(BOYS) Charles Hays punches ticket to finals with victory over Pitt Meadows

Written by Rahim Pendleton, Handsworth Grad

With a berth in the finals on the line, the Pitt Meadows Marauders land the Charles Hayes Rainmakers in the first of 2 semifinals matchups on the day. The Rainmakers, back at the No Regrets Invitational from Prince Rupert are looking to head back to the finals for a 2nd straight year but will be in tough against a Marauder’s squad that has cruised to the semifinals thus far.

A high energy start to the game sees the Rainmakers live up to their name with back to back to 3’s to counter a couple of early fast break layups from the Marauders. It is clear that the Rainmakers size is going to prove pivotal in this matchup as an O board, put back and block on consecutive possessions from Caden Pagens sends the Rainmaker bench into a frenzy. Marauder guard Ryan Tougas will not let his team go quietly as a couple of slick passes wakes the Marauders up for 2 quick layups punctuated with a steal and another layup from #1 to cut the 1st Q lead for CH 19 PM -15 

A vicious block from Dakota Knockwood on the Rainmakers starts the 2nd Q with an absolute bang . The pace is reminiscent of Mike D’antoni coaching the Phoenix Suns game with both teams intent on taking the first open shot at all costs.   As both teams settle in, 2 easy layups and slick pull up jimmy from Tyler Jones on the Rainmakers forces a timeout from the Pitt bench. The timeout and switch to a zone defense forces the Rainmakers to go away from their big men and sparks the Marauders into a mini 9-2 capped by a huge 3 from Ryan Tougas to give Pitt their first lead of the game going into the half. PM 30 CH 29

Halftime fact: Prince Rupert does indeed make rain, with each month seeing an average of 20 days of rainfall, making it one the wettest places in Canada

To start the 3rd Q , Marauder Jackson Juriga, honorable mention for best headband in the tournament, comes out gunning with 8 straight points to give the Marauders an early advantage. Not to be outdone, Kai Leighton and Tyler Jones, the only 2 rainmakers to play the whole game thus far, continue to force the issue and dominate the paint with 8 pts of their own to counter the Marauder attack and tie the game. Super subs Pierce Radke and Sid Singh make the Pitt coach look like a genius as it stops the Rainmaker run with back to back to back buckets. A lapse on the last possession of the Q sees a strip and buzzer beating layup from Tyler Jones to end the Q tied at 49.

As defense chants echo the gym, a clock malfunction pauses an otherwise worldly game and shifts the momentum to the Rainmakers as Kai Leighton and Caden Pagens continue to pound the glass for offensive rebounds and easy put back layups. With the finals on the line Ryan Tougas and Brendan Pardy hit back to back layups to counter the driving forays of #1 who continues get easy layups for buckets for his team. The Marauders continue to give up offensive rebounds as a kick out to Leighton nets another 3 for the Rainmakers and looking like a young Carmelo Anthony gives the crowd a 3-point salute. With 3 minutes to play the Marauders would never regain their footing as a buzzer beating 3 pt shot from Jones punctuates his mark on the game and a return trip to the finals for the Rainmakers.  CH 78 – PM 63