LANGLEY — Welcome to ‘feel it in the air’ time in the world of B.C. high school basketball.
This week, as the calendar gets ready to hit February, all four tiers have released polls, and while Oak Bay and Brentwood College continue to rule the roost at 4A and 2A respectively, the jockeying continues atop both 3A and 1A with Byrne Creek and Credo Christian respectively, continue to battle with the pack at the top of their tiers.
The fast risers this week?
*At 4A, Lord Tweedsmuir has picked the best time to play some of their best basketball of the season and have parlayed that into a Big 10 spot at No. 10.
As well, former No. 1 Tamanawis is showing its resiliency in a leap back up the charts to No. 3 after a solid outing against Oak Bay and wins over both Brentwood College and Handsworth.
*At 3A, Byrne Creek is back at No. 1, but the real riser is defending champ Rick Hansen, who over the course of two weeks has risen from honourable mention to No. 2.
*At 2A, North Van’s Seycove Seyhawks make a move into the top five.
*At 1A, Credo’s Kodiaks move into No. 1 while Burnaby’s tiny Deer Lake Falcons crest upwards from honourable mention into the Big 10 at No, 8.
Here’s all four polls:
BIG 10 BASKETBALL RANKINGS
SENIOR BOYS
QUAD A (records, ranking reflect games played Jan. 24-20. Records indicate games against B.C. competition only)
1 Oak Bay Bays (Victoria) (19-1) (LW-1)
Last Week —Won all three games to finish first at Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. Def. R.A. McMath 76-65, def. Semiahmoo 100-80, def. Tamanawis 82-74. Def. Belmont 102-50.
This week — Open Thursday vs. Saskatoon-Marion M. Graham Collegiate at Kelowna-Western Canada Invitational. Feb. 6 vs. Mt. Douglas.
2 Semiahmoo Totems (Surrey) (16-5) (2)
Last Week — Won two of three games to finish third at Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. Def. Pinetree 85-74, lost 100-80 to Oak Bay, def. Brentwood College 81-80. Def. Panorama Ridge 71-31.
This week —Jan.31 vs. Seaquam, open Feb. 1 at Kelowna-Western Canada Invitational.
3 Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (17-3) (5)
Last Week — Won three of four games to finish second at Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. Def. Vancouver College 81-67, def. Belmont 84-75, def. Brentwood College 71-62, lost 82-74 to Oak Bay. Def. Handsworth 80-65.
This week —Jan. 31 at Princess Margaret, Feb. 1 vs. Sullivan Heights.
4 Burnaby South Rebels (17-5) (3)
Last Week —Lost 77-68 to Byrne Creek.
This week —Jan. 31 vs. Burnaby North. Feb. 5-8 Burnaby-New Westminster district playoffs.
5 Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) (19-5) (4)
Last Week — Won two of three games at Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. Lost 90-82 to Brentwood College, def. Vancouver College 86-78, def. R.A. McMath 93-76.
This week — Jan. 31 at R.E. Mountain, Feb. 6 vs. W.J. Mouat.
6 Kitsilano Blue Demons (Vancouver) (24-8) (6)
Last week —Def. David Thompson 102-51. Def. Magee 100-59.
This week — Feb. 1 at St. George’s, Feb. 2 vs. Van Tech, Feb. 6 open Vancouver City championships.
7 Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (13-4) (7)
Last week — Def. W.J. Mouat 83-71. Lost 80-65 to Tamanawis.
This week — Feb. 1 vs. Carson Graham, Feb. 2 at Vancouver College, Feb. 6 vs. Sentinel.
8 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (15-4) (9)
Last Week —Def. Queen Elizabeth 94-68.
This Week — Feb. 1 vs. Enver Creek, Feb. 6 open Fraser Valley league playoffs.
9 Kelowna Owls (12-6) (10)
Last Week —Def. Rutland 87-66.
This week — Open Feb. 1 vs. Calgary-Vincent Massey as host of own Western Canada Invitational. Feb. 6 vs. Penticton.
10 Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (11-8) (HM)
Last Week —Won all three games to finish first at Yale Lions Invitational. Def. Rutland 92-83, def. Argyle 115-98, def. Yale 95-43. Def. W.J. Mouat 105-99.
