LANGLEY — The Tsumura Basketball Invitational has re-shaped the rankings at the two largest tiers in the province.
It has given Quad-A a new No.1 in Coquitlam’s Centennial Centaurs, and ignited the paths of fast-risers in Claremont and Seaquam. We’ve also got an undefeated Abbotsford Panthers team climbing fast.
Centennial coach Rob Sollero confirmed Wednesday morning that the Centaurs’ senior varsity basketball team has not been ranked No. 1 since he arrived at the school in 1997-98, some 22 seasons ago.
Meanwhile, Triple A’s Duchess Park Condors, along with Richmond’s A.R. MacNeill Ravens and R.A. McMath Wildcats, and Chilliwack’s G.W. Graham Grizzlies all held their own against top-tiered foes at the TBI.
More news? We’ve got new No. 1’s at Single-A and Double-A.
Here’s a look at this week’s rankings:
BOYS
QUAD A (records, ranking reflect games played Dec. 4-10. Records indicate games against B.C. competition only)
1 Centennial Centaurs (Coquitlam) (7-1) (LW-3)
Last week —Won all four games to finish first at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. R.A. McMath 92-61, def. G.W. Graham 87-66, def. Duchess Park 83-67, def. Kelowna 84-81.
This week —Dec. 12 at New Westminster. Open play Dec. 16 vs. Earl Marriott at Pinetree Christmas Classic.
2 Kelowna Owls (8-2) (2)
Last week —Won three of four games to finish second at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. Seaquam 93-69, def. Terry Fox 101-71, def. Burnaby South 78-77, lost 84-81 to Centennial. Def. Mt. Boucherie 73-58.
This week —Open Dec. 11 Jasper Place REB Invitational in Edmonton.
3 Burnaby South Rebels (8-1) (1)
Last week —Won three of four games to finish third at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. Sir Charles Tupper 67-60, def. Claremont 74-62, lost 78-77 to Kelowna, def. Duchess Park 81-63. Def. Burnaby Central 76-56.
This week —Dec. 11 at Walnut Grove, Dec. 16 host Moscrop.
4 Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (8-1) (4)
Last week —Won all four games to finish first as host of own No Regrets Invitational. Def. Sir Winston Churchill 71-47, def. D.P. Todd 72-69, def. Brentwood College 73-54, def, Chrles Hays 64-61.
This week — Open play Dec. 17 at North Shore Sweet 16 Invitational.
5 Claremont Spartans (Victoria) (4-1) (10-tie)
Last week — Won three games to finish fourth at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. Lord Tweedsmuir 91-72, lost 74-62 to Burnaby South, def. Terry Fox 84-58, def. Holy Cross 77-72. Def. Lambrick Park 94-53.
This week —Dec. 12 at Belmont. Dec. 13 host St. George’s.
6 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (4-2) (6)
Last week —Won two of three games at the District Four Invitational in Calgary. Def. Medicine Hat 91-84, lost 77-73 to Calgary-Sir Winston Churchill, def. Okotoks (Alta.)-Foothills Composite 90-79. Def. Walnut Grove 92-69.
This week —Open play vs. Fraser Heights Dec. 16 at Pinetree Christmas Classic.
7 St. George’s Saints (Vancouver) (5-3) (7)
Last week — Def. Byrne Creek 95-71. Def. Semiahmoo 85-64.
This week — Dec. 12 at Claremont. Dec. 13 at Belmont.
8 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (7-3) (5)
Last week —Split four games to finish sixth at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. Heritage Woods 95-79, lost 89-76 to Duchess Park, def. G.W. Graham 85-61, lost 77-72 to Claremont. Dec. 9 def. Walnut Grove 79-71.
This week —Dec. 16 host Sands. Dec. 17 host Fleetwood Park.
9 Abbotsford Panthers (8-0) (NR)
Last week — Def. R.E. Mountain 99-67, def. Yale 100-97. Def. Abbotsford Christian 113-34 in round one of Abbotsford Police Tournament.
This week — Continue play at Abbotsford Police Tournament vs. Rick Hansen.
10 Seaquam Seahawks (North Delta) (7-3) (HM)
Last week — Won three of four games to finish ninth at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. A.R. MacNeill 78-72 (OT), lost 93-69 to Kelowna, def. Oak Bay 83-70, def. Heritage Woods 93-84. Def. North Delta 66-54.
