To open this year’s senior boys high school basketball season, the Westview Basketball Academy hosted the second annual Maple Ridge City Tournament.
The Wildcats welcomed local teams on the opening weekend of the season, Nov. 28-30.
Thursday’s action opened with a Samuel Robertson Technical (SRT) taking on Meadowridge. SRT jumped out to an early 12-2 lead, and held that advantage throughout the game, defeating the Gryphons 76-67.
The second game of the night saw Westview’s Academy Elite team take on Maple Ridge Christian School. Led by Ole Westermann (21 points) and Ryohei Miki (14 points, 4 assists), the Academy squad won 79-43. Eli Arrington was the player of the game for MRCS, with 10 points.
Rounding out the first night of games, new entry Archbishop Carney, which welcomes many students from St. Patrick’s in Maple Ridge, played Thomas Haney. The Thunder had a narrow four-point lead at halftime, and, despite relinquishing the lead early in the fourth quarter, held on to won 72-65 over Carney. Haney was led by their senior back court, with Cayden De Wilde scoring 23 points and Leon Hanada 19, and by first-year coach and former all-star for the Thunder, Lucas Peaker.
Friday night’s games matched up teams in their division. It was a playoff preview in the first game, featuring the two local AA schools, SRT and Carney. Carney defeated SRT 67-52 in an exciting game. SRT’s leading scorer, Chase Vanderwal scored 16.
The AAA schools played next, with Haney taking on Westview’s Academy team. The Thunder got off to a fast start, leading 21-15 at the end of the first quarter, behind the three-point shooting of Hanada and De Wilde, who hit five threes between them. Westview recovered, and with a strong defensive second half, went on to beat Thomas Haney 69-59. Samuel Botran Jeppesen sparked Westview with eight points in the final quarter to close out the win.
Single A Maple Ridge Christian defeated Meadowridge, 81-51 in the final game of the night. The Hornets were once again led by Arrington, who scored 24 points, and is the leader who returns from the MRCS team that went to the final four at the B.C. Championships last year.
Saturday, in senior girls action, Westview defeated Maple Ridge Christian school in an exhibition game. Following that game, the MRCS Boys defeated Thomas Haney 85-66. Josh Ugwouke was relentless in the paint, scoring a tournament-high 34 points for the Thunder in the loss. Arrington paced MRCS with 32 points and 6 assists.
Westview’s Academy team faced Archbishop Carney in a matchup of head coaches who grew up together in Maple Ridge. Kevin Wallsmith’s Carney Stars fell to Kate MacLeod’s Academy team 45-34 in a defensive battle reared on Blackstock Street.
The final game of the night saw SRT take on Westview’s Senior Boys team, who fell to the Titans 49-43 in an exciting league preview. It was another typical early season, low scoring game, with Jed Dionido making big shots for the Wildcats and Chase Vanderwal once again leading the Titans.
"Building the local basketball community is a focus for the Westview Basketball Academy, and it was awesome to welcome local teams, coaches and student-athletes to this annual tournament," said coach MacLeod. " We wish all of the local city teams good health, fun times and many successes this season."
