Despite a late-game rally, the host side lost by eight points in Saturday’s championship game to Guildford Park of Surrey in the 50th annual Towhee senior boys basketball tournament at Vanier Secondary.
More than 600 fans packed the gymnasium for the final. Vanier coach Larry Street said Guildford has the key ingredients needed for a solid team — a big inside player, a quick, athletic point guard, and a host of players who can fill the bucket.
“A big challenge for the Towhees,” he said.
Vanier was down 55-39 at the end of the third quarter, but Street said there was no quit in his team, which outscored Guildford 26-18 in the final frame. However, the visitors “hit all the important free throws” to win the championship.
In their opener, the 3A Towhees faced the double-A Highland Secondary. Street said the Comox side was competitive on the boards.
“Brazilian exchange student Renzo Martinez got hot with three-pointers in the second half, making the game a close one until Vanier had to come up with a defence to stop them.”
The score at half was 29-18 Vanier, but Highland closed the gap to 37-35 by the end of the third. In the fourth quarter, Vanier forward Peter Greaves hit for 18 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Macyn Leopkey-Johnson chipped in 13 points and a trio of three-pointers. Cam Bell added seven points, four assists and six rebounds en route to a 59-53 for Vanier.
The Towhees defeated Victoria’s Mount Doug — a 4A team — in their second game.
“Vanier was stoked for this game, and defensively did a great job on every player of Mt. Doug, especially provincial team player Matthew Geng,” Street said.
The visitors could only amass 36 points while Vanier scored 64. Greaves had 15 points and six rebounds, while Leopkey-Johnson and Brayden Waugh each scored eight. Sidney Woodrow was a force on the boards gathering nine.
In the semis, Vanier faced Nanaimo District Secondary, to whom they have lost twice at other . Street figures the game was likely his team’s best of the year on defence as the boys held NDSS to 45 points. In the scoring department, four Vanier players were in double figures. Another key to the game was out-rebounding Nanaimo by 22. Leopkey-Johnson led the scoring with 15 points and six assists. Bell also played an outstanding game with 13 points, four steals, four assists and seven rebounds while being a “terror on defence,” Street said. Greaves and Jakob Tortorelli each scored 12 points. Vanier won 61 to 45.
“Brayden Waugh is starting to also come into his own, and big Sidney Woodrow was a monster on the boards for a second game in a row,” Street said.
The 12-team tournament featured some great matchups, including two overtimes.
On Tuesday, Vanier defeated Wellington of Nanaimo 79-45 in a league game.
The Towhees are in Richmond this weekend for the Cambie Tournament.