Some of the most encouraging signs for the New Westminster senior boys basketball team have come in games that didn’t end with a ‘W.’
The Hyacks continue along in preparation for next month’s playoffs with plenty of optimism, thanks to a run of strong efforts.
After going 2-1 at the G.P. Vanier Towhee tournament in Courtenay, the squad put up its best effort on Monday in what was an exciting 74-69 loss to No. 6-ranked South Burnaby.
For New West head coach Arno Richter, the difference between a win and a loss, at least on that night, was in the stat line of 17-33.
“We should have won that game, but we went 17-for-33 from the line,” Richter said. “We lost it because we didn’t hit our free throws but it was there to take.”
If they had sank their free tosses it could have spelled the upset of the season, at least in the Burnaby-New West league.
As it is, Richter says turning the page but taking those key lessons from the loss will only help.
“For me, that was our best game (so far) of the season,” he noted. “It felt good to get a strong 40 minutes from the guys, against a top-10 team in the province.”
Standing out in what was a well-rounded team effort were Grade 12 guards Francis Federipe and Norman Manacsa, while Harman Sandhu came in and provided energy and a calming influence.
Winning the battle of the boards gave the Hyacks a shot at taking the game, but the loss left them 2-2 in league play.
In Courtenay, a familiar foe supplied the only knock, as the Hyacks finished the Vanier Towhee tournament third overall. They handily defeated both Rutland, 86-52, and Kwalikum, 96-64, but were topped 74-46 in the semifinal by the W.J. Mouat Hawks.
It was Mouat which bested New West in the Port Moody holiday tourney three weeks ago.
“They did what they did to us before,” Richter said of the honourably mentioned Hawks. “We had tonnes of looks in the first half but just didn’t have the finish.”
With only four games left in the regular season, the focus is on getting that 40-minute consistent effort to show every night.
“With that game against Burnaby South, it really shows we’re able to complete with anybody,” said Richter.
