Claremont's Ben Manns (left) plays a little unintentional suffocating defence on Burnaby South's Jimmy Zaborniak on Sunday at the LEC. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Boys Basketball

B.C. Junior Boys 2019: Our look at how No. 1 Burnaby South & No. 4 St.Pat’s arrived at Monday’s ‘guards galore’ Final 4 showdown

LANGLEY — How many great guards on the floor is too many? 

That’s a silly question because the more the merrier, and for fans of uptempo basketball that is going to be the case Monday in one of two semifinals here at the 2019 B.C. junior boys basketball championships.

The No. 1 Burnaby South Rebels will face Vancouver’s No. 4 St. Patrick’s Saints in a 6:30 p.m. clash.

Here’s our look at the two quarterfinal games won by each team on Sunday at the Langley Events Centre:

No. 1 BURNABY SOUTH 64 No. 9 CLAREMONT 48

LANGLEY — The top seeds improved to a perfect 32-0 on Sunday, eventually wearing down Victoria’s never-say-die Claremont Spartans to the tune of a 16-point victory.

The Rebels used a 13-2 run between the third and fourth quarters to build the cushion they would need to fend off any potential Spartans’ uprisings.

And although they hit 10 treys on the day, the Rebels won the game with their play in the paint in the fourth quarter.

Burnaby South’s power post Karn Aujla scored 10 of his game-high 20 points over the fourth quarter.

Jareb Pineda with 18 points, Jimmy Zaborniak with 10 and Eric Li with eight led the guard core.

Spencer Sullivan hit five triples to lead the Spartans with 15 points. Jakob Neufeld and Colby Parker each added 13 points for the Spartans.

St. Patrick’s pair of Daniel Marcelo and Jose Malabanan were dynamic in a big Celtics’ win Sundau at the LEC. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)

No. 4 ST. PATRICK’S 55 No. 5 OKANAGAN MISSION 47

Three games, getting better with each, and now a night to prepare for the Final Four.

That’s the storyline Vancouver’s St. Patrick’s Celtics have authored for themselves here at 2019 B.C. junior boys basketball championships.

Shooting the ball with more confidence than they showed Saturday, and coupling it was pressing, aggressive takeaway-minded defence, St. Patrick’s put together the third-quarter of their dreams in the Sunday’s quarterfinal round en route to a 55-47 win over Kelowna’s Okanagan Mission Huskies.

OKM hit a three to open the third quarter and took a 27-25 lead, but the Celtics responded with a combination of ball-hawking defence and ball-sharing offence which led to a 19-0 run and a 44-27 lead.

“It was our shooting,” JV assistant and senior head coach Nap Santos said afterwards. “I mean, they played a zone and we were able to find some wide open looks, so we just looked to kick and attack.”

St. Pat’s head coach John Boateng had said Saturday that the team had not shot the ball the way it was capable.

After hitting nine threes in a very low-scoring game Sunday, Santos countered “that was a start, and it’s perfect for tomorrow. Heart over height.”

That’s when the Celts face Burnaby South in a 6:30 p.m. tip.

Jose Malabanan and Daniel Marcelo each scored 16 points for the winners, while Justin Macatangay had nine and Daniyel Contaoi seven.

Cameron Parker with 11 points and Brandon Nemes with 11 led OKM.

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