This week — Feb. 5 at W.J. Mouat, Feb. 6 vs. R.E. Mountain.
HONOURABLE MENTION
W.J. Mouat Hawks (Abbotsford) (20-12) (8)
Last Week — Def. R.E. Mountain 105-57, lost 83-71 to Handsworth. Lost to Lord Tweedsmuir 105-99.
This week — Open Feb. 1 at Kelowna-Western Canada Invitational. Feb. 6 at Walnut Grove.
St. George’s Saints (Vancouver) (11-5) (HM)
Last Week — Def. St. Patrick’s 89-74, def. Abbotsford 100-63.
This week — Feb. 1 vs. Kitsilano.
Vancouver College Fighting Irish (9-8) (HM)
Last Week —Lost two of three games as host of own Emerald Tournament. Lost 81-67 to Tamanawis, lost 86-76 to Walnut Grove, def. Pinetree 95-90.
This week — Feb. 2 vs. Handsworth, Feb. 3 vs. Abbotsford.
Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (10-12) (HM)
Last week Won two of three games at Vancouver College Emerald Invitational. Lost 86-69 to R.A. McMath, def. Pinetree 76-60, def. Belmont 86-69. Def. Port Moody 75-25.
This week —Feb. 1 at Centennial, Feb. 2 vs. Heritage Woods.
Pinetree Timberwolves (Coquitlam) (14-6) (HM)
Last week — Def. Port Moody 63-49; lost all three games at Vancouver College Emerald invitational. Lost 85-74 to Semiahmoo, lost 76-60 to Terry Fox, lost 95-90 to Vancouver College. Def. Gleneagle 91-59.
This week — Jan. 31 at Riverside, Feb. 1 at Dr. Charles Best.
(Howard Tsumura, VarsityLetters.ca)
TRIPLE A
1 Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (LW-2)
2 Rick Hansen Hurricanes (Abbotsford) (6-tie)
3 South Kamloops Titans (1)
4 Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (3)
5 North Delta Huskies (4)
6 R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (6-tie)
7 MEI Eagles (Abbotsford) (HM)
8 Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (9)
9 Clayton Heights Night Riders (Surrey) (10-tie)
10-tie Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (5)
10-tie Pitt Meadows Marauders (NR)
Honourable mention — McNair Marlins (Richmond) (HM), Richmond Colts (HM), GW Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (8), Reynolds Roadrunners (Victoria) (NR), G.P. Vanier Towhees (Courtenay) (10-tie)
(BCHSBBA)
DOUBLE A
1 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (LW-1)
2 Westsyde Whundas (Kamloops) (2)
3 Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (3)
4 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (4)
5 Seycove Seyhawks (North Vancouver) (7)
6 Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (5)
7 Britannia Bruins (Vancouver) (6)
8 Clarence Fulton Maroons (Vernon) (8)
9 Shawnigan Lake Stags (9)
10 tie Southridge Storm (Surrey) (HM)
10 tie St. Patrick’s Celtics (Vancouver) (10-tie)
Honourable mention (alphabetical) — Elphinstone Cougars (Gibsons) (NR), Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (10-tie), Pacific Academy Breakers (Surrey) (HM), R.C. Palmer Griffins (Richmond) (HM), St. Michaels University School Blue Jags (Victoria) (NR)
(Lyle Dhur, sportvictoria.com)
SINGLE A
1 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (LW-2)
2 Kelowna Christian Knights (1)
3 Heritage Christian Saints (Kelowna) (3)
4 Bulkley Valley Christian Royals (Smithers) (6)
5 Barriere Cougars (4)
6 Similkameen Sparks (Keremeos) (5)
7 Khalsa Lions (Surrey) (7)
8 Deer Lake Falcons (Burnaby) (HM)
9 Osoyoos Rattlers (10)
10 Highroad Knights (Chilliwack) (NR)
Honourable Mention — Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons (Victoria) (HM), Aberdeen Hall Gryphons (Kelowna) (NR), Northside Christian Northstars (Vanderhoof) (HM), St. John’s Eagles (Vancouver) (8
(Sean Juteau, GVISAA)
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