Not everybody was in Cowichan for the Welcome Back tourney as the St. Michaels University School Blue Jags hosted and roasted the Terry Fox Ravens, 72-50, at SMUS on Saturday.
The Ravens came for a two-stop visit, losing by an almost identical 72-53 to the Oak Bay Bays on Friday. Needless to say the Ravens, out of Coquitlam, didnB次元官网网址檛 live up to the teamB次元官网网址檚 reputation, ranked among the top-10 in B.C. Meanwhile the Blue Jags were recently ranked third among AA teams in the province, ahead of Island stalwarts Lambrick Park and Brentwood College, who look to be the top AA competition on the Island this season.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so early in the year, you donB次元官网网址檛 want to get caught up in the rankings too much, but weB次元官网网址檝e played really well,B次元官网网址� said Blue Jags head coach Reagan Daly, a former Vikes basketball player.
The Blue Jags have plenty of leadership and character but not a lot of height (the opposite of Terry Fox), with senior Dave Lafleur at 6-foot-3 towering above his teammates.
Luckily for the Blue Jags, Lafleur is adept with his hands and gives them much-needed presence in the paint.
B次元官网网址淵ou look at our roster, we do get small after (Lafleur),B次元官网网址� Daly said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e pretty balanced, a lot of guys between 6-foot and 5-foot-10. The offence weB次元官网网址檙e running is designed for five guys to be a threat and our scoring is always going to be pretty even.B次元官网网址�
The JagsB次元官网网址� scoring line in the win over the Ravens is a prime example: Joe Erlic led with 20 points, Monty Fraser-Brown had 10 points and Lafleur scored 12.
Erlic is one of the teams 6-foot players who adds a lot of character and determination to the teamB次元官网网址檚 makeup, Daly said.
B次元官网网址淧eople donB次元官网网址檛 give (Erlic) too much credit. HeB次元官网网址檚 a provincial rugby player and they think of him that way but heB次元官网网址檚 a great athlete and, from what IB次元官网网址檝e seen, one of the better guards in the province.
B次元官网网址淟ast year Erlic handled the ball a lot but this year weB次元官网网址檙e getting away from that and heB次元官网网址檚 more effective. He shoots at a high percentage.B次元官网网址�
As soon as the Blue Jags get the ball theyB次元官网网址檙e on the move.
Speedy Grade 11 guards Mark Yorath and Dawit Workie both like to move the ball and both help make the team dangerous from the three-point line. Hardworking Derek Hyde-Lay is at the core of the teamB次元官网网址檚 intense defence.
The Blue Jags are in action this weekend at Oak Bay HighB次元官网网址檚 Gary Taylor Classic basketball tournament.
B次元官网网址� St. Michaels will face Belmont in the first draw of the Gary Taylor Classic, tomorrow (Dec. 15) at 5:30 p.m. at Oak Bay High. Mount Douglas and Dover Bay open the tourney at 2 p.m., followed by Walter Murray (Sask.) vs. Lambrick Park at 3:45 p.m. and Oak Bay vs. Brookswood (Langley) at 7:15 p.m.
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