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Two Nanaimo teams enter BC Boys High School Championships in Langley

Mar 8, 2017 | 10:12 AM

LANGLEY — Two teams from Nanaimo are heading to the BC Boys Highschool Basketball Championship.
 
Nanaimo District Secondary School and Wellington Secondary will be at the Langley Events Centre Wednesday through Saturday.
 
Coming into the tournament the Islanders are the seventh seed and the Wildcats are ninth.
 
The two teams met in the Island Championship at the end of February with NDSS taking the victory 79-43.
 
Those same two schools have had a lock on the Island Division for the the past three seasons, playing in three straight tournament finals.
 
Wellington won in 2016 and NDSS took the title in 2015.
 
Wildcats Coach Graham Giske said that strong rivalry is fun to be a part of.
 
“It’s a good sign for Nanaimo basketball that we’re developing good athletes around here. And actually the North Island has been stronger than the south for the last three years for AAA,” Giske said.
 
The Langley Events Centre has been home to the tournament for the last few years and Giske is happy that his players will get to experience playing in a top notch facility.
 
“It’s a well-run tournament and you get to watch a ton of basketball from each division (A through AAAA). It’s really good basketball, the arena and the venue is really new and it’s beautiful.  It’s a great experience for the kids,” he said.
 
Wellington starts provincials against eighth seeded St. Thomas More at 3:30 p.m. on March 8.
 
Giske said he has a lot of respect for their opponent in the opening game.
 
“I really do think if we’re playing the right style of basketball we have a chance against anyone.  So no pressure, but we’re going to have fun and see what we can do.”
 
NDSS meanwhile takes on 10th seeded Robert Bateman Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. to start off their provincial title quest.
 
The draw and results are available online at bcboysbasketball.com.

 

dan.marshall@jpbg.ca