Rainmakers' Late Game Heroics Result in the W
Charles HaysSr Boys v. Belmont
December 13, 2024
(photo credit: Axel Christiansen)
On a chilly Friday evening in West Van, we are lined up ready to watch the Belmont Bulldogs (aka the Dawgs) take on the Charles Hays Rainmakers. Belmont started the game off with some urgency, picking up in a full court press and forcing a few turnovers giving them an early 6-point lead. Both of these teams were hoping to win their first games, but that isn’t going to stop them from coming out and making the most of an early season opportunity.
As the quarter continues the Rainmakers are getting more comfortable with the Dawgs’ full-court pressure, finding gaps down the middle of the court to break the pressure with a pass or two. When they successfully break it, they are getting themselves open looks as they transition with numbers. #5 for Charles Hays, Bomben, is taking advantage of his height and athleticism by penetrating and showing off his mid-range game. End of the first quarter Belmont was up 16-13.
The Dawgs have come out looking to make it rain on the Rainmakers, taking their fair share of 3 attempts in this first half. Most of their damage has come from buckets on the inside, something to keep an eye on as this game progresses. Right on cue, #3 for Belmont, Gray, just made one splash from deep. Charles Hays has come storming back with a combination of penetrating and hitting a couple of threes. With less than 5 minutes left in this quarter the Rainmakers find themselves down just one point. Big man for the Rainmakers #21 Basso just finished a tough one inside, and embraced the harm before wasting no time hitting the free throw giving his team a 4-point lead.
A first half that saw each team hold the lead for extended periods came to an end as they hit the locker room at the half with Charles Hays up 32-30.
Halftime Fact: Belmont Secondary School, located in Langford (a suburb outside of Victoria), was founded in 1947 and has a capacity of 1,200 students.
The second half gets rolling with what feels like another level up in intensity. The end-line in sight with neither team having any interest in letting day 2 of their No Regrets tournament come to an end with an L. Back-to-back threes from each team, one by #9 Sampson for the Rainmakers and the other by #3 for the Dawgs, Gary, has this game still sitting at a 2-point differential. #10 for Belmont, Bekkering, has been penetrating hard down the lane and forcing defenders to put their bodies on the line to slow him down; that’s leading to kick-out opportunities for open looks and/or free throws for him. 5:45pm on a Friday night and the banks are still open - #5 for the Dawgs, Bada, has made sure everyone in this gym is aware of his long range bank three pointer!
As the third quarter horn goes, Belmont has earned themselves a 2-point margin entering the final Q.
This game hasn’t seen either team take more than a few points lead thus far in the game, and the way things are trending right now we should expect a lot more of the same through this final quarter. Just like that, the Bulldogs have taken hold of the opportunity after a few foul calls against Charles Hays gave Belmont some free throws, giving them by far the largest lead we have seen this game at 9.
The Rainmakers aren’t letting this one slip away without a fight, with a lot of that fight coming from their point guard, #3 Tait. After a big 3 from Bomben, the Rainmakers have this back down to a one possession game only down 3 with under 4 minutes remaining. Another 3 by Bomben has this all squared up with 3 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs have looked to change the look defensively with a half-court zone, which Belmont has been able to take advantage of with makes from deep.
A game of runs, the most recent coming from Charles Hays after being down 9 at one point and now have fought their way back; after some big buckets, including an and-1 three point play, they are up 5 with 2 minutes to go.
What a battle! This game truly had a bit of everything. Both teams played their hearts out with a ton of passion and fought right to the final whistle. Today, it was Charles Hays’ after the dagger by #3, Agyemang, from real deep, keeping their lead at 5 with less than a minute to go. Bomben sealed the deal with a handful of free throws to finish the game, and that’s all she wrote ladies and gentlemen.
Final Score: Charles Hays: 70 - Belmont: 59.
No Regrets.