Dover Bay Secondary's Brad Lansdell during BC Senior Boys AAAA island championship action at NDSS versus Oak Bay on Thursday, Feb 20. Oak Bay went on to win the game 86-61. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

high school hoops

NDSS hosts senior boys island basketball championship

Feb 21, 2020 | 3:11 PM

NANAIMO — The mid island is a senior boys high school basketball hot bed with three regional tournaments underway.

The top teams will advance to the provincial championship at the Langley Events Centre in early March.

Nanaimo District Secondary School is hosting the AAAA island championship, the province’s highest caliber for senior boys high school hoops. Action began at NDSS on Thursday, Feb. 20 and continues until Saturday night.

Ladysmith Secondary School is staging the AAA island championship, while Nanaimo Christian School hosts the A island finals.

NDSS senior boys basketball co-coach Graham Giske said it’s interesting seeing how individual players and teams respond to the high-stakes pressure.

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“A (north island) team has never gone to provincials in AAAA. I think the North teams are really excited to be hosting and we have a good chance to go,” Giske said.

He pointed to Claremont, Oak Bay and Belmont from the Victoria area as strong teams, with the NDSS squad in the mix to advance.

Giske said hosting the island title at NDSS is a great opportunity to showcase elite high school basketball on Vancouver Island. The Dover Bay Dolphins are also competing in the tournament staged by their cross-town rival.

“I’ts quite an honour,” Giske said. “The island has had such a rich tradition over the years and NDSS itself has had some really strong teams since the 1950’s.”

As of mid-day Friday, NDSS has one win and Dover Bay sits with one loss.

Updated scores and further details are available here.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes