Boys Semi-Final: Kitsilano vs. Charles Hays
Written by Jeff McCutcheon and Will Lees, Handsworth Grads 2006
Semi Finals time and apparently short shorts are making a comeback! With the Kitsilano Blue Demons and Charles Hayes Rainmakers warming up there is a lot of upper thigh showing. Hopefully both teams can do their best to make Larry Bird proud.
Tip off is pulled down by Charles Hayes and we are underway. The Rainmakers are in no rush and set up calmly on offence ... possibly a bit too calmly as the shot clock ticks down and forces a tough shot that doesn’t go. Kitsilano turn back in their first possession as both teams calm the first minute jitters.
#23 Lees on the Rainmakers opens the scoring with an offensive rebound and a strong put-back. Kits answers quickly to knot things back up at 2. After trading a few buckets only a 3 pointer by Kits sets these teams apart at 7-6 as the rainmakers elect to call the games first timeout.
#10 Leighton of Charles Hayes lives up to the teams name and makes it rain from behind the arc to put the boys in blue back up in front by 2 (9-7)
At the end of the first quarter it’s the Rainmakers up 12-10 over the Blue Demons.
Kitsilano has been implementing a 2-3 zone on defense in an effort to contain the Rainmakers #13 McChesney. Prince Rupert has done a great job breaking down this zone D and it has opened the door for #10 Leighton to hit multiple shots from the perimeter. After a forced turnover and easy layup by the Rainmakers # 23 Lees this team from Prince Rupert is JACKED UP. It’s going to take a lot to stop them. No matter who wins though the composure of each squad is evidence these two teams are deserving of the opportunity to play in Finals tonight at Collingwood. At half time it’s the Rainmakers up 29-21 over the Blue Demons.
Both teams emerge after their respective half-time team talks eager to get the second half underway as Kits starts in possession. Defense dominates the first minute as no points go up on the board until #21 Jaggs of Kitsilano drains a put back to put up the first points of the second half and cut the Rainmakers lead to 6. 23-29.
The resilient Rainmakers answer with 2 quick scores to go up 23-34.
A deep 3 from Kits #4 Lum and an arrant pass by Charles Hayes has seemed to spark life back into Kitsilano.
Blue Demons earn a shooting foul but #21 Jaggs does not get the roll on either shot and fouls #10 in frustration going the other way. Score sits at 30 to 39 for the Rainmakers.
Both teams are showing how much a place in the final means to them with every rebound or loose ball seeing bodies flying to gain possession.
In a display of sheer athleticism from the big man , #13 McChesney of Charles Hayes throws down back to back alley-oops on beautiful feeds from #10 bringing his teammates to their feet. Adding insult to injury a steal leads to a fast break by #10 Rainmakers who throws down an emphatic dunk of his own. Kitsilano calls timeout to slow Charles Hays’ momentum. Third quarter winding down and Kitsilano are behind 47 to 30.
With 17 ticks in the third remaining #1 performs some great time management and pulls up with a couple seconds to go to sink a contested jumper and add to the aforementioned score. The fourth will commence with the Rainmakers up 49 to 30.
The Blue Demons are refusing to give up and have managed to claw their way back to a 52-42 game. However after a big three by the Rainmakers #10 Leighton they have themselves a 16 point lead and that looks like it could be the dagger for this one. As the seven footer Sacre’s #50 LA Lakers jersey hangs in the Handsworth rafters it’s a sign of how the game has changed. Charles Hays 6’9” big man McChesney is just as dominant from the perimeter as he is from the paint. The final minutes of this game end with traded baskets and no major runs. As the final buzzer goes it’s 66-55 for the Rainmakers. Thanks to Kitsilano for a great game and congratulations to Charles Hays for making the finals over reigning champion Kitsilano. Tip-off is at 7:30 tonight at Collingwood. See you there!
Player of the game:
Charles Hayes: #23 Lees