NORTH DELTA —Almost two months after it started off the 2019-20 B.C. senior boys basketball season as the preseason No. 1-ranked team, the Burnaby South Rebels are back on top.
The Rebels handed longtime No. 1 Centennial its first loss against B.C. competition since the Coquitlam powers fell to Kelowna at the end of November. Burnaby South toppled the Centaurs 80-63 in the semifinals of the Abbotsford Snowball tournament last Friday.
A pair of Surrey schools, Holy Cross and Lord Tweedsmuir, jump back into the Quad-A Top 10 with strong performances at the B.C. Catholic Championships, and the Surrey RCMP Classic.
*At Triple A, outside of the top four, very little played to form as Ladysmith, Guildford Park of Surrey and Richmmond’s Steveston London all seized the moment to improve their footing.
*At Double A, Surrey’s Southridge Storm are playing like a Final Four team, moving up one spot in what was an otherwise static week,
*At Single A, the waters also remained calm heading into this week’s pivotal St. John’s Jam invitational in Vancouver.
Here’s a look at this week’s rankings:
BOYS
QUAD A (records, rankings reflect games played Jan. 15-21. Records indicate games against B.C. competition only)
1 Burnaby South Rebels (23-2) (LW-2)
Last week — Won two of three games to finish second at the Abbotsford Snowball Invitational. Def. W.J. Mouat 107-44, def. Centennial 80-63, lost 75-69 to Rolling Hills (Cal.).
This week —Jan. 27 host Burnaby North.
2 Centennial Centaurs (Coquitlam) (20-2) (1)
Last week — Won two of three games to finish third at the Abbotsford Snowball Invitational. Def. Yale 91-84, lost 80-63 to Burnaby South, def. Kelowna 82-66.
This week —Jan. 22 vs. Riverside. Jan. 23 open play at Vancouver College Emerald vs. Vernon.
3 Kelowna Owls (13-4) (3)
Last week — Lost two of three games to finish fourth at the Abbotsford Snowball Invitational. Def. Abbotsford 84-81. Lost 107-53 to Rolling Hills (Cal.), lost 82-66 to Centennial.
This week — Open Thursday vs. Robert Bateman-Abbotsford winner at Abbotsford Snowball Invitational.
4 Handsworth Royals (North Vancouver) (12-1) (4)
Last week —Def. West Vancouver 88-34.
This week — Jan. 23 at Tamanawis.
5 Claremont Spartans (Victoria) (15-3) (5)
Last week —Won all three games to finish first at Britannia Bruins Invitational. Def. Gladstone 102-33, def. McNair 103-46, def. Collingwood 77-47. Def. Oak Bay 84-65.
This week —Jan. 28 at Brentwood College.
6 St. George’s Saints (Vancouver) (11-7) (6)
Last week — Lost two of three games at Abbotsford Snowball tournament. Forfeit loss to Yale, def. MEI 85-73, lost 76-46 to Abbotsford. Def. Vancouver College 75-70.
This week —Do not play.
7 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (14-6) (HM)
Last week — Won all three games to finish first as host of B.C. Catholic Championships. Def. St. John Brebeuf 83-36, def. St. Thomas Aquinas 78-49, def. Vancouver College 62-61.
This week —Jan. 23 host Kwantlen Park. Jan. 28 at Lord Tweedsmuir.
8 Vancouver College Fighting Irish (13-8) (7)
Last week — Won two of three games to finish second at B.C. Catholic Schools Championships. Def. Notre Dame 73-54, def. St. Pat’s 68-57, lost 62-61 to Holy Cross. Lost to St. George’s 75-70.
This week —Open Thursday vs. Semiahmoo as host of own Emerald Tournament. Jan. 28 host St. Patrick’s.
9 Abbotsford Panthers (16-2) (8)
Last week — Split four games as host of own Snowball Classic. Def. Robert Bateman 106-55, lost 84-81 to Kelowna, lost 74-69 to Sir Charles Tupper, def. St. George’s 74-64.
This week —Open Thursday vs. Lord Tweedsmuir at Vancouver College Emerald tournament. Def. W.J. Mouat 86-49.
