The Claremont Spartans are Island champs, having beaten the Oak Bay Bays for the second time in as many Saturdays to win the AAA boys Island basketball championship, 61-52.

Spartans guard Mason Loewen was named MVP of the tournament, which was hosted by Mount Douglas secondary. ClaremontB次元官网网址檚 Alex Jordache and Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 Mat Hampton were their teamsB次元官网网址� respective player of the game for the final.

Loewen led the Spartans with 15 points in the final, while Hampton scored 23 and Liam Horne 20 for Oak Bay. Only three players did all the scoring for the Bays, with Jake Miller getting the other eight points. Eight players scored for the Spartans.

B次元官网网址淓very time (we play Oak Bay) itB次元官网网址檚 a battle,B次元官网网址� said Spartans coach Davey Sundher. B次元官网网址淲e said, B次元官网网址榯he team that wins the defensive rebound battle probably wins the game,B次元官网网址� and we did. We knew the game would depend on timely rebounds.B次元官网网址�

The game was tied going into the second quarter when Yvan Atemgova of the Spartans stole the ball from Bays guard Liam Horne and ran it in for a layup.

That sparked a 20-6 run by the Spartans, which ended the first half ahead 35-21.

It was AtemgovaB次元官网网址檚 only basket of the game but his superb defence, combined with that from Jordache (10 points), stymied the BaysB次元官网网址� attack.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a great feeling to do it with these guys,B次元官网网址� Jordache said. B次元官网网址淭he jobB次元官网网址檚 not done, we want provincials, but itB次元官网网址檚 nice to enjoy the moment.B次元官网网址�

Jordache, like his Oak Bay counterpart Horne, endured nothing short of physical harassment, but the hard fouls couldnB次元官网网址檛 keep either from their game.

B次元官网网址淚 try to keep my emotions under control, maybe sometimes it shows,B次元官网网址� Jordache said. B次元官网网址淥ak Bay played hard and I respect them. TheyB次元官网网址檙e a good team.B次元官网网址�

In the last week Jordache was been named to the city all-star team and to the weekendB次元官网网址檚 Island second all-star team. He was a raw player with little basketball experience when he showed up in Grade 9, said Sundher.

B次元官网网址淛ordache can score, and he tuned it up defensively (in the final). And Loewen, where do I start? He leads this team by example. HeB次元官网网址檚 in the gym every day, hours and hours, he loves the game, and showed it out here (in the final),B次元官网网址� Sundher said.

Claremont took one of the IslandB次元官网网址檚 two provincial berths for this weekB次元官网网址檚 AAA boys provincials. Because the Bays hadnB次元官网网址檛 faced the third-place Belmont Bulldogs, the Bulldogs have the right to challenge the Bays for the second spot at provincials.

That game is Tuesday (March 5) at Oak Bay High, 7:30 p.m. Check vicnews.com/sports for results.

The 68th annual B.C. Boys AAA High School Championships are March 12 to 16 at the Langley Events Centre. The Spartans stand to win a top-five seed, possibly No. 6, and are looking B次元官网网址渢o do as much damage as possible,B次元官网网址� with Grade 11s Jordache, Luke Collumbin and Zac Christianson returning next year.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of Mainland teams we havenB次元官网网址檛 seen, but we think we can compete with any of them when weB次元官网网址檙e at our best,B次元官网网址� Jordache said.

Island first team all-stars: Erik Spaven (Belmont), Jerod Dorby (Cowichan), Liam Horne (Oak Bay), Darian Vandermerwe (Spectrum), Mat Hampton (Oak Bay). Second team all-stars: Kane Johnston (Belmont), Ashton MacKinnon (Mount Douglas), Harrison Mar (Mount Douglas), Andrew Larson (Cowichan), Alex Jordache (Claremont).

sports@vicnews.com