BURNABY SOUTH 84 - 94 CHURCHILL
The Churchill Bulldogs did what they didn’t do last year on their way to the 2014 senior boys AAAA B.C. championship -- on Friday night they beat the Burnaby South Rebels 94-84 to win the Lower Mainland title
“We had it taken away from us last year,” said Bulldog guard Karn Virk, who had 17 points in the win.
Last season, Vancouver College defeated the Bulldogs to win the regional final.
“I feel good,” said Virk. “It means a lot but it’s not the end, it’s not the Big Dance. We need to win that one.”
The Rebels got a strong start on an 8-0 run to open the game and looked fully in control thanks to easy athleticism and the hot shooting hand of Tyus Batiste.
The Bulldogs kept their cool and their discipline in check. Before the end of the first quarter, they strung together a 16-point scoring streak, then doubled up on the Rebels 32-15 to start the second quarter. By half time, Churchill led 53-34.
Burnaby South standout and one of B.C.’s very best, Jermaine Haley had 38 point in the loss.
Harry Lui again turned it on for Churchill, recording 22 points and 14 rebounds. His scored from outside and also showed up Haley in the key.
Gary Minhas had 14 and Lambert Pajayon added 24 points.
Five minutes left in the game, Churchill led Burnaby South by 12. The final minute took more than 15 minutes to play but the Rebels couldn’t catch up. The Bulldogs shot 78 per cent from the free throw line to safeguard their advantage.
In the battle for third place and the final Lower Mainland berth to B.C.’s, the underdog David Thompson Trojans took another team by surprise to continue their Cinderella streak. The Trojans eliminated Vancouver College 74-63.
