Fingers are crossed that high school basketball can make its comeback for the 2021-22 season, and with that, the return of the TBI at the LEC. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of Varsity Letters 2021. All Rights Reserved)
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Tsumura Basketball Invitational: Optimism rules as we set tentative Dec. 2021 dates for an LEC return! Here’s our list of 40 boys and girls teams!

LANGLEY — Hope springs eternal here with all of us behind the scenes at the Tsumura Basketball Invitational.

While our annual two weeks of early-season ‘Welcome Back’ to the B.C. senior boys and girls basketball world was, of course, cancelled this past December due to the global pandemic, we here at the TBI have our fingers crossed that the 2021 editions will be greeted by what we all hope will be a safer and healthier world!

With all of that said, understanding full well the fluid nature of the pandemic, we have some news on TBI 2021.

The two-week event will extend invitations to the same 20 boys and 20 girls teams who had confirmed attendance for the 2020 tournaments.

Normally, we base our invitations on creating a high-calibre and competitive field for both brackets. This time around, however, a potential return to play after a missed 2020-21 season will very clearly centre around the themes of celebration and appreciation.

And so with that said, all 2020 TBI entrants can consider this their official invitation.

The boys 2021 TBI is tentatively set to run Dec. 8-11 at the Langley Events Centre, while the girls 2021 TBI is tentatively set to run Dec. 15-18 at the same venue.

We know, of course, there is a chance some teams will not be able to return. To all coaches, of course, there no rush to let us know.

We will be contacting the coaches of all teams concerned over the coming months with specific deadlines as to confirmation of your team’s entry in 2021. There is already a wait-list of teams, but if you aren’t on the list of teams below and you are interested, you can email howardtsumura@gmail.com

Listed below are the 20 boys and 20 girls teams with standing invitations for 2021.

Teams should note that new rules implemented for the 2020 event stipulate that teams cannot be simultaneously entered in any other tournaments if they have agreed to take part in the 2021 Tsumura Basketball Invitational.

Here’s the list of previously-invited teams we hope to see this December:

TSUMURA BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL 2021

BOYS

(alphabetical order with 2020-21 preseason rank, tier)

Abbotsford Panthers (No. 2, AAAA)

A.R. MacNeill Ravens (Richmond) (No. 6, AAA)

Burnaby South Rebels (No. 1, AAAA)

Byrne Creek Bulldogs (Burnaby) (No. 8, AAA)

Centennial Centaurs (Coquitlam) (No. 10, AAAA)

Claremont Spartans (Victoria) (HM, AAAA)

Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (No. 1, AAA)

Fleetwood Park Dragons (Surrey) (HM, AAAAA)

G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (No. 7, AAA)

Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (NR, AAAA)

Magee Lions (Vancouver) (No. 2, AAA)

R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (No. 3, AAA)

Sands Scorpions (North Delta) (NR, AAAA)

Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (HM, AAA)

Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs (Vancouver) (HM, AAAA)

St. Patricks Celtics (Vancouver) (No. 4, AAA)

Tamanawis Wildcats (Surrey) (HM, AAAA)

Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (No. 8, AAAA)

Yale Lions (Abbotsford) (No. 6, AAAA)

Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) (HM, AAAA)

GIRLS

Abbotsford Panthers (1st, AAA)

Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (3rd, AAA)

Brookswood Bobcats (Langley) (did not qualify, AAAA)

Burnaby South Rebels (9th, AAAA)

Earl Marriott Mariners (Surrey) (10th, AAAA)

G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (9th, AAA)

Heritage Woods Kodiaks (Port Moody) (8th, AAAA)

Kelowna Owls (6th, AAAA)

Langley Christian Lightning (2nd, AA)

Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (Surrey) (7th, AAAA)

MEI Eagles (Abbotsford) (6th, AAA)

Okanagan Mission Huskies (Kelowna) (2nd, AAA)

R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (4th, AAA)

Riverside Rapids (Port Coquitlam) (5th, AAAA)

Semiahmoo Totems (Surrey) (1st, AAAA)

Terry Fox Ravens (Port Coquitlam) (2nd, AAAA)

Valleyview Vikings (Kamloops) (7th, AAA)

Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) (4th, AAAA)

Yale Lions (Abbotsford) (3rd, AAAA)

York House Tigers (Vancouver) (3rd, AA)

If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at howardtsumura@gmail.com.

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