It’s not a huge thing and others may be envious, but Mike Bell isn’t overjoyed to see his Burnaby South Rebels already ranked No. 1 in B.C. among senior boys AAAA basketball teams.
While its neat having others acknowledge the team’s potential, it is countered by wearing a virtual “No. 1 target” on the players’ uniforms.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re ranked first (in B.C.) now,” said Bell of his team, which was listed No. 5 in the preseason poll barely two weeks ago. “Our goal is not to be (first) now but at the end of the year.”
The ranking reflects what pundits have observed over nearly two weeks of high school hoops, and primarily how the Rebels handled themselves at the Heritage Woods Klassic tourney in Port Moody.
They won three of four games at the high calibre tourney, with strong outings against No. 4-ranked Walnut Grove (84-80), No. 5 Handsworth (88-76) and fairly convincingly defeated No. 8 Semiahmoo (90-69) in the third-place game.
The only setback came against Calgary powerhouse Bishop O’Byrne, where Burnaby South was topped 86-67.
“We had a really good tournament and just one bad game,” remarked Bell. “It was not our best game. We kind of got pushed around and pushed down, but it was good to see us respond (against Semiahmoo).”
The team boasts a number of major talents, but the Rebels biggest asset, Bell said, is how they gel and push each other.
“We have 13 guys on this team that can all play. There’s quality in depth and the challenge for me is getting everyone playing time.”
And with that skill level, the approach is geared towards handling whatever the opposition throws at them. In other words, Burnaby South can dominate, but it has the ability to adjust and play any game the competition wants to play.
“We just want to make sure we come out and compete each game. We’ve got height, great shooting, great guards, we can run, we can slow the game down. We have versatility,” he noted.
With Baltej Sohal and Vince Sunga picking up all-star honours, other players made major contributions.
Jusuf Sehic, at six-foot-seven Grade 11 forward, proved a dominating figure on the front lines. Aidan Wilson, a Grade 11 sixth man, made an impact when called upon, while Sohal is one of the team leaders who sets the tone.
“(Sohal) has been playing great and turned into one of our leaders, a floor general, and he’s a Grade 11 (player),” added Bell.
The team also benefits from the five-person coaching staff, which Bell said is completely synchronized.
“We have a great group of kids and a great group of coaches. (The coaches) all get input, and we all get to make sugestions. What we want is what’s best for the kids.”
Another reason why Bell puts little stock in early or mid-season rankings is past history. The Rebels were regularly ranked the past two seasons and considered a team on the rise, but both years it fell short of the provincial tournament.
“I think that’s an incredible motivation for our seniors, for everyone, who comes in and works as hard as they have been,” said Bell. “We know what it takes, and we are making it our big goal to get (to Langley in March).”
Burnaby South’s next test comes this weekend as part of the TBI tournament in Langley, which began Thursday (after the NOW’s deadline) against No. 2 AAA R.A. McMath.
Their first league game comes Monday, when they visit Burnaby Mountain.