10 Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (13-8) (HM)
Last week —Won final three games to finish first at Surrey RCMP Classic. Def. Elgin Park 63-50, def. Guildford Park 81-66, def. Tamanawis 67-74. Def. Kwantlen Park 91-40
This week —Open Thursday vs. Abbotsford at Vancouver College Emerald tournament. Jan. 28 host Holy Cross.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (13-3) (9)
Last week —Won two of final three games to finish second at Surrey RCMP Classic. Def. Queen Elizabeth 58-49, def. Fleetwood Park 74-57, lost 67-64 to Lord Tweedsmuir. Def. Panorama Ridge 80-60.
This week —Jan. 23 host Handsworth. Jan. 28 host Semiahmoo.
Belmont Bulldogs (Victoria) (11-8) (10)
Last week —Did not play.
This week —Open Thursday vs. Heritage Woods at Vancouver College Emerald Tournament. Jan. 28 host Lambrick Park.
Yale Lions (Abbotsford) (13-4) (HM)
Last week — Won three of four games at Abbotsford Snowball Invitational. Def. St. George’s (default), lost 94-81 to Centennial, def. W.J. Mouat 110-68, def. Sir Charles Tupper 66-65. Def. Mission 96-59.
This week — Jan. 23 at Sardis, Jan. 27 at Chilliwack. Jan. 28 host Sardis.
Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (6-7) (HM)
Last week — Did not play.
This week —Open Friday vs. Oak Bay at Vancouver College Emerald tournament. Jan. 28 at Port Moody.
Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (17-8) (HM)
Last week —Won two of final three games to finish third at Surrey RCMP Classic. Def. Southridge 51-48, lost 74-57 to Tamanawis, def. Guildford Park 61-57. Lost 86-77 to Fraser Heights.
This week — Jan. 23 host Queen Elizabeth. Jan. 28 host Johnston Heights.
(Howard Tsumura, VarsityLetters.ca)
TRIPLE A
(rankings based on games played through Jan. 21)
1 Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (14-3) (LW-1)
2 G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (14-8) (2)
3 Vernon Panthers (10-3) (3)
4 St. Patricks Celtics (Vancouver) (16-2) (4)
5 Pitt Meadows Marauders (14-6) (6)
6 Ladysmith 49ers (17-2) (9)
7 Guildford Park Sabres (Surrey) (13-5) (10)
8 Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (17-10) (5)
9 Brookswood Bobcats (Langley) (14-6) (8)
10 Steveston London Sharks (Richmond) (11-5) (NR)
Honourable mention — Lord Byng Grey Ghosts (Vancouver) (12-5) (HM), A.R. MacNeill Ravens (Richmond) (12-7) (7), North Delta Huskies (5-5) (HM), R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (13-7) (HM), Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (10-8) (HM)
(BCHSBBA)
DOUBLE A
1 Charles Hays Rainmakers (Prince Rupert) (LW-1)
2 King George Dragons (Vancouver) (2)
3 D.P. Todd Trojans (Prince George) (3)
4 Southridge Storm (Surrey) (5)
5 Lambrick Park Lions (Victoria) (4)
6 Hugh Boyd Trojans (Richmond) (6)
7 Abbotsford Christian Knights (7)
8 Brentwood College (Mill Bay) (8)
9 Langley Christian Lightning (9)
10 Mulgrave Titans (West Vancouver) (10)
Honourable mention (alphabetical)— Collingwood Cavaliers (West Vancouver) (HM), George Elliot Coyotes (Lake Country) (HM), St. John Brebeuf Bears (Abbotsford) (NR), St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints (North Vancouver) (HM), Windsor Dukes (North Vancouver) (HM)
(Lyle Dhur, SportVictoria.com)
SINGLE A
1 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (LW-1)
2 Highroad Academy Knights (Chilliwack) (2)
3 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (3)
4 Kelowna Christian Knights (4)
5 Barriere Secondary Cougars (5)
6 King David Lions (Vancouver) (6)
7 Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) (7)
8 Vernon Christian Royals (8)
9 St. John’s Eagles (Vancouver) (9)
10 Gudangaay Tiaat’sgaa Naay Thunder (Masset) (HM)
HONOURABLE MENTION — Osoyoos Rattlers (HM), Glenlyon Norfolk Gryphons (Victoria) (HM), Similkameen Sparks (Keremeos) (HM), Lakes District Lakers (Burns Lake) (NR)
(BCHSBBA)
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