With an opening-game loss at the B.C. Boys AAA High School Basketball Championships, the Pitt Meadows Marauders were knocked onto the consolation side of the draw.
They faced the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs on Tuesday, and lost a close match 67-64.
Big post Jordan Rich was Mr. Everything for Pitt, scoring 32 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking five shots. Sebastien Marshall had 13 points and seven assists.
Churchill, a team that Pitt Meadows had beaten in the final game of their Air Show tournament, has improved dramatically. Ranked seventh in in the province, they out-rebounded the Marauders 63-40 to open the provincials – a big difference in the close game.
Pitt had the lead, but the most they could pull away was 45-41.
On Wednesday, the Marauders met the Burnaby Mountain Lions, at the provincials for the first time in school history. Pitt welcomed them with a 67-47 defeat, by virtue of an outstanding fourth quarter which the locals won by a 21-5 margin.
The duo of Marshall and Rich again led the way. Marshall was the playmaker, with 21 points, eight assists and three steals. Rich owned the paint, with 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.
In Thursday’s 8:30 a.m. morning game against the Mount Baker Wild the scoring was shared throughout the lineup. Graham Smith had 13 points and 11 rebounds, Alejandro Canjura had 12 points, Enzo Tadeo scored 10 and Rich 11.
Coach Rich Goulet could work his entire roster in a 75-19 laugher.
Pitt’s last game of the tournament will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
The top teams in the province, including Walnut Grove, White Rock Christian, Yale and Kitsilano, all advanced to the quarter-finals on Thursday evening.
• For information see www.langleyeventscentre.com.