Four very good teams battling for three provincial berths. The RC Palmer Griffins made sure they were not going to be left out again.
The Griffins are headed back to the B.C. 2A Championships (March 7-10) for the first time in three years thanks to a spirited 78-69 win over the St. Pat’s Celtics in the third place game at the Lower Mainland Championships.
The result avenged a heartbreaking four-point loss to the Vancouver private school a year ago in the very same do-or-die scenario.
The Mainlands unfolded exactly as the rankings have suggested all season. Top 10 teams King George (No. 4) and Britannia (No. 6) squared off in the title game. It would come down to St. Pat’s (No. 10) and RC Palmer (honourable mention) for the final spot at the Langley Events Centre.
The Griffins were hungry for good reason.
On top of the disappointment the past couple of seasons, their roster features 10 graduating players, including standouts Andrew Reddy and Sorosh Sidiqi. Throw in low enrolment numbers at the school and how the window of opportunity is closing after this campaign. Palmer did not have a junior boys team this season.
Then there is coach Rob Brown — one of the school’s longest-serving teachers who has poured so many years into coaching athletics.
In one of the best atmospheres of the entire tournament in any tier, the Griffins navigated their way through foul trouble to produce the big win.
They erased a 45-40 third quarter deficit with a terrific stretch that resulted in a 23-14 run to take control for good.
“We could play them all week and it still would be close like that,” smiled Brown. “I honestly was thinking about this game a month ago. We knew at the top King George is really tough and Britannia is tough too so we thought they might win the other side (of the draw). So this game has been in the back of my mind for a while.”
What Brown couldn’t predict is his key players dealing with foul trouble. Sidiqi picked up three quick fouls and spent a good portion of the second half on the bench. Reddy was also playing with four fouls. Brown needed others to come through and they did just that.
Steven Ang finished with 16 points, including five three-pointers. Connor Leary and Quinten Bautista added eight each. Sidiqi still managed 24 in his limited minutes, including 14 in the decisive final quarter. Reddy finished with 13.
“You would think your post player being in foul trouble would be your biggest problem but I had to sit Sorosh down when he got those quick three,” added Brown. “He is such a good defender and he is all over the place. It’s easy for him to pick up fouls and that worried me.”
Reddy was named to the Lower Mainland First All-Star Team. Bautista was selected to the Second Team.
