Vic HighB次元官网网址檚 boys basketball program has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years.
The senior Totems qualified first out of Victoria and hosted the Island AAA championships last year, finishing fifth in the process, one win away from qualifying for provincials.
They lost their two best players to graduation and struggled out of the gate this season. But theyB次元官网网址檙e coming to understand that theyB次元官网网址檙e not going to beat teams in the paint, so they might as well play to their strength and beat them with speed B次元官网网址� a valuable asset with not a lot of height on the roster.
At their home tournament last weekend the Totems reeled off a pair of impressive victories, 77-60 over Belmont B, and 74-70 over ComoxB次元官网网址檚 Highland in the semifinals, before running into what seemed like a misplaced Shawnigan Lake team in the final. The private school Stags rolled over the Totems 94-35 in last SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 final, finishing with an average win margin of 55 points in the tournament.
Outside of that lopsided loss to a team they wonB次元官网网址檛 meet in the playoffs, Totems coach Cory Ahlers likes the way his team is looking as it heads into the home stretch. They looked good in beating the Dockers 65-49 in league play at Esquimalt High on Tuesday and are scheduled to play Edward Milne in Sooke on Thursday.
B次元官网网址淓veryoneB次元官网网址檚 healthy and itB次元官网网址檚 good timing with playoffs right around the corner,B次元官网网址� Ahlers said, noting that his team is B次元官网网址渦nderestimated on the Island.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚n general, I think weB次元官网网址檙e just realizing as a team what our identity is. What we can do is use our speed and beat you up the court and pressure you in the back court. By the third and fourth quarter, teams are just exhausted playing against us.B次元官网网址�
Totems forward Danzil Binag, with 19 points in game 1 of the home tourney, guard Jarius Miclat with 25 in game 2 and forward Kendrick Laurian in game 3 earned game all star honours on the weekend.
Showing their depth, Michael Guting had a team-high 13 against Esquimalt on Tuesday, followed by Miclat with 11 and Jamie Kim with 10. Nick Andrianos had 12 to lead the Dockers.
Given Vic HighB次元官网网址檚 solid two win, one loss performance at the Gulf Islands Scorpions tournament the previous weekend, Ahlers said, B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e got the ball rolling in the right direction. The next two weeks will be interesting.B次元官网网址�
Junior boys capture title at Vic High
Totems Grade 9 reserve Max Miller came off the bench to score his only three points of SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 junior boys final at Vic High with one shot. His timely trey gave the juniors a 49-46 win over Royal Bay.
The game-winning shot capped a comeback from a 30-18 deficit at halftime.
B次元官网网址淭hat was a phenomenal way to end it, especially with so many fans there watching,B次元官网网址� said Totems coach Lucas Goltz. B次元官网网址淭he energy in the gym was incredible.B次元官网网址�
Leading the way with 17 points in the final was shooting guard Jake Docena, the co-most valuable player of the tournament along with Miguel Albia, who added seven against the Ravens.
Like their senior counterparts, the junior Totems used an aggressive press defence in the second half to keep the Ravens at bay and create some offence on the turnovers. Minseok Kwak chipped in with eight points in the win, while teammate Matthew Callow had seven.
Goltz said the team has had a tough season, but he hoped the tournament win would give them some momentum heading into ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 (Feb. 1) opening city playoff game.
Vic High opened with a 85-47 drubbing of Belmont B, then dispatched a talented Oak Bay team 73-62 in the semifinals. Oak Bay downed Spectrum 65-52 in the third-fourth place game.
