With snow giving way to rain on the weekend, high school basketball resumed on the court, which kept Ken Dockendorf busy.
Not only is he head coach of the Maple Ridge secondary senior boys’ basketball team, but the school’s junior squad. He is also co-ordinator for the Fraser Valley AAA league.
The extreme weather in recent weeks forced the cancellation of some games, which he had to reschedule, including referees, all in advance of the upcoming playoffs, for which his Ramblers seem set to qualify.
Ridge managed to get a pair of games in last weekend, edging rival Pitt Meadows secondary 68-59 on Friday, then falling Saturday 88-84 to the MEI Eagles of Abbotsford.
The Ramblers led 28-20 at half-time against Pitt and held on the rest of the way.
Tristan Coumont paced the Ramblers with 29 points, while fellow senior Will Chartrand had 17 before fouling out. Burke Brussow, Grade 11, had 10 points. George Panagiotopavlos, a senior point guard, led Ridge with six rebounds and 10 recoveries, in addition to seven points.
The Ramblers fell behind MEI 26-13 after the first quarter. Despite outscoring the Eagles 34-22 in the second, Ridge trailed 41-31 at the half. They again outscored MEI in the second half, but Dockendorf said it was “too little, too late.”
Brussow paced Ridge with 33 points. Coumont had 28 points, while Chartrand recorded 12 points and a team-high six recoveries. Panagiotopavlos had eight points and nine rebounds before fouling out with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The loss was the first of the regular season for the Ramblers, now 3-1. MEI is also 3-1. Rick Hansen and Robert Bateman topped the Fraser Valley East at 4-0 and 4-1, respectively.
The Ramblers will conclude the regular season this weekend. They were to play at Thomas Haney (0-5) secondary Thursday. They host Bateman Friday and Hansen on Saturday. Games are at 7 p.m.
The regional playoffs start Wednesday, followed by the Fraser Valley championships, from which the top four teams advance to the AAA provincials.
• In other Fraser Valley AAA boys’ games, Pitt Meadows (2-2) downed Abbotsford secondary 81-71 on Saturday.
Property of THSS
Thomas Haney secondary hosts alumni basketball games on Saturday, in support of the school’s basketball program.
The girls’ game is 1 p.m. The boys play at 3 p.m.
The latter will feature THSS grad Drew Scott, of the Property Brothers. He will play in the game and be on hand to sign autographs, as well.
The school is hoping to raise money for new uniforms. Tickets are $2 for THSS students and staff, $5 for admission, $10 for family. With a $10 VIP ticket, you can meet and your picture taken with Scott, who, along with his brother Jonathan played basketball at THSS.
The event will also celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary.
So far, about 35 players have signed up.
This season, the school has boys’ teams at the senior, Grade 9 and 8 levels, as well as girls’ teams at senior and Grade 8.