Belmont Boys Squeak Past GW Graham Despite GW Graham's Size Advantage
BELMONT BULLDOGS VS GW GRAHAM GRIZZLIES (BOYS)
Written by Cam Yates
Pre-game
Langford’s Belmont Bulldogs arrived to take on Chilliwack’s GW Graham Grizzlies in the first round of the 2022 No Regrets Basketball Tournament at Collingwood School in West Vancouver. Belmont is missing two of their bigs to injury - looks like GW Graham has a size advantage and might look to take advantage in the post.
1st quarter
Both teams trade early baskets in the first minutes of a physical game. The refs are letting the boys play. After an early timeout by Belmont, GW Graham switches it up to zone defense, stifling Belmont’s quick guards to string together a couple stops in a row. It’s been mostly a defensive battle so far with both teams’ coaches muttering choice words under their breath over missed layups. As the teams settle into the flow of the game, Graham’s #4 Landen Klippenstein and #13 Keegan Dunn knock down 3 balls for Graham to take the lead, but Belmont is starting to find the rhythm of their high-low zone offense with #5 Mike Adarkwah-Nti powering in several baskets to take a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
2nd quarter
Belmont comes out with renewed energy, scoring three quick buckets to take a 19-12 lead. The Grizzlies’ Dunn gives them a much needed offensive burst with back to back 3s, but the Bulldogs #10 Aman Parmar responds with a 3 of his own. The pace of the game is speeding up and a physical first half remains close, with Belmont going into halftime with a 24-22 lead.
3rd quarter
Belmont’s do-it-all-guy Adarkwah-Nti - let’s just call him Mike - opens the scoring in the second half with a silky smooth euro step in transition, followed by a corner trey to extend Belmont’s lead to 29-22. The Bulldogs #12 Noah Saunders gets in on the fun with two quick 3’s to push the lead to 35-24. Timeout Grizzlies.
GW Graham’s #21 Nathan Bartha comes alive and is keeping the Grizzlies in the game with a couple hard drives and second chance points - seven points for him in the quarter. At the end of the 3rd, Belmont is hanging on to a slim lead, 38-33.
4th Quarter
Graham’s Dunn opens the 4th quarter with a 3 ball - his fourth of the game. #1 Taylor Adams with an and 1 in transition to pull the Grizzlies within 1! Their bench loves it, the scorekeepers nod their heads in approval - we’ve got ourselves a ball game.
The Bulldogs don’t panic though - Mike with a steal and a transition bucket followed by yet another 3 from Saunders - his 4th of the game as well. Graham calls timeout to steady the ship trailing 47-41 with 5 minutes to go. They come out of the timeout with an energetic, high trapping 2-3 zone and get a steal and a bucket! Another bucket by big man #8 Braeden Macdonald cuts the lead to 48-45 with 3:50 to go.
Déjà-vu all over again? Graham’s #1 Adams with a steal out of the trap and a huge and 1! Flex on ‘em kid. Yet again, Belmont clings to a one-point lead, 50-49.
Both teams are in the penalty, and Belmont gets a point back at the line. We’re shaping up for a tight finish in the opening round. Belmont works it around to their go-to guy Mike who hits a clutch 3 with 1:30 to go for a 54-49 lead, but Graham’s #14 Yalin Yilmaz answers with a huge 3 of his own - timeout Belmont!
Yilmaz fouls out on a reach in the next possession, and #2 Trajan Chahal coolly knocks down both free throws. The Bulldogs’ Adams answers with a sweet reverse layup.
With 21.1 seconds remaining, Belmont uses their last timeout with a two-point lead… Graham steals the inbound… promptly turns it over! Foul called. Frantic action in the last couple minutes. I can’t keep up.
Belmont seemingly want to give their coach a heart attack and miss both free throws… the Grizzlies have the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead… Dunn with a 3 for the wiiiinnn. No dice. Belmont secures the board and knocks down both free throws this time to seal it, up by four. Final score Belmont 60, GW Graham 56.
The Belmont Bulldogs #5 Mike Adarkwah-Nti is Player of the Game with a true Quinn-esque all around game - boards, dimes, steals, and a solid 20 points to boot. They will face the Handsworth Royals at 3:15pm on Friday at Handsworth while GW Graham will face the Okanagan Mission Huskies at 5:00pm at Handsworth on the consolation side.