The Maple Ridge Christian Hornets senior boys basketball team won the 10th annual Nairn Howe Memorial Tournament on Salt Spring Island over the weekend.
Last year the Single A Hornets lost to the host Gulf Island Secondary Scorpions by 13 points in the final, and they got a measure of revenge in a championship game rematch.
The Hornets jumped out to an early 23-17 after the first quarter. The second quarter was intense, physical and stayed close with the Hornets up 39-34 at the half.
The second half told a different story as the Hornets played with poise, pulling away from the Scorpions 59-44 after the third quarter. They went on to win 81-48. That ended the home team’s three consecutive tourney championships.
Tyson Schoefield was selected player of the game and Nicolas Samchek was voted the 2015 Nairn Howe Award recipient by his team mates.
Over the tournament, Justin Robinson led all team mates scoring with 105 points in four games.
Nic Samchek had 64 points and also averaged 16 hard fought rebounds – 64 for the weekend.
Hornets centre Jordan Ellingson was ill all week, and missed the first game and most of the next two.Be he was dominant in the weekend final scoring 29 of his tournament 43 points, and pulling down eight offensive rebounds.
