NORTH DELTA — We’ve hit the start of zone championship tournaments.
They’ve got new names… like South Fraser, Fraser North, East Valley and Sea-to-Sky, yet the stakes are still high for the 16 teams at each tier attempting to punch tickets to the B.C. tournament March 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre.
There was plenty of 4A movement at the bottom end of the Top 10 and through the honourable mention ranks.
And while they don’t have a superstar like Fraser Jefferson (circa 1986-87) on the squad, Magee’s Flyin’ Lions hit the charts as the new No. 10 in the Triple A rankings.
At Double A, North Vancouver’s St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints move up to claim a share of No. 10, while at Single A, Burnaby’s Deer Lake Academy Falcons find themselves worthy of honourable mention status for the first time this season.
Here’s our second-to-final set of rankings for the 2019-20 season:
BOYS
QUAD A (records, rankings reflect games played Feb. 12-18. Records indicate games against B.C. competition only)
1 Burnaby South Rebels (28-2) (LW-1)
Last week — Defeated New Westminster 104-57 in Bur-West legue final.
This week — Open Feb. 20 vs. Dr. Charles Best/Pinetree winner at Fraser North zone championships (at Centennial).
2 Centennial Centaurs (Coquitlam) (29-2) (2)
Last week — Def. Dr. Charles Best 99-54.
This week — Open Feb. 20 vs. Port Moody/Maple Ridge winner as host of Fraser North zone championships.
3 Kelowna Owls (16-5) (3)
Last week — Did not play.
This week — Feb. 20 open play as host to Okanagan championships.
4 Claremont Spartans (Victoria) (21-3) (4)
Last week —Def. Oak Bay 85-81 to finish first at South Island championships.
This week —Open play Feb. 20 at Vancouver Island championships hosted by Nanaimo District Secondary.
5 Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (15-2) (5)
Last week —Def. West Vancouver 73-59.
This week — Open play Feb. 20 at host of Sea-to-Sky zone championships.
6 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (20-6) (7)
Last week — Won both games to finish first at South Fraser Central League championships. Def. Queen Elizabeth 93-52, def. Fleetwood Park 75-56.
This week — Open play Feb. 21 at South Fraser championship final (at Tamanawis).
7 Abbotsford Panthers (24-4) (9)
Last week — Did not play.
This week — Open play at Eastern Valley zone championship semifinals Feb. 20 at Langley Events Centre.
8 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (16-11) (10)
Last week — Def. St. George’s 78-66.
This week — Open Feb. 20 at Sea-to-Sky zone championships (at Handsworth).
9 St. George’s Saints (Vancouver) (14-9) (6)
Last week — Lost 78-66 to Vancouver College.
This week — Feb. 18 vs. Kitsilano in Sea-to-Sky wildcard game.
10 Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (12-10) (HM)
Last week — Def. Heritage Woods 102-88.
This week — Open play Feb. 20 vs. Burnaby Mountain in opening round of Fraser North championships.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (16-5) (HM)
Last week —Won both games to finish first at South Fraser’s Southwest League championships. Def. Frank Hurt 72-59, def. Sullivan Heights 74-67 (OT).
This week — Open play Feb. 21 as host of South Fraser championship final.
Yale Lions (Abbotsford) (19-4) (HM)
Last week — Did not play.
This week — Open play Feb. 20 at Eastern Valley zone semifinals at Langley Events Centre.
Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (16-11) (8)
Last week — Lost 102-88 to Terry Fox.
This week —Open Feb 20 at Fraser North championships vs. New Westminster (at Centennial).
Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (22-10) (NR)
Last week —Split two games at South Fraser Central league championships. Def. Lord Tweedsmuir 67-52, lost 75-56 to Holy Cross.
This week —Open play Feb. 21 at South Fraser championship final (at Tamanawis).
Oak Bay Bays (Victoria) (10-12) (NR)
Last week — Lost 85-81 to Claremont in South Island championship final.
This week — Open Feb. 20 vs. Dover Bay in opening round of Vancouver Island championships at Nanaimo District.
(Howard Tsumura, VarsityLetters.ca)
TRIPLE A
(rankings based on games played through Feb. 18)
1 Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (19-3) (LW-1)
2 Vernon Panthers (21-4) (2)
3 St. Patricks Celtics (Vancouver) (24-4) (3)
4 Pitt Meadows Marauders (22-7) (4)
5 G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (21-9) (5)
6 Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (26-11) (6)
7 R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (23-9) (8)
8 Steveston London Sharks (Richmond) (20-7) (9)
9 Ladysmith 49ers (25-3) (7)
10 Magee Lions (Vancouver) (22-7) (HM)
Honourable mention — Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (16-13) (10), North Delta Huskies (12-6) (HM), Guildford Park Sabres (Surrey) (18-6) (HM), Lord Byng Grey Ghosts (Vancouver) (19-8) (HM), John Barsby Bulldogs (Nanaimo) (15-8) (NR)
(BCHSBBA)
DOUBLE A
1 Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (LW-1)
2 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (2)
3 Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (3)
4 Southridge Storm (Surrey) (4)
5 Abbotsford Christian Knights (5)
6 D.P. Todd Trojans (Prince George) (6)
7 Hugh Boyd Trojans (Richmond) (7)
8 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (8)
9 Princess Margaret Mustangs (Penticton) (10-tie)
10-tie St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints (North Vancouver) (HM)
10 tie-Abbotsford Traditional Titans (HM)
Honourable mention (alphabetical)— Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (9), Langley Christian Lightning (10-tie), Mulgrave Titans (West Vancouver) (HM), St. John Brebeuf Bears (Abbotsford) (HM), Whistler Storm (NR)
(Lyle Dhur, SportVictoria.com)
SINGLE A
1 Highroad Academy Knights (Chilliwack) (LW-1)
2 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (2)
3 Kelowna Christian Knights (3)
4 Barriere Cougars (4)
5 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (5)
6 Vernon Christian Royals (6)
7 Gudangaay Tiaat’sgaa Naay Thunder (Masset) (7)
8 St. John’s Eagles (Vancouver) (8)
9 Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons (Victoria) (9)
10 Fernie Falcons (10)
HONOURABLE MENTION — Similkameen Sparks (Keremeos) (HM), King David Lions (Vancouver) (HM), Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) (HM), Deer Lake Academy Falcons (Burnaby) (NR), McBride Mustangs (HM)
(BCHSBBA)