A pair of 30-plus point performances by Nick Tancon paced the Highland Raiders to victory at the G.P. Vanier Towhees annual Tucky Schellinck junior boys basketball tournament.
It also earned Tancon MVP honours at the eight-team weekend event. Tancon poured in 30 points to lead the Raiders to a 50-36 win over the Mark Isfeld Ice in Saturday's championship final, a game the Raiders never trailed.
"It was a total team effort from Highland," said Vanier coach Tony Edwards. "Tancon dominated but the rest of their team played very well off of him and hit the big shots when needed."
Richard Girard had a great weekend for Isfeld and along with teammate Cole Hutchins made the all-star team. Sam Lewis of Highland also made the tourney all-star team and capped a great weekend by winning the Steve Nash jersey in a raffle.
The host Towhees topped defending champ Ballenas 51-23 for third place behind a big 21-point effort by Joss Biggins. Jordan Balon was a tourney all-star and spark plug for the home side.
Dover Bay (Nanaimo) defeated London-Steveston 53-42 for fifth place while John Barsby (Nanaimo) edged a game St. Michaels University (Victoria) Grade 9 squad for seventh place.
In the semifinals, Isfeld downed Ballenas 50-35 and Highland polished off Vanier 56-38. The Raiders jumped to a 12-1 lead and the Towhees were unable to close the gap.
"The 1-2-3 finish for local teams bodes very well for the future of basketball in the Comox Valley," said Edwards.
In opening day action Friday, Vanier blasted Barsby 51-25, Highland got by Dover Bay 67-61 behind a 31-point effort by Tancon, Ballenas edged SMUS 46-43 and Isfeld overcame three-time tourney finalists London-Steveston 58-51.
Michael Edwards of SMUS was voted Most Inspirational Player.
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