Cavaliers Conquer Highlanders in Cross-Town Quarter-Final Clash

Collingwood Cavaliers Sr. Boys vs West Van Highlanders

December 13, 2024

(photo credit: Ria Terins)

1st Quarter:

This game featured a matchup that pitted rivals of West Vancouver against one another and it was a packed house in the Collingwood gymnasium. It was great to see the students out in support of their team and the West Van basketball community.

The Collingwood Cavaliers are coming off a AA provincial championship in the 2023 campaign & the West Vancouver Highlanders are coming off a year where they finished 4th in the province at the AAAA level.

Collingwood started the game quickly going on a 4-0 run with back-to-back layups, and Luis Alvarez (#10 West Van) answered with a triple to cut the lead down to 1 (4-3 Collingwood).

Sam Li (#2 Collingwood) did a great job on his attacks, forging his way into the paint, creating for himself and his teammates. On the flip side, Calvin Kuzyk (#5) led the charge for the Highlanders of West Van. Early on it became clear that we will have a great point guard matchup in this one.

Tony Li (#6 for Collingwood) knocked down a left wing triple to extend the Cavs lead to 13-9 midway through the 1st quarter. Cassius Gregorian (#6 West Van) knocked down a mid range fadeaway and the following offensive possession Calvin Kuzyk (#5 West Van) knocked down a mid range pull up on the baseline to tie the score at 13-13.

After a few offensive rebounds, Collingwood knocked down another 3, to lead 16-13 with 2:26 left in the 1st quarter. West Van took a time out as coach Eberhardt wasn’t happy with his team’s inability to rebound off the defensive backboard.

At the end of the first quarter the score was 18-17 in favor of West Van.

Canadian basketball legend and former national team member Howard Kelsey was out in attendance today supporting the local hoops scene.

2nd Quarter:

Cassius Gregorian (#6 for West Van) started off the 2nd quarter attacking the paint early and often, earning himself some free throws and good scoring opportunities in the process. His motor on the offensive end was something that was a bright spot early for the West Van squad.

After a converted and-1 by Julian Hinders (#22 for Collingwood), they cut the West Van lead down to a single point (22-21 West Van). Calvin (#5 West Van) attacked into the paint and dropped a beautiful dime to Benji Thiel (#12 West Van) for the And-1 opportunity.

West Van trailed 25-24 in this back-and-forth affair with 6:21 left in the quarter.

Both teams seemed happy to push the pace, and Sam Li (#2 for Collingwood) knocked a beautiful step back 3, to the “ooh’s and aah’s” of the crowd as the Cavs extended their lead to 28-24.

The game continues to be tight throughout as neither team was able to create any real separation in the first quarter and a half.

Calvin Kuzyk (#5 West Van) drove hard to his left hand for a difficult contact finish which cut the Collingwood lead down to 31-26 with 4 minutes to play left in the second quarter.

Collingwood’s Finnegan Murphy (#10) knocked down a 3-pointer at the 3-minute mark and then followed it up with a transition layup which extended their lead to 11, at 37-26.

Sam Li (#2 for Collingwood) hit a bigtime 3 from the left wing to extend the lead to 40-26.

Coach Paul Eberhardt (West Vancouver’s head coach) voiced his unhappiness with the officials and at the 2:08 mark and he received a technical foul for his emotional display. As a veteran coach, it seemed as though this technical foul may have been intentional attempt to rally his troops who had been a little flat in this 2nd quarter.

Late in the quarter, Atila Vadaei (#11 for West Van) collected an offensive rebound and knocked down a much needed 3-pointer to cut the lead to 41-29.

Calvin Kuzyk (#5 West Van) followed it up with a strong drive to the hoop for the easy layup and the halftime score is 41-31 at the half.

Halftime leading scorers: Collingwood – Sam Li (#2) – 10pts, Julian H (#23) – 9pts.

West Van -  Cassius Gregorian (#11) – 11pts, Calvin Kuzyk (#8) – 8 pts.

3rd Quarter

The gym was still rocking to start the 3rd as the Collingwood students are making lots of noise supporting their senior boys’ squad.

Tony Li (#6 for Collingwood) knocked down the 3 to extend the lead to 46-32 and the fans rejoiced with loud cheers.

Calvin Kuzyk (#5 for West Van) scored back-to-back baskets on a strong drive and followed it up with a mid-range jumper to cut the Collingwood lead down to 10 (46-36 Collingwood).

A nice drive and dish by Sam Li (#2 on Collingwood) to Finnegan Murphy (#10 on Collingwood) for a corner 3 extended the lead back to 13.

The back-and-forth action continued as both teams exchanged buckets.

Cassius Gregorian (#6 West Van) knocked down a wing 3 and followed it up with a beautiful up and under reverse layup for West Van. They, however, still trailed by a score of 53-41.

Tony Li (#6 for Collingwood) knocked down a transition wing 3-pointer to stem the tide and re-extends the Collingwood lead to 15 (56-41 Cavs).

West Van continued to scratch and claw but Collingwood was doing a great job keeping them at bay and maintaining a double-digit cushion.

Collingwood continued to run their side pick and roll action on the offensive end and it continued to yield quality results, this time with Julian Hinder (#22 Collingwood) catching and finishing the and-1.

West Van was heavily reliant on their back court of Cassius and Calvin to keep them afloat, and they continued to carry the bulk of the offensive burden for West Van.

With both teams in bonus, Collingwood committed a few unnecessary fouls allowing West Van to continue to chip away at the game from the line.

With 2 minutes left in the quarter the Cavs lead 61-52.

Calvin Kuzyk (#5 West Van) scored on back-to-back left handed scoop layups as the quarter neared it’s finish but West Van has been unable to mount any major runs because they weren’t able to get consistent stops.

At the end of 3, the score is 68-56 for the Collingwood Cavs.

4th Quarter

Collingwood seemed eager to put this game to bed as they extended the lead to 73-56 early in the quarter.

Cassius, who goes by “Cash”, knocked down a timely 3 to keep the Highlanders within striking distance (73-59 Collingwood).

Harry Bell (#5 Collingwood) was a big stabilizing force for the Collingwood Cavs in the 2nd half knocking down some momentum-stemming 3s at crucial times.

Calvin Kuzyk and Cassius Gregorian continued to be a 2-man wrecking crew for West Van on the offensive end, but they were trading 2-point layups for 3s on the other end. It doesn’t take a math major to realize that trading 2 for 3 isn’t a favorable exchange.

Collingwood stretched the lead out to 20 (85-65 Collingwood) with just under 4 minutes remaining.

The last few minutes of the 4th was been an absolute barrage of 3 pointers hit by Collingwood with many different players connecting from downtown. This game got away from West Van and they trailed late by a score of 93-65.

*I missed the final score but please include it*

Player of the Game – Tony Li #6 on Collingwood

It should be mentioned that coaches Paul Eberhardt and Andy Wong have given so much to the local basketball scene and have mentored hundreds or even thousands of kids over the years and their time and dedication is truly remarkable. We thank you coaches for your service and your contributions to the game.