St. George's Saints guard Jerric Palma (right) helped lead his Saints through a busy opening stretch of the 2018-19 season. (Photo courtesy Jon Hayduk/St. George's athletics)
Feature High School Boys Basketball

B.C. senior boys Big 10 basketball rankings: All four tiers check in as new No. 2 Fox pulls up to No. 1 Burnaby South’s bumper

LANGLEY — Our first B.C. senior boys basketball rankings following late November’s opening tip reveals just how strong the top half of the Triple-A tier’s Top 10 is in relation to the best of Quad-A.

Several wins and many close scores were evident at last week’s Kodiak Classic at Port Moody’s Heritage Woods Secondary, and you can expect more of the same beginning Thursday when the best of the two tiers clash at the Tsumura Basketball Invitational at the Langley Events Centre.

Thirteen teams of the TBI’s 16 participants are either ranked or honourable mention schools from the province’s two largest tiers, including Nos. 1-4 from both.

Quad-A’s big mover?

PoCo’s Terry Fox Ravens move up two spots after opening the season 5-0 vs. B.C. foes, all either ranked or honourable mention within its tier.

At Triple A, Chilliwack’s G.W. Graham Grizzlies parlayed a week in which they lost in the final of The Big Ticket 96-94  to Quad A Abbotsford, and beat then-No. 2 Sir Charles Tupper 83-75 as part of the East Side Story series, into the No. 2 spot behind No. 1 North Delta.

At Double A, non-ranked Abby Traditional rose to No. 6 after a strong start that included winning the Chilliwack Storm Invitational.

At Single-A, the top 10 was turned upside down with Kelowna Christian moving into the new No. 1 spot.

Here are all four tiers of provincial senior boys basketball rankings:

QUAD A  (records, ranking reflect games played Nov. 27 through Dec. 4. Records indicate games against B.C. competition only)

1 Burnaby South Rebels (3-0) (LW-1)

Last week — Won three of four games to finish second at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Def. Semiahmoo 84-67, def. Heritage Woods 88-71, def. Lord Tweedsmuir 86-56, lost 65-63 to Calgary-Bishop O’Byrne.

This week — Open Thursday vs. Centennial in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre.

2 Terry Fox Ravens (5-0) (Port Coquitlam) (4)

Last week — Def. Vancouver College 81-74. Won three of four games to finish third at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Def. Kitsilano 84-66, def. Holy Cross 86-72, lost 117-87 to Calgary-Bishop O’Byrne, def. Lord Tweedsmuir 113-81. Def. Kitsilano 80-68.

This week — Open Thursday vs. W.J. Mouat in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Dec. 11 vs. Lord Tweedsmuir.

3 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (3-1) (2)

Last week — Def. Kitsilano 88-75. Won three of four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Def. Byrne Creek 73-68, lost 86-72 vs.Terry Fox, def. St. George’s 79-77, def. Vancouver College 70-48.

This week — Open Thursday vs. Rick Hansen in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Dec. 11 at Johnston Heights.

4 Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (3-2) (Surrey) (3)

Last week — Split four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Def.Kelowna 88-80, def. Vancouver College 104-98 (OT), lost 85-56 to Burnaby South, lost 113-81 to Terry Fox. Def. Claremont 77-64.

This week — Open Thursday vs. Heritage Woods in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Dec. 10 at Walnut Grove. Dec. 11 vs. Terry Fox.

5 Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (3-0) (5)

Last week — Def. North Surrey 76-44. Def. Enver Creek 79-41. Split four games at Las Vegas-Legacy Classic. Lost 70-43 to Las Vegas-Arbor View, def. Las Vegas-Rancho 71-64, def. Peoria (AZ)-Sunrise Mountain 45-22, lost 68-56 to Gardena (Cal)-Serra. Def. Claremont 70-67.

This week —Dec. 6 at Ferndale (Wash.), Dec. 11 at W.J. Mouat.

6 St. George’s Saints (4-1) (Vancouver) (6)

Last week — Def. Richmond 107-64. Splits four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Def. Centennial 91-81, lost 81-71 to Calgary-Bishop O’Byrne, lost 79-77 to Holy Cross, def. Heritage Woods 98-71. Def. Heritage Woods 96-83.

This week — Dec. 7 host Abbotsford.

7 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (2-3) (7)

Last week — Lost 81-74 to Terry Fox. Split four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Def. W.J. Mouat 73-68, lost 104-98 (OT) to Lord Tweedsmuir, def. Heritage Woods 98-89, lost 70-48 to Holy Cross.

This week — Open Dec. 5 vs. New Westminster at Burnaby-Cariboo Hill Chargers Invitational.

8 Oak Bay Bays (Victoria) (0-0) (8)

Last week —Did not play.

This week — Dec. 5 vs. Walnut Grove. Open Thursday vs. G.W. Graham in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre.

9 Kelowna Owls (4-2) (9)

Last week — Def. Salmon Arm 85-69. Split four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Lost 88-80 to Lord Tweedsmuir, def. W.J. Mouat 89-87, def. Semiahmoo 87-86, lost 75-63 to North Delta. Def. Penticton 65-63.

