2021 No Regrets Tournament Outlook
Written by Tom Keast
In these unprecedented times, the No Regrets Basketball Tournament will return to Vancouver’s North Shore on December 9-11, 2021. There are pandemic considerations, atmospheric river conditions, and just what life generally throws at us out there which all conspire to make this year challenging, yet possible.
The seventh year of the ‘No Regrets’ Tournament (there was no sixth in 2020) has a different looking line-up of teams as travel restrictions get in the way of our visitors from the western provinces while even some in-province teams are unable to travel. The boys’ draw has 9 teams from the North Shore straddling both the public and private school systems. Four teams (Belmont, Lambrick Park, Dover Bay, and Brentwood) are coming from the Island and rounding out the boys’ draw are St. Georges from Vancouver and the never-missed-a-No Regrets-Tournament Charles Hays Secondary from Prince Rupert.
Three North Shore girls teams (Handsworth, Argyle and Carson Graham) are in the draw with three Lower Mainland schools (Holy Cross, Churchill, McMath) and 2 Fraser Valley teams (Heritage Woods, Walnut Grove) rounding out the competition.
The 16 boys teams will compete for the coveted ‘Left Shoe Trophy’ while the 8 girls teams join in the quest for its ‘Right Foot’ counterpart. And, as always, there will be a $500 Quinn Keast Foundation scholarship awarded to a deserving recipient from both the boys’ and the girls’ sides of the draw.
Four North Shore schools are stepping up and opening their doors to this year’s tournament: Collingwood, Handsworth, Argyle and Carson Graham. The finals will take place on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Collingwood School in West Van whose excellent facility and great hospitality always contribute to a great finale. Meanwhile, Carson Graham and Argyle have recently built gyms leaving Handsworth, with the largest student body in North Van, as the outlier. Big News! Handworth’s 60-year-old gym and surrounding school are coming down in early 2022 and the new school, already built, will open then. There will be a lot of nostalgic tears shed at the old barn during this year’s No Regrets Tournament.
Coach Mel Bishop of the Charles Hays Rainmakers weighs in on what the ‘No Regrets’ Tournament means to them:
“Coming from the north, where our closest competition is 100 miles away in Terrace, to stay competitive we have to travel south. Your tournament is always well run and organized and works out well for our schedule. So as a coaching team we are grateful to be a part of the tournament which helps us to grow and develop. I know that the players enjoy the challenge and often some of the parents are able to make the trip south to watch which is a great experience for them. The parents and players work hard throughout the preseason and season fundraising so that we can attend two lower mainland tournaments each year.”
And yes, this Tournament has a philosophy. It is to encourage those who embrace the great game of basketball, whether it be as a player, coach, family member or fan, to do so with no regrets. It will give back to you as much as you give it.