The Dover Bay senior boys basketball team was ranked as high as tenth in the province this season. While they didn't make the provincial tournament,  with only one player graduating this year, next season looks very promising.  (Jayden Sohal)

By Dan Marshall

Bouncing Back

Dover Bay senior boys basketball experiences strong growth season

Mar 4, 2022 | 1:45 PM

NANAIMO — The Dover Bay senior boys team didn’t make the provincial basketball tournament but their young team is expected to be a contender next year.

Coach Darren Seaman said this year’s team was a bit younger compared to years past.

“We only had one Grade 12 this season and he suffered an injury. We battled injury and sickness and ended up bringing in players from our junior boys team to fill our roster up.”

Dover wasn’t able to advance to provincials from the recent Vancouver Island Zone tournament but Seaman felt when healthy, his squad was difficult to beat.

“We beat the number eight team and then the number three team in the province in December. We were ranked tenth in the province for a couple of weeks. There were some close games with some of the higher-ranked teams so we were in the mix.”

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Expectations for next season are high with only one player graduating from the squad.

The 2022-23 Dover team will be very experienced, loaded with Grade 11 and 12’s.

Seaman will also have a special player back who was already a starter in Grade 9.

“Frank Linder was a big piece of the team before he broke his leg. He’s 6’5 and comes from a basketball family.”

His older brother Luke is also a top player for the squad, and in his Grade 11 year has garnered interest from post-secondary schools.”

While season competition has wrapped up the basketball program will continue running until the end of the school year.

After spring break skill development, weight training and cross-training will resume.

Seaman said the athletes in his program need to be highly committed.

“In season it compares to being on a high-level college team. My guys lift weights three to four times a week and play basketball five to six times a week.”

The 2022 BC Provincial Championships for AAAA will be held March 9-12 at the Langley Event Centre.

The two Vancouver Island entries are Oak Bay and Claremont from Victoria.

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