(BOYS) St. George's Earns Spot in Final with Victory over Lambrick Park

St. George’s Saints vs. Lambrick Park Lions

December 10, Boys Semi-Final

Written by Jamie Keast

In semi-final action up at Argyle’s sparkling new gym, Vancouver’s St. George’s Saints took on Victoria’s Lambrick Park Lions. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Lambrick Park is, overall, the tallest team in this tournament, which could pose a challenge for St. George’s. According to Howie Tsumura’s November 25, 2021 pre-season rankings, Lambrick Park was ranked #1 in AA Basketball in B.C., while the Saints moved from Honourable Mention all the way to #4 in 4A last week.

Two minutes into the game, St. George’s Grade 10 guard #1 Dominic Aquino opened up the scoring with a jumper down low. A turnover by Saints #13 led to Lambrick Park’s first points of the game as their #14, Alex Moch, headed to the line and went 1-for-2. #13 from the Lions, Angus Kidd, charged into #13 from the Saints, Isaac Brown, leading to a turnover for the Lions which the Saints couldn’t capitalize on. Four minutes into the game the score was just 2 goals to 1 for the Saints. Their #24, Hyland Will, had the chance for a 3-point play off an ‘and-1’ but missed from the line.

There was a lot of talk from the St. George’s bench about “holding a seal”, but guard Aquino was getting it done from the outside as he scored a jumper to take his team up 8-3. Lambrick Park couldn’t seem to get anything to drop, causing frustration amongst players that led to a foul on #14 Moch. Lambrick’s #4, Jacob Yager, had seen enough and ended the Lion’s scoring drought, however this was returned by not one, but two 3-pointers on the Saints end by #10 Blake Wardell and #24 Will. The score at the end of the first quarter sees Saints leading 16-7.

Although Lambrick had size on their side, the Saint’s players were doing a number on offensive rebounds; further, their man-to-man defense had the Lions going deep into the shot clock or turning the ball over. Three minutes into the second quarter, the Saints were on a 6-0 scoring run, partially thanks to Aquino’s two perfect free throws. Lambrick’s #2 Shresna hit a baseline 3-pointer to end their second quarter scoring drought however this was then returned by Saint’s Brown on the other end, and then again by Saint’s Aquino for two three-pointers in a row. Can it rain inside?! Lambrick returned with another 3 of its own to bring them within 15 points of St. George’s. Lambrick’s #2, Shresna headed to the line and went 1-for-2 and Saints finished the first half scoring with a mid-range jumper from Aquino. Score at half: Saints 39-Lions 19.

Half-time fact: St. George’s Head Coach Guy DaSilva played at Capilano University and coached Quinn Keast when Quinn attended summer camps there in the late 1990s. In talking to Guy yesterday, he remembers how Quinn dominated for Handsworth in the 2006 semi-finals against Guy’s St. George’s as Handsworth would eventually win their first ever provincial championship that year.

Lambrick Park’s half-time talk from Coach Ed Somers must have been energizing as the Lions come out on an 8-4 scoring run to open up the second half. Lambrick’s #14 Moch drew a foul down low to head to the line, went 1-for-2, and ended up with the offensive rebound but couldn’t capitalize on it. Aquino continued to light it up on the offensive end for the Saints as he scored and gave the Saints their biggest lead of 21 points. #4 Jack Vandenberg wanted more for the Saints as he hit a three on their next possession. A beautiful ally-hoop inbound from St. George’s Grade 11 #5 Hayden Rogers continued to create a scoring gap between the Lions and the Saints. Lambrick Park’s #2 Shresna drove left, hard to the basket and flew as he was fouled. #23 James Skeene was feeling it as he dominated the post for the Saints at 6’6”. Score at the end of the third quarter: Saint’s 60-Lambrick Park 30.

To start the fourth quarter, Saint’s Skeene got a big block but Lambrick re-gained possession and hit 6’2” Stefani on the perimeter for a three. However, Saint’s #14 Oosthuizen hit his own three to nullify the prior. Did I ask if it can rain inside?! Lambrick seemed to have a game plan as #8 Malinowski hit a three for the game’s third three in as many possessions. With just under four minutes to go, and a spot in the finals at Collingwood tonight on the line, Lambrick is down by 19 points. Saint’s head coach DaSilva encouraged his players to play hard to the end, which they do, as they win 73-52.