Last Friday's high school city championship game was as big as they get in Vancouver. With an established tradition of winning city championships towards Lower Mainland and provincial tournament successes, the Kitsilano Blue Demons had been unseated as city champions the last two years by the Sir Charles Tupper Tigers.
With seven-foot big man Cameron Smythe back for a shot at a third city championship, Tupper had reason to be confident. However, the Kits Demons had big plans of their own and a sizable strategy to regain their city supremacy.
The marquee matchup anticipated by city basketball fans all year featured the No. 1 team in the east versus the No. 1 team in the west squaring off in a packed Prince of Wales gymnasium. Unfortunately for the throngs of fans in attendance, the Goliath versus Goliath matchup was hugely anticlimactic. Kitsilano started the game up 20-5 and had leads of 22-12 after one quarter, 41-23 at the half, 59-40 after the third quarter, and a 75-49 score when the final buzzer sounded.
Stanojko Zaharijevic, father of Kitsilano post player Luka and well-known for his sideline exuberance blowing kisses to the crowd when moved by Kitsilano's play, was calmly relieved after the game. "We were expecting a hard game because the last two years we lost. We had a very good game. Luka had very good position."
Mr. Z was not the only one in the gym to notice his son's exploits, which resulted in 37 of his team's points and earned him tournament Most Valuable Player honours. Kitsilano head coach Randy Coutts, who has seen his share of dominant big men, was particularly appreciative of this Grade 11 student's contribution: "Luka's ability to score almost every time he got the ball inside. He was a force. It was one of the best games from a big man I've seen in a city final."
Tupper coach Jeff Gourley put it succinctly. "Luka was 15 for 15". At 6'6" and as big as a barge, Luka showed great hands and footwork while displaying a seemingly unstoppable hook shot amongst his array of offensive arsenal. This skill-set has not developed without significant work.
"I've been working every morning at 7 a.m. with [Kitsilano assistant coach] Trevor Mills and [Kitsilano post player] Dawson Perron," said the Grade 11 student.
Coutts elaborated, saying, "He's really worked hard over the last couple of months to become one of the most complete big men in the province."
While Luka modestly accepted accolades, he was more impressed with his teammates' efforts on defence. "Alex Vidic defended Cam [Smythe] very well. That was the key to the game."
Said Coutts on the seven-footer: "We had a good game plan and had a very good game on Cam Smythe."
Gourley expressed frustration over his team's lack of ability to generate momentum while acknowledging Kitsilano's disruptive defence: "They pressured us and pushed us out from where we want the ball. They played aggressively." Despite a diminutive game by his standards, Smythe's stat-line still tallied 20 points, 13 rebounds, and several impressive blocked shots.
As impressive as Luka's offensive output and Kitsilano's stifling team defence was the team's cohesive play. Of the six different Blue Demons who hit three-point shots, Coutts said. "They're playing very well together. They move the ball and it doesn't matter who scores."
Luka said a big part of Kitsilano's success is "team chemistry, team-building."
"Off the court we're all together. We trust one another," said the teen Zaharijevic.
Part of that team chemistry includes respect for popular former Kitsilano assistant coach Dave Treloar who passed away unexpectedly last spring shortly after Kitsilano competed at the provincial championships.
Demonstrable point guard Stew Annan, who buried his head in his hands while sitting off the end of the court after last year's city final loss, offered insight into this year's motivation.
"First of all we talked about how Dave Treloar passed away. We talked about how we play for our team, we play for our family. We went through a lot of ups and downs with this team. We're ready for the next challenge."
Coutts reflectively summarized: "That's who we play this season for."
From Z to A, Kitsilano seems to have the big picture all in order.
Final Standings:
1. Kitsilano, 2. Sir Charles Tupper, 3. Sir Winston Churchill, 4. King George, 5. Point Grey, 6. Killarney, 7. Eric Hamber, 8. David Thompson. Other participants: Britannia, Prince of Wales, Templeton, and Windermere.
All Stars:
Most Valuable Player: Luka Zaharijevic, Kitsilano
First Team:
Alex Vidic, Kitsilano; Daniel Kim, Sir Charles Tupper; Cam Smythe, Sir Charles Tupper; Mindy Minhas, Sir Winston Churchill; Andrew Mavety, Point Grey.
Second Team:
David Burton, Kitsilano; Tom Campbell, Kitsilano; Gabriel Corpuz, Sir Charles Tupper; Nathan Holz, Sir Winston Churchill; Kristian Hildebrandt, King George.
The Lower Mainland High School Boys Basketball Association at present is unable to produce a playoff draw for the AAA tournament due to potential legal action from member school St George's.
ù AA Lower Mainland Boys Championships, hosted at King George, Feb. 21-24. Vancouver schools include King George, Britannia and St. Patrick's.
ù A Lower Mainland Boys Championships, hosted at St. John's, Feb. 21-23. Vancouver schools include St. John's and West Point Grey Academy.
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