Justin Hinrichsen of the Spectrum Thunder is guarded by Everett Muratori of the Prince George Polars during Day 1 Sweet 16 play at the 2024 B.C. senior boys basketball championships March 6, 2024 at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Wilson Wong property of Langley Events Centre 2024. All Rights Reserved)
Justin Hinrichsen of the Spectrum Thunder is guarded by Everett Muratori of the Prince George Polars during Day 1 Sweet 16 play at the 2024 B.C. senior boys basketball championships March 6, 2024 at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Wilson Wong property of Langley Events Centre 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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4-A Boys: Spectrum’s first trip to B.C.’s this century finds its groove after early jitters! No. 2 seeds eventually roll past No. 15 Polars!

No. 2 SPECTRUM 89 No. 15 PRINCE GEORGE 56By Howard TsumuraLANGLEY — If you asked the members of the Spectrum Thunder what one thing they would want to most clean up with regards to their game here at the 78th annual B.C. senior boys Quad-A basketball championship, it’s setting the temp off the opening tip.In […]

One of the most fabled B.C. champs of all time celebrate their 60th anniversary this week at the 2024 B.C. boys basketball championships at the LEC. (Photo property of Winslade Collection 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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How Ken Shields learned to dream! The story of a young boy’s road to the B.C. title 60 years ago with the 1964 Prince Rupert Rainmakers!

By Howard TsumuraNORTH DELTA — When I think about the single most enduring reason that high school basketball has remained my favourite subject on which to write, I continually come back to that near-mystical feeling I get thinking about the moment when a young player catches the game’s fever for the first time and never […]

Burnaby South Rebels head coach Mike Bell has his Rebels ready to roll as a No. 7 seed and 10 am date this Wednesday against the Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of Varsity Letters 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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B.C. Boys Basketball Championships 2024: Your roadmap to the LEC’s March Madness adventure! Here’s all four tiers to follow all four glorious days of action at Arena Bowl, Centre Court, South Court and the Fieldhouse!

LANGLEY — Here’s all four 16-team draws as the B.C. senior boys high school basketball championships open Wednesday for a four-day run at the Langley Events Centre.QUAD ATRIPLE-ADOUBLE-ASINGLE-AIf you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. […]

Yale's Darius Best slams with authority against R.E. Mountain during Eastern Valley Quad-A championship final played Sunday night at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Wilson Wong 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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B.C. Boys Top 10 basketball rankings 02.21.28 edition: Oak Bay, St. Pat’s ascend to No. 1 spots in 4A and 3A in 2023-24’s final poll!

LANGLEY — More teams dropping out of the top 10 and more non-ranked teams making themselves known than at any time this season.That’s what happens when zone championship tournaments are at their best.With that said, here’s the final Top 10s of the season heading into Selection Sunday and the 2024 B.C. senior boys basketball championships […]

(Photo by Garrett James property of Vancouver Sports Pictures 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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With Terry Fox’s brothers Darrell & Fred offering pre-game inspiration, Ravens feel ‘invincible’, top St. Pat’s for first BC Jr. Boys title in 22 years!

LANGLEY — Marvin Reyes admitted that before he took to the floor for the pre-game introductions Monday night at the Langley Events Centre for the B.C. junior boys basketball championship final, one of the last things he did was wipe away the tears of emotion from his cheek.“I did, and so did all of my […]

(Photo property Howard Tsumura, Varsity Letters 2023. All Rights Reserved)
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A message from Howard T: Some changes to my coverage at B.C. girls and boys senior basketball championships

LANGLEY — Hello to all of my loyal readers here at Varsity Letters.I felt it was important today for me to let everyone know that there will be some changes to way I will be covering both the B.C. senior girls and boys tournaments which run Feb. 28-March 2, and March 6-9, here at the […]

Terry Fox's Jayson Ikani led his team past Oak Bay during B.C. junior boys semifinal Monday at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Garrett James property of Vancouver Sports Pictures 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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Terry Fox finds its stride: As its defence jives at a season-high, Ravens’ hoop mojo spilleth over! Win over No. 1 Oak Bay means Tuesday finals berth vs. St. Pats!

LANGLEY — It’s not right to call the Terry Fox Ravens the surprise of the 2024 B.C. junior boys basketball championships.But it has been surprising these days to see a team hanging its hat, on a game-by-game basis this week at the Langley Events Centre, by the way it defines itself as a collection of […]

The Celtics' floor general Riley Santa Juana sizes up the Vancouver College Fighting Irish on Monday in the B.C. junior boys Final Four at the LEC. (Photo by Ryan Molag property Langley Events Centre-TFSE 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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“He’s our heart and soul” St. Pat’s coach says of Riley Santa Juana, who lifts St. Celtics past Van College Irish and into B.C. junior boys final!

LANGLEY — An injury kept Riley Santa Juana from doing one of the things he does the very best.Yet in a magical season of overcoming adversity, the 6-0 Grade 10 guard with East Vancouver’s St. Patrick’s Celtics never let it hold him back when it mattered most on the floor Monday night at a standing-room-only […]

New Westminster's Kaman Kaila in action against Abbotsford Christian on Monday. On Sunday, Kaila set a new B.C. junior boys tournament single-game scoring record. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of Varsity Letters 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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Kaman Kaila: New Westminster’s star Grade 10 guards shatters 53-year single-game scoring record with 51 points at 2024 B.C. junior boys tourney!

LANGLEY — Kaman Kaila swears he was feeling it in the warm-ups early Sunday afternoon here at the B.C. junior boys basketball championships.With his New Westminster Hyacks set to face the Richmond Colts on the consolation side of the bracket, the 6-foot-2 grade 10 guard had a feeling he might be able to do something […]

Nylan Roberts of the Yale Lions was unstoppable against the R.E. Mountain Eagles during Eastern Valley Quad-A championship final played Sunday night at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Wilson Wong 2024. All Rights Reserved)
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With shades of past Yale glory, the Brothers Roberts harken memories of 2015’s Jauquin-Riley duo as Lions tops Mountain for 4A Valley East crown!

LANGLEY — You sat courtside and watched their efficiency.Your eye would wander to the scoreboard, where at times it seemed like the digits were changing at hyper speed.In the end, against an R.E, Mountain Eagles team of Langley, which has earned so much on its own merit with its recent groundbreaking berth to the upcoming […]