABLE MENTION — Fort St. James Falcons (10), King David Lions (Vancouver) (HM), Pemberton Red Devils (NR), Vernon Christian Royals (NR)

(Sean Juteau, BCHSBBA)

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