LANGLEY — So may call it an eternal question, yet more than ever, this is the week to ask if this is indeed the year of the Vancouver College Fighting Irish? At least as it pertains to the spoils of March Madness.
This week, the Irish sit at No. 1 in both the Quad-A senior boys poll, and in the B.C. junior boys rankings.
The senior Irish pulled out a 90-89 win over Nanaimo’s Dover Bay Dolphins in a star-studded Emerald tournament championship title contested at The College on Saturday.
As well, Surrey’s Grandview Heights Grizzlies, a new name in the stretch-drive-to-provincials discussion, moved into the Quad-A rankings at No. 10.
St. Patrick, Collingwood and St. John all held on to their No. 1 ranks in tiers 3A, 2A and 1A respectively.
Here’s the Top 10s for all four tiers:
BASKETBALL
TOP 10 RANKINGS
B.C. SENIOR BOYS
QUAD A
1 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (VSS) (LW-2)
2 Dover Bay Dolphins (Nanaimo) (VI) (3)
3 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (SF) (4)
4 Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (SF) (1)
5 Oak Bay Bays (Victoria) (VI) (5)
6 St. George’s Saints (Vancouver) (VSS) (6)
7 Centennial Centaurs (Coquitlam) (FN) (7)
8 Kitsilano Blue Demons (VSS) (8)
9 Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (SF) (10)
10 Grandview Heights Grizzlies (Surrey) (SF) (NR)
Honourable mention — Claremont Spartans (Victoria) (VI) (HM), Kelowna Owls (TOK) (9), Rutland Thunder (West Kelowna) (NR), Semiahmoo Thunderbirds (Surrey) (SF) (HM), Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs (Vancouver) (VSS) (NR)
Dropped out — G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (EV) (HM), Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (SF) (HM), Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (FN) (HM)
TRIPLE A
1 St. Patrick’s Celtics (Vancouver) (VSS) (LW-1)
2 L.A. Matheson Mustangs (Surrey) (SF) (2)
3 MEI Eagles (Abbotsford) (EV) (3)
4 Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (VI) (4)
5 Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (VSS) (5)
6 Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (FN) (7)
7 Enver Creek Cougars (Surrey) (SF) (8)
8 Mark Isfeld Ice (Courtenay) (VI) (9)
9 Thomas More Knights (Burnaby) (FN) (10-tie)
10-tie Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (VSS) (6)
10-tie Magee Lions (Vancouver) (VSS) (NR)
Honourable mention — Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (VI) (HM), Edward Milne Wolverines (Sooke) (VI) (HM), Richmond Colts (SF) (HM), Steveston-London Sharks (Richmond) (SF) (HM), Wellington Wildcats (Nanaimo) (HM)
Dropped out — College Heights Cougars (Prince George) (NC) (10-tie)
DOUBLE-A
1 Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (VSS) (LW-1)
2 Notre Dame Jugglers (Vancouver) (VSS) (2)
3 Southridge Storm (Surrey) (SF) (3)
4 Pacific Christian Falcons ((Victoria) VI) (5)
5 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (VSS) (6)
6 Pacific Academy Breakers (Surrey (SF) (4)
7 Langley Christian Lightning (EV) (7)
8 Surrey Christian Falcons (SF) (10-tie)
9 Abbotsford Traditional Titans (EV) (8)
tie-10 Abbotsford Christian Knights (EV) (9)
Tie-10 St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints (North Vancouver) (VSS) (HM)
Honourable mention — Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (NW) (HM), Kalamalka Lakers (Coldstream) (TOK) (HM), Mulgrave Titans (West Vancouver) (VSS) (HM), Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (EV) (HM), Westsyde Whundas (Kamloops) (TOK) (10-tie)
Dropped out — None
SINGLE A
1 SJS Eagles (Vancouver) (VSS) (LW-1)
2 Ucluelet Warriors (VI) (2)
3 Daaxiigan Thunderbirds (Masset) (NW) (10-tie)
4 Vernon Christian Royals (TOK) (6)
5 Gabrielle Roy Phoenix (Surrey) (SF) (HM)
6 Maple Ridge Christian Hornets (FN) (4)
7 Immaculata Mustangs (Kelowna) (TOK) (5)
8 Lakes District Lakers (Burns Lake) ((NC) (NR)
9 Ebenezer Canadian Reformed Timbers (Smithers) (NW) (HM)
10-tie Bulkley Valley Christian Royals (Smithers) (NW) (8)
10-tie King David Lions (Vancouver) (VSS) (10-tie)
Honourable mention — Aberdeen Hall Gryphons (Kelowna) (TOK) (HM), Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) (NC) (NR), Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (EV) (9), Southpointe Titans (Delta) (SF) (3), Sparwood Spartans (KOOT) (HM)
Dropped out — Nanaimo Christian Trailblazers (VI) (7), Campbell River Christian Cougars (VI) (HM), Similkameen Sparks (TOK) (HM)
JUNIOR
1 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (VSS) (LW-1)
2 Burnaby South Rebels (FN) (2)
3 Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (SF) (4)
4 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (SF) (6)
5 Brookswood Bobcats (Langley) (EV) (5)
6 Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (FN) (3)
7 Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (FN) (7)
8 Vancouver Tech Talismen (VSS) (NR) (9)
9 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (VI) (HM)
10 Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (VI) (HM)
Honourable mention — Abbotsford Panthers (EV) (HM) , Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (VI) (HM), Kelowna Owls (TOK) (NR), Rutland Warriors (West Kelowna) (TOK) (10), Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) (EV) (8)
Dropped out — G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (EV) (HM)
Email all scores here: jrboysprovs@gmail.com
KEY: EV — East Valley, FN — Fraser North, KOOT — Kootenays, NC — North Central, NW — North West, SF — South Fraser, TOK — Thompson-Okanagan, VI — Vancouver Island, VSS — Vancouver Sea-to-Sky
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