This week —Open vs. Burnsview as host of own Seahawks Invitational Dec. 12-14.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (3-3) (9)
Last week —Split four games to finish seventh at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. Oak Bay 89-73, lost 101-71 to Kelowna, lost 84-58 to Claremont, def. G.W. Graham 89-71. Lost 80-77 to Lord Tweedsmuir.
Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (3-6) (10-tie)
Last week —Lost three of four games to finish 12th at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Lost 91-72 to Claremont, def. Sir Charles Tupper 86-69, lost 74-69 to Seaquam, lost 78-67 to R.A. McMath. Def. Terry Fox 80-77.
This week — Open vs. South Delta Dec. 16 at Pinetree Christmas Classic.
Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (2-0) (HM)
Last week — Lost to Lynden (Wash.) 81-30.
This week —Dec. 11 host Earl Marriott, Dec. 13 at B.C. Christian Prep, Dec. 16 at Ferndale (Wash.).
Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (4-5) (HM)
Last week —Won three of five games to finish 10th at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Def. New Westminster 58-54, lost 95-79 to Holy Cross, def. Walnut Grove 88-64, def. R.A. McMath 94-79, lost 93-84 to Seaquam.
This week —Do not play.
Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (5-5) (8)
Last week —Lost three of four games at eighth annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational played Dec. 4-7 at the Langley Events Centre. Lost 73-66 to G.W. Graham, lost 73-68 to R.A. McMath, def. Walnut Grove 76-44, lost 71-61 to Fleetwood Park. Def. Oak Bay 60-48.
This week — Dec. 12 host Claremont, Dec. 14 host St. George’s. Dec. 17 host Reynolds.
Dropped Out — Oak Bay Bays (Victoria) (1-4) (HM), Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (5-4) (HM)
(Howard Tsumura, VarsityLetters.ca)
BOYS
TRIPLE A
(rankings based on games played through Dec. 9)
1 Vernon Panthers (0-0) (LW-1)
2 Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (3-3) (3)
3 St. Patricks Celtics (Vancouver) (6-1) (4)
4 G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (3-5) (5)
5 R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (7-4) (6)
6 Pitt Meadows Marauders (5-2) (8)
7 Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (8-4) (2)
8 A.R. MacNeill Ravens (Richmond) (6-2) (7)
9 Ladysmith 49ers (5-0) (NR)
10 Magee Lions (Vancouver) (5-2) (NR)
Honourable mention — Mark Isfeld Ice (Courtenay) (5-1) (10), Steveston London Sharks (Richmond) (3-1) (HM), Okanagan Mission Huskies (Kelowna) (1-0) (NR), St. Michaels University School Blue Jags (Victoria) (1-4) (HM), Brookswood Bobcats (Langley) (5-2) (HM)
(BCHSBBA)
DOUBLE A
1 Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (LW-2)
2 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (1)
3 D.P. Todd Trojans (Prince George) (3)
4 Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (4)
5 Southridge Storm (Surrey) (5)
6 St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints (North Vancouver) (6)
7 Mulgrave Titans (West Vancouver) (7)
8 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (9)
9 Abbotsford Christian Knights (8)
10 Langley Christian Lightning (10)
Honourable mention (alphabetical)— Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (HM), George Elliot Coyotes (Lake Country) (NR), Hugh Boyd Trojans (Richmond) (HM), St. John Brebeuf Bears (Abbotsford) (NR), Westsyde Whundas (Kamloops) (HM)
(Lyle Dhur, SportVictoria.com)
SINGLE A
1 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (LW-4)
2 Kelowna Christian Knights (1)
3 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (3)
4 Highroad Academy Knights (Chilliwack) (2)
5 Barriere Secondary Cougars (8)
6 King David Lions (Vancouver) (5)
7 Vernon Christian Royals (7)
8 Smilkameen Sparks (Keremeos) (6)
9 St. John’s Eagles (Vancouver) (10)
10 Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) (9)
Honourable mention — Osoyoos Rattlers (NR), Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons (Victoria) (HM), Gudangaay Tiaat’sgaa Naay Thunder (Masset) (HM), Northside Christian Northstars (Vanderhoof) (HM), Southpointe Academy Titans (Delta).
(BCHSBBA)
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