Linder Splash Bros & Dolphins Edge Saints to Clinch the Championship
St. Georges Sr. Boys v. Dover Bay
Boys Final
December 14, 2024
(photo credit: Blair Shier)
In a battle of some BC heavyweights, we have the provincially ranked #2 Dover Bay Dolphins versus the #5 St. Georges Saints in the finals of the boys 2024 No Regrets Tournament! Both teams are looking to finish the tourney with another tick in the win column, and with that on the line we can expect a high-intensity battle. You only get a few chances a season to play against another top 5 team, and each will be very motivated to make the most of their opportunity.
No doubt the Saints will be looking to #1 Glogovoc to play a big role if they are going to win this game; he wastes no time going to work with a smooth looking mid-range jumper, quickly followed up by a 3 to give his team an early 5-0 lead. #10 for the Dolphins, Frank Linder, is lined up on both ends of the court against Glogovoc - it’s the match up the fans were hoping for. The pace of the play has been everything you could hope for, with both teams transitioning with pace and forcing their defenders to sprint back into position. Dover Bay have come storming back, and at the midway point of the quarter are up 15-9. The Saints have used their full court press at a few opportune times to take the Dolphins by surprise. It’s been a game of runs so far, with the Saints pulling back into this and tying the game at 19 a piece. Glogovoc has done a great job at penetrating in one-on-one situations, and even with well-positioned Dolphin defenders he is finding a way to finish at the basket.
At the end of the first quarter, we are all squared up 21-21.
Dover Bay #13, Suiter, has established himself in this game with his presence on the offensive end. He’s been scrappy around the rim finding O boards and putback chances, and he’s showing us he’s not afraid to step back and make it rain from deep. #11 for the Dolphins, Joe Linder, just made it look easy as he put up a soft floater over his defender giving his squad a three-point lead. Joe is starting to find his rhythm, using his speed to get past his defenders and finish around the rim or make the smart pass when another defender steps up. Apparently it runs in the family - older brother Frank just made a replay sprinting down the court and finding an open teammate for the easy bucket.
As the first half of this championship game comes to an end, the Dolphins hold onto a slim lead 43-40.
Halftime Fact #1: Dover Bay won BC Boys Basketball Provincials at the 3A level last year, and this year have moved up to 4A as a result of an increase in student numbers!
Halftime Fact #2: Next year will be the 10th year the Quinn Keast Foundation has put on the No Regrets Tournament!
The second half gets started with #10 Frank Linder hitting a 3, which he backs up with the hoop and the harm on the next possession. The Dolphins, for the moment, take a 6-point lead. A well-balanced run from Dover Bay with the whole team getting involved has extended their lead into double digits after the first 5 minutes of the second half. After a Saints timeout, expect to see a little urgency in St. Georges play as they will want to keep this game within single digits. #13 Suiter just hit another three pointer, giving his team the biggest lead of this game with the Dolphins up 14. Dover Bay got the best of the Saints in that quarter, and have now pushed St. Georges into a now-or-never type situation heading into the fourth. Dolphins up 72-54.
The Saints have started the fourth, exactly how they drew it up. A quick run, reducing the lead down to 12 and playing with a level up in intensity and urgency. They know now is the time if they have a chance at completing the big comeback. A big 3 from #23 for the Saints, Simmons, has the lead back into single digits with plenty of time left in this game! Dover Bay’s relentlessness on the offensive glass continues to earn them extremely valuable extra possessions. With time running out, the Saints are going to need to get real hot down the stretch. With 1:45 left in the game, St. Georges takes one final timeout to reset the group and see if they can make this an interesting finish. Big man #34 for Dover Bay, Trood, has been impressive on the glass; non-stop effort all game long on both ends of the court.
The Saints were resilient, unwilling to let Dover Bay run away with this, but the Dolphins matched that with a ton of resilience. The Dolphins don’t take possessions off, and no defensive rebound is safe for their opponents with Suiter and Trood out there. Each Dolphin team member knows their role and plays that role very well, and the scoresheet reflects that.
Incredible tournament by both teams - well done by the St. Georges Saints in their well-deserved second place finish, and a big congratulations to the Dover Bay Dolphins on a stellar all-round tournament, culminating in being able to call themselves champions of the 2024 No Regrets Tournament!
Final Score: Dover Bay: 87 - St. Georges: 71.
No Regrets.