In the last-ever tournament in the grand old gym, the New Westminster
Hyacks made it count.
The senior boys basketball team ran the table, winning three times to capture the Bob Gair Classic tourney title in New West Secondary’s Pearson gym.
Head coach Ted Cusick almost couldn’t have asked for a better present – although give-aways are less festive on the court than away from it.
“Turnovers – geez,” Cusick sighed, trying not to laugh. “I went to McDonalds and the guy asked me if I wanted a turnover; I felt like punching him.”
New West wrapped up the three-day series Friday by edging Richmond’s A.R. MacNeill Ravens 73-70, exacting some revenge for a 98-53 slapping two weeks earlier at the Tsumura Invitational.
“Redemption. It was a good tournament for us and by the end of (Friday’s) game the kids were five feet in the air. That one felt really good,” noted the coach of beating the No. 8-ranked team of the 3-A circuit.
Getting big efforts from a trio of starters – captain Kirk Bothwell, guard Caleb Johnson and Grade 11 forward Quentin Leberg – helped push past the Ravens.
Bothwell tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds, Johnson contributed 14 points and 14 boards and Leberg notched 12 points and a team-high 16 rebounds.
In support, Luke Dixon and Udhay Mangat counted eight points each, with Mangat chipping in with 14 boards.
“It was a good win all around,” said Cusick. “We were able to break their press, and that was one part of their game that caught us off guard in (the first meeting). We hadn’t seen a press up to that point, but we worked on it and knew it was coming, and by the third quarter (Friday) they took it off.”
New West led by as much as 10 points, but MacNeill was constantly threatening to go on a run. The strong board game by the Hyacks helped stem a momentum shift over the final frame.
It came on the heels of an 88-80 victory over the 2-A Cambie Crusaders.
In that contest, the Hyacks held a large lead but almost allowed the Crusaders back into the game after three starters – Bradie Traverse, Bothwell and Mangat – fouled out.
Leberg notched 17 points and 10 boards, while Johnson hit for 15 points. Before hitting the bench, Bothwell and Mangat each scored 12 points, while Traverse added 10 in support, along with five assists.
In fact, all three wins highlighted New West’s depth and growing chemistry, noted Cusick.
“That’s what I like about this team; everyone can play and they’re a good bunch of kids. ... We’ve got guys who don’t start who are pushing for more playing time.”
They launched the tourney last Wednesday by beating league rival Cariboo Hill 97-50, with Bothwell cashing in for 20 points. Johnson and Dixon were good for 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Dominik Doray netted 11 points, seven assists and was good on three of seven three-point shots.
New West will practice over the holiday break before playing in Maple Ridge Jan. 4, then going to the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs tournament Jan. 8 to 10.
The New West senior girls basketball team, meanwhile, also hosted its part of the Bob Gair Classic at the Massey gym. Results and information were unavailable at press time.
