Battle of the Princes: Prince Rupert's Charles Hays Tops Prince George In Saturday Action

Charles Hays vs Prince George Sr Boys

(photo credit: Blair Shier)

What do they feed these kids up north? Prince George Secondary School and Charles Hays from Prince Rupert look like they started their day with a shave and a plate of steak and eggs. They may have travelled a long distance but they aren't showing signs of being tired, with chanting starting in the warm up leading in to the first possession.

Charles Hays takes advantage of their first few possessions, putting away a couple of buckets, including a hoop and the harm from #5 which brings their bench roaring to their feet. My fingers can’t cross the keyboard fast enough to keep up with the early pace of the game; we are a few minutes in and there's already 15 points on the board, 10 of those in favour of the blue and white of CH, who, early on, have held most of the possession and looked in control of the game.

A converted free throw, a deep 3 and PGSS are right back nipping on the heels of CH, down only 1 at 10-9.

There must have been an espresso or two with their steak and eggs this morning, these teams showcasing incredible energy early on, but can they maintain it? Will fitness play a factor later on? Both mental and physical? We may revisit this later.

A few possessions swapped, resulting in no additional points for either side as it seems each squad is feeling the other out, understanding their tendencies, strengths, weaknesses and adapting accordingly, causing a few minute stalemate. From behind my prescription glasses, CH looks to bring possession through #0, looking for movement down low to find space for towering #5 under the basket. PGSS on the other hand, take advantage of CH's mild press and bring the ball over center quickly and look for the mid range shot, possibly because they are giving up some size in the center position. Could this be completely inaccurate? Absolutely.

CH calls a time-out after a turn over and look to settle things down, yet it seems to have the adverse affect - a few rushed shots give PGSS possession and a fade away deep 3 from #12 gives PGSS the first lead of the game at 15-12.  #0 clearly has some fans, throwing up the Gareth Bale heart sign to a couple ladies seated near to me in the stands. The CH game plan involving going back to #5 seems to be easily telegraphed but hard to stop, as he gets another 2 points down low, and then another 2 fading away through the lane on a hardly contested lay up; in a blink of an eye, CH are up 7 points, 22-15. CH #3 does his best Steph Curry impression with a shot-put floater through the lane to put his stamp on the first half. PGSS needs a couple good strings of possessions to get back into this game but they end up giving away possession cheaply, bobbling the ball out of bounds. CH rubs salt in the wound and capitalize, #0 inspired by his cheerleaders, laying it in to extend CH's lead to 9.

PGSS turn to #12 for another 3 to get their first points in a few minutes and to stop the bleeding. CH's turn to squander possession, and PGSS's turn to make their opponent pay, getting 2 points down low from #3 to make the game tight again, only 4 points separating the two cities. With time ticking down in the first half, CH will look to hold or bolster their lead; PGSS would certainly be happy going into the half all square. A low arching 3-pointer from CH's #2 is the final points to be added to the scoreboard this half-so it’s CH who obtain their objective, extending their lead to 7 as the obnoxiously loud buzzer goes to end the half, CH 29 PGSS 22.

Would a hot dog at half time be socially acceptable this early in the morning? Luckily there is no concession so I don't have to wrestle with this dilemma.

PGSS is set to inbound from the sideline to start the 2nd half; they gather their possession and take it slow, passing around the arc before getting it down low, a missed shot in close. CH get their first possession, a missed 3 and we are fully underway.

A couple of buckets from CH's #2 and #0 to extend their lead, but a beautiful cut through the key from PGSS's #2 and a finger roll, gives Prince George their first points of the second half. A smooth 3 from PGSS's #2 and momentum seems to be shifting until a couple of free throws from CH's #5 and a fast break from #0. After a converted free throw from #20 and CH have their first double digit lead of the game up 38-28.

A smooth fadeaway from CH star big man #5 and the lead is now 12, with PGSS looking a little lost in this second half, being out muscled, and out paced, since the word “Go”. PGSS turns to #15 for a deep 3 to take a chunk out of the lead; #10 says “I'll have a go”, pulls up and knocks down another 3, and a tough bucket down low, plus the foul by #10 and the Prince George bench erupts as the lead in only 3! A massive swing of momentum, and seeing less than 3 minutes elapse on the clock, and only 90 seconds remaining in the 3rd frame.

A lovely Kobe-esque fadeaway by PGSS #10 gets the Prince George bench on their feet again. What looked to be CH pulling away as the second half started is now shaping up to be an intensely contested 4th quarter, with only 3 points separating the two teams, 42-39 in favour of CH.

CH inbound the ball to get the last frame underway. This is set to be entertaining. Converting your possessions becomes ever more paramount as with time, the chances and opportunities wane. 

Either I jinxed both sides, or defence has taken over, but possessions back and forth for the first few minutes result in no additional points for either side. At long last, CH #21 drains his second attempt from the free throw line and the illuminated numbers on the score board change, with under 6 minutes remaining in this hard-fought battle. The first points in a while from open play come from a deep 3 from CH's star forward #5, who seems to be able to convert from anywhere, and CH extend their lead back up to 7. PGSS will need to replicate the end of last quarter and take advantage of their possessions to snatch back some points or this game may just be slipping away.

It’s CH #5 again with two points from the free throw line, and the pressure mounts for Prince George to answer, with something…anything…but instead its #9 with a spin move under the basket to put CH up 52-41. PGSS look deflated and the bench struggles to muster a clap after a technical foul on a CH player. PGSS #9 converts the free throw. It’s only 1 point but it seems to have sparked PGSS as their big forward #15 lays in a bucket from under the hoop. Both teams trade field goals, and 3 pointers, as well as a free throw from PGSS #15, but with the final minute ticking down, it seems the flurry at the beginning of the 4th quarter from CH was what separated these two teams and defined the game. As the final buzzer sounds for the last time, CH and Rupert come out on top in this battle of the Prince's, claiming the throne with a 56-48 scoreline.