Everyone got floor time as the Pitt Meadows Marauders, the only local entry in the new AAAA senior boys’ basketball circuit, played their first tournament on the weekend in Kamloops.
Against the Kelowna Owls, the Marauders faced an onslaught at the beginning of the game, but fought back to take a 43-42 lead by half.The Owls took over in the third quarter as their press created many turnovers and their fast break went unchecked. The Owls won 89-72.
Six-foot-five centre Graham Smith had 39 points and 16 rebounds for Pitt. He was the MVP at the junior Fraser Valley tournament last year, a provincial all-star and B.C. team member.
All Marauders got to play in a 92-45 romp over South Kamloops, and 12 different players scored. Smith retired early with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Senior point guard Elijah Lapurga scored 18 and had eight assists, and Grade 11 forward Jordan Murley tallied 16 points.
Goulet again emptied the bench in a 70-60 win over the St. Francis Browns of Calgary. Smith had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Da Silva scored 10.
Thursday the Marauders host the second-ranked Walnut Grove Gators at 7:30 p.m.