LANGLEY — Few high school all-star basketball games in North America can claim a history as rich as this Saturday’s 32nd annual edition of the Vancouver Island Senior Classic, a three-game celebration of the Island’s best boys and girls’ graduating seniors.
For example, back in the 1992 boys game, when the South beat the North 100-85, SMUS’ Steve Nash may have led all scorers with 17 points, but he wasn’t selected the game MVP.
That honour went to Nanaimo District’s Gary Edgar.
All of that seems a little more relevant than usual this year with Oak Bay senior Diego Maffia bidding farewell to the high school hoops scene when he suits up for the South ‘A’ all-stars as they oppose their counterparts from the North in the evening’s 7 p.m. finale.
The boys’ ‘B’ game opens the festivities at 3:30 p.m., with the girls’ game to follow at 5:15 p.m. All three contests will take place at Victoria’s Spectrum Secondary School gymnasium.
Here’s a look at the rosters for all three games:
BOYS ‘B’
NORTH
Guards — Finn Bradbrook (Naniamo District), Aaron Lattanzi (Duncan-Cowichan), Ian Rutledge (Courtenay-Mark Isfeld), Logan Ward (Qualicum Beach-Kwalikum)
Forwards — Cole Arsenault (Nanaimo-Wellington), Gredy Barney (Alberni District), Alex Bloedorn (Nanaimo Christian), Caleb Kotai (Nanaimo-Dover Bay), Nathan Lagos (Campbell River—Timberline), Shawn Lansdell (Nanaimo-Dover Bay)Jake McGonigle (Nanaimo District), Nathan Faganello (Nanaimo Christian).
Coach — Avneet Brar (VancouverIsland University)
SOUTH
Guards — Joseph Bond (Victoria-Parkland), Nick Card (Sooke-Edward Milne), Sung Ho Ham (Victoria-Pacific Christian), Nevin Johal (Victoria-Lambrick Park), Dallen McQuarrie (Victoria-Spectrum), Ephren Woldu (Victoria-Reynolds)
Forwards — Johnny Cole (Victoria-Mt. Douglas), Patrick Dodds (Victoria-Claremont), Noah Fekete (Victoria-Glenlyon Norfolk), Tristan Kuhn (Victoria-St. Michaels University School), Martin Lorenz (Victoria-Lambrick Park), Taka Nakano (Victoria-Royal Bay)
Coach — Tyler Verde (Camosun College)

GIRLS
NORTH
Guards — Sequoiah Bevilacqua (Qualicum Beach-Kwalikum), Tess Bodenham (Campbell River-Timberline), Zjaya Doman (Mill Bay-Brentwood College), Avery Fox (Campbell River-Timberline), Arielle Dupuis (Nanaimo District), Yui Fujiki (Comox-Highland), Jill Jeffrey (Nanaimo-Wellington).
Forwards — Ava Johnson (Nanaimo District), Hannah Worthen (Qualicum Beach-Kwalikum), Abby Broekhuizen (Alberni District), Emily Lefebvre (École Au-coeur-de-l’île), Shayla Scott (Nanaimo-Wellington).
Coach — Ryan Broekhuizen (Alberni District)
SOUTH
Guards — Maki Jenner (Victoria-Claremont), Alex Ellison (Victoria-Pacific Christian), Jaido Segato (Victoria-St. Andrew’s), Destiny Hanson (Victoria-Lambrick Park), Emma Ottewell (Saanichton-Stelly’s), Bella Vedova (Victoria-Royal Bay), Abby McMillan (Victoria-Claremont), Katie Elsner (Victoria-Oak Bay)
Forwards — Zoe Lott (Victoria-St. Michaels University School), Hannah Cormode (Victoria-Royal Bay), Maggi Owen (Saanichton-Stelly’s), Caitlin Gault (Victoria-Parkland)
Coach — Kevin Ottewell (Saanichton-Stelly’s)

BOYS ‘A’
NORTH
Guards — Grant Dillard (Mill Bay-Brentwood College), Blake Doherty (Campbell River-Carihi), Carson Foy (Campbell River-Carihi), Connor Hall (Campbell River-Carihi), Justin Goodman (Nanaimo-Wellington).
Forwards — Joel Bilyk (Nanaimo District), Carter Bouma (Ladysmith), Hayden Fieret (Courtenay-Mark Isfeld), Dawson Fox (Courtenay-Mark Isfeld), Ian Grabher (Mill Bay-Brentwood College), Owen Morrison (Nanaimo District), Zach Taylor (Nanaimo-John Barsby).
Coach — Matt Kuzminski (Vancouver Island University)
SOUTH
Guards — (Takeshi Croke (Victoria-Reynolds), Chris Graham (Victoria-Glenlyon Norfolk), P.J. Jivavattanasak (Victoria-Lambrick Park), Diego Maffia (Victoria-Oak Bay), Danny Song (Victoria-Belmont).
Forwards — Jordane Burke (Victoria-Oak Bay), Matthew Geng (Victoria-Mt. Douglas), Maxwell Leeder (Victoria-Belmont), Ewan McKenzie (Victoria-Oak Bay), Daunte Nelson (Victoria-Belmont), Ty Olynyk (Victoria-St.Michaels University School), Ryan Sheridan (Victoria-Claremont)
Coach — Scott Cuachon (Camosun College)
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