The Kelowna Owls got off on the right foot Thursday night in their first game of the 43rd annual Interior Savings Western Canada Basketball Tournament, handily defeating the Handsworth Royals 85-44 on their home hardwood.
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While the win was a runaway on the scoresheet, head coach Harry Parmar still saw room for his Kelowna Secondary School team to improve, particularly in the first half.
“I don’t think we played the first half that well at all,” said Parmar. “I didn’t like the way we played defensively. We shouldn’t give up 32 points to that team. Some of the shots we were taking – we were so energized, we were shooting over the hoop. We wouldn’t normally do some of the stuff we did in the first half.
“Their peers are out there and they want to look good. I tell them they look good just doing what they normally do. Just play solid, fundamental basketball, and we’ll be fine. ”
With the game still marginally close at 49-32 at half time, KSS’s half court offensive pressure and utilization of their full bench allowed them to assert dominance in the third quarter, outscoring the Royals 30-2 for a 79-34 lead going into the fourth.
“I loved how we played in the third quarter,” Parmar said. “It was awesome. That’s the way we should play. We had worn them down already in the first 20 minutes, and then our guys came with a lot of energy because I subbed a lot in the first half. I think it just took its toll on Handsworth of North Vancouver.
“Sometimes we pressed the man, sometimes we pressed the zone – it’s confusing and tiring after a while. I always tell them that the first thing that goes is your mind. When they get tired, they’re going to make passes they don’t want to make – they go stupid, is what I call it.”
Grade 11 guard, Mason Bourcier, playing in his first Western Canada tournament, led the Owls’ scoring with 23 points, while Colin McGrath, in his second, added 14 for the winners. Grant Shephard contributed 13 points and Matt Lafontaine registered a opening-day high eight assists as the Owls had nine players score at least a point and all 12 got in the game for more than eight minutes.
“With [the format of] this tournament, it was really important just to get them in to get the feel of it,” said Parmar. “It’s great that everyone got in, and got a feel of the game. Now the games get tougher and maybe not everyone will get in tomorrow.”
Parmar will be looking for a more consistent and even stronger game out of his team on Friday when they take on the Edmonton’s Harry Ainlay Titans in one semifinal beginning at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a toss-up game,” said Parmar, whose team defeated the Titans 98-63 in a game in Edmonton in December. “They are big, strong and fast, and they have beaten us here before in front of all our fans, and they like to do that.
They’re good -- they’re really good. They’re number one in the province of Alberta for a reason. We’ve got to step our game up tomorrow and amp up our intensity. They won’t succumb to the pressure as easily, so we’ve got to play a lot smarter tomorrow. We’ll make sure we’re ready for that game.”
Harry Ainlay Titans 98 Kitsilano Blue Demons 59
Alberta’s No. 1 Harry Ainlay jumped out to a 56-27 lead by the half and cruised to a 98-59 victory over B.C.’s No. 7 Kitsilano Blue Demons.
Aher Uguak showed why he’s headed to NCAA Div. 1 University of New Mexico next season by scoring 28 points in 30 minutes of play to set the pace for the Titans.
Marvin Washington added 15 points for the winners, with Jaret Burbank (13) and Hugo Young (12), also reaching double digits.
The Blue Demons got a 19-point effort from Howard Wang, while Alec Bayne contributed 13 points to go along with 12 from Kenya Gerald.
Sir Winston Churchill 90 Prince George 63
B.C.’s No. 2-ranked Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs went on a 17-3 run late in the first quarter and never looked back in a 90-63 waltz by the Prince George Polars in the opening game of the tournament.
Karn Virk scored 26 points in the first three quarters to lead the Bulldogs, who will play the John Taylor Collegiate Pipers in one semifinal on Friday (5:15 p.m.).
Prince George got 26 points from Tyrell Laing, but it wasn’t nearly enough against a Bulldogs team that came into the Western Canada with a 20-3 record against teams in B.C.
John Taylor Collegiate 88 Walnut Grove Gators 60
James Wagner scored 35 points as the John Taylor Collegiate Pipers of Winnipeg outscored the Walnut Grove 14-2 in the second quarter on the way to an 88-60 victory over the Walnut Grove Gators of Langley.
A 17-point effort by Riki Zimbakove and another 10 points from Tae Won Kim contributed to the relatively easy win for the Pipers who put the game out of reach with a 27-11 third quarter.
Ty Rowell was the top point-getter for the Gators, ranked No 3 in B.C.
Walnut Grove will play Prince George in a consolation game at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, while the Handsworth Royals meet Kitsilano in another game on the consolation side starting at 3:30 p.m.
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