This week —Open Thursday vs. R.A. McMath in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Dec. 11 at Mt. Boucherie.

10 Semiahmoo Totems (Surrey) (2-3) (HM)

Last week — Def. Sardis 96-45. Lost three of four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Lost 84-67 to Burnaby South, def. R.A. McMath 101-69, lost 87-86 to Kelowna, lost 105-101 to Byrne Creek. Lost 64-60 at Scqualicum (Wash.).

This week — Dec. 6 at Astoria (Ore.), Dec. 7 at Mountainview (Vancouver, Wash.), Dec. 8 at Prairie (Vancouver, Wash.). Dec 11 vs. Elgin Park.

HONOURABLE MENTION

W.J. Mouat Hawks (Abbotsford) (2-3) (HM)

Last week — Lost 69-68 to Centennial. Split four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Lost 73-68 to Vancouver College, lost 89-87 to Kelowna, def. R.A. McMath 86-83, def. Kitsilano 82-78.

This week — Open Thursday vs. Terry Fox in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Dec. 11 host Tamanawis.

Kitsilano Blue Demons (Vancouver) (1-5) (HM)

Last week — Lost 88-75 to Holy Cross. Lost three of four games at Port Moody-Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic. Lost 84-66 to Terry Fox, lost 90-78 to Byrne Creek, def. Centennial 77-69, lost 87-78 to W.J. Mouat. Lost to Terry Fox 80-68.

This week — Dec. 5 vs. Earl Marriott. Open Thursday vs. Argyle in opening round of Quinn Keast No Regrets Invitational.

Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (1-0) (HM)

Last week — Def. Collingwood 58-48. Won three of four games to finish second at Mike Dea Classic in Edmonton. Lost 83-82 to St. FX Rams in championship final

This week —  Dec. 5 vs. Earl Marriott. Open Thursday vs. Sask.-Aden Bowman in opening round of Quinn Keast No Regrets Invitational

Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (3-1) (10)

Last week — Won two of three games at Cowichan Thunderbirds Invitational. Def. Cowichan 81-41, lost to Nanaimo District 93-71, def. Reynolds 96-34. Def. Walnut Grove 90-76.

This week — Open Thursday vs. North Delta in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre. Dec. 11 host Lambrick Park.

Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (1-4) (HM)

Last week — Lost three of four games as host of own Kodiak Classic Invitational. Def. R.A. McMath 101-57, lost 88-71 to Burnaby South, lost 98-89 to Vancouver College, lost 98-71 to St. George’s. Lost to St. George’s 96-83.

This week —Open Thursday vs. Lord Tweedsmuir in opening round of 16-team Tsumura Basketball Invitational at Langley Events Centre.

(Howard Tsumura, VarsityLetters.ca)

TRIPLE A

1 North Delta Huskies (LW-1)

2 G.W. Graham Grizzles (Chilliwack) (3) 

3 Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (2)

4 Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (4)

5 Vernon Panthers (6)

6 Mark Isfeld Ice (Courtenay) (7)

7 Richmond Colts (8)

8 Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (NR)

9 Pitt Meadows Marauders (9)

10 Rick Hansen Hurricanes (Abbotsford) (5)

HONOURABLE MENTION  Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (HM), A.R. MacNeill Ravens (Richmond) (NR), G.P. Vanier Towhees (Courtenay) (HM), Clayton Heights Night Riders (Surrey) (HM), Carihi Tyees (Campbell River) (NR)

(BCHSBBA)

DOUBLE A

1 Seycove Seyhawks (North Vancouver) (LW-1)

2 Westsyde Whundas (Kamloops) (2)

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

4 Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (4)

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

6 Abbotsford Traditional Titans (NR)

7 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (HM)

8 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (9)

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

10 tie Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (7)

10 tie Langley Christian Lightning (HM)

HONOURABLE MENTION (alphabetical) — Elphinstone Cougars (Gibsons) (HM), George Elliot Coyotes (Lake Country) (HM), Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (6), Pacific Academy Breakers (Surrey) (NR), Southridge Storm (Surrey) (8)

(Lyle Dhur, SportVictoria.com)

SINGLE A

1 Kelowna Christian Knights (LW-4)

2 Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons (Victoria) (5) 

3 Highroad Knights (Chilliwack) (9) 

4 Barriere Cougars (3) 

5 Northside Christian Northstars (Vanderhoof) (HM)

6 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (HM)

7 Gabrielle Roy Phoenix (Surrey) (NR)

8 Similkameen Sparks (Keremeos) (1)

9 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (2)

10 Fort St. James Falcons (10)

HONOURABLE MENTION —Heritage Christian Saints (Kelowna) (7), King David Lions (Vancouver) (6), John Knox Christian Hawks (New Westminster) (NR), Aberdeen Hall Gryphons (Kelowna) (NR)

(Sean Juteau, BCHSBBA)

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