Awareness is a powerful tool.
The Byrne Creek Bulldogs are gaining that skill in a way that they hope benefits down the line. According to the Province newspaper’s hoop rankers, others are aware of their potential, too.
For the second time in a week, the Burnaby senior boys basketball team crossed paths with Triple-A No. 4-ranked Steveston-London and came away second-best.
But the Bulldogs, in falling 88-79 to Steveston on Saturday in the Bob Carkner Memorial tournament final in Richmond, managed to shave the previous game’s deficit in half, from 18 points just a week earlier at St. Thomas More’s Chancellor tourney.
On the heels of that result, Byrne Creek has emerged from the ranks of the honourable mentioned to sit sixth overall in this week’s B.C. High School Triple-A ratings.
With Steveston being one of the team’s Byrne Creek will be battling with for one of four berths to the provincials, the competition is a good sign.
“I think the guys know that the first week back from the (holiday) break we were off our game,” said Bulldogs coach Bal Dhillon. “It was disappointing (at STM) but we played much better this week. The commitment was there and I was really proud of the boys.”
Steveston had to rally to claim its tourney title. Byrne Creek were up by seven at halftime and led until midway through the third quarter, when the Richmond side went on a tear.
“We were in a bit of foul trouble by then and had to sit our big guys, and (Steveston) is a big team,” noted Dhillon. “Then one of their players (tourney MVP Nigel Boyd) hit four threes with a hand in his face.”
Malik Holmes led all Bulldogs with 35 points, while Grade 9 guard Bithow Wan counted 29.
Both were named to the tournament all-star team, along with Stanley Ho.
“Malik and Stanley are Grade 12s and are having great years,” said Dhillon. “They’ve shown great leadership, they set the culture for us and everyone follows.”
Finishing second-best was not the only highlight of the tourney, either.
Byrne Creek faced off against Triple-A No. 3 Lord Byng for the third time in a month, and this time triumphed 80-69. It gives the ‘Dogs a 2-1 record against the Grey Ghosts, who along with ranked R.A. McMath, join Steveston and independent St. Thomas More as those who will provide some of the opposition for a B.C. berth.
Lord Byng stayed ahead of the Bulldogs up until midway through the fourth, when the Burnaby shooters got the hot hand down the stretch, claimed the lead and pulled away. At its biggest point, the Grey Ghosts led by 10 points.
“(Lord Byng) shot well and executed well but we got hot right at the end,” noted the coach. “It’s a tough thing to rely on, and good shooting sometimes can get you there but you don’t want to depend on that alone… We hit a few threes but in the end it was our intensity that made the difference.”
They began the tourney by blasting Hugh Boyd 106-69.
Another challenge awaits, as the Bulldogs launched the Robert Bateman tournament yesterday (Thursday) in Abbotsford with a tilt against Brookswood.
Also at the tourney are No. 1 Rick Hansen and No. 8 R.A. McMath.
