Burnaby South Secondary’s Vince Sunga helped lead British Columbia to a fifth-place finish at the 15-and-under National basketball championships in Halifax.
The 5-7 guard from New Westminster led B.C. with 14 points, including a pair of three-pointers, to a 54-45 victory over Alberta in a consolation placement game at Saint Mary’s University on Saturday. Sunga also had a team-high 4 assists, three rebounds and a steal in the matchup.
Sunga scored in double figures in five of B.C.’s six games at the nationals, including a 77-70 win over Nova Scotia that put the West Coast boys into the final game against Alberta.
Against the Maritimers, Sunga scored 13 points, including four treys and four helpers.
Sunga’s only single-digit outing was in B.C.’s 83-56 loss to eventual finalist Quebec in the championship playoff round on Aug. 6.
B.C. finished second in Pool 3, opening nationals with a 78-44 win over Newfoundland on Aug. 3. In the game, Sunga shot 54.5 per cent from the floor, while sharing the team lead with 13 points with Port Coquitlam’s Michael Wilkinson.
New Westminster Secondary point guard Ramadan Ali registered four goals and four assists in the win.
B.C.’s only other loss at the nationals was a 75-62 defeat to Saskatchewan in pool play. Sunga potted 10 points against Saskatchewan.
In the playoffs, Sunga shot 80 per cent from the floor, including three-of-three three-pointers in an 86-54 win over Prince Edward Island. Sunga also had a personal-best six assists and three steals against the Islanders.
Sunga was third in B.C. team scoring, averaging 11.3 points and four assists per game. He also made more than 80 per cent of his free throws and 41.7 per cent from three-point land at the nationals.
The Burnaby South guard led the Rebels to the B.C. high school junior boys' basketball title, where he also garnered the provincial tournament MVP award.
Ontario won the gold medal at the nationals, downing Quebec 67-61 in the finals. New Brunswick got by Saskatchewan to claim the bronze medal 71-59.
In the 17-and-under national boys’ final, Nova Scotia edged Ontario 116-109, while B.C. just missed the bronze medal, falling 76-73 to Saskatchewan.
