They didn’t find the podium, but the Credo Christian Kodiaks did make school history.
The Kodiaks lost 70-54 to the Richmond Christian Eagles on Saturday morning in the bronze medal match at the B.C. 1A senior boys provincial basketball championships at the Langley Events Centre.
But while the team did not leave with medals draped around their necks, the fourth-place finish marked the best-ever showing for the Kodiaks at the tournament.
The program’s previous best was a fifth-place finish back in 1993.
The Kodiaks trailed just 36-33 at the half but fell behind by double digits in the third quarter and could not recover.
“Turnovers were key,” said Credo coach Justin Vanderploeg.
“The main thing was we didn’t come out with the same defensive intensity that we did all year long, that we normally come out with.
“And then they hit a couple of big threes and ballooned the lead a little bit and we were fighting from there.”
Credo Christian was seeded third for the 16-team tournament and won a pair of close contests in the opening two rounds.
The Kodiaks won 63-57 over the No. 14 Ucluelet Warriors and then won 47-44 over the No. 6 West Point Grey Academy Wolves in the quarter-finals.
But the team fell 67-44 to the Immaculata Mustangs in the semifinals before dropping a second straight game to the Eagles the next morning.
“Immaculata is a very good team, they shoot the ball so well,” Vanderploeg said.
“In the first half, we were able to keep their shooters under control. And in the second half, they loosened up a little bit and hit a couple of big threes — just like in this game — and were able to get the big lead.”
While a medal would have been great way to cap off the season, they team came up short, but not because of their effort.
“Our team put our hearts on the floor,” said Braden Schouten, one of the team’s captains.
“We played hard and put it all on the court.
“Our heads are up high.”
Being in the mix for a provincial medal did not surprise Vanderploeg.
“We were capable of being in the top four, we were capable of making the finals,” the coach said.
“That was our goal all year long, make provincials and then go for that top four finish.”
Credo Christian’s Cam Pol was named a second team all-star.
Vanderploeg said Pol, who is in his final year of high school, brings great leadership and a strong work ethic to the team.
“(And) as a smaller big, he stretches the floor well and can guard a variety of positions,” Vanderploeg added.
“He played great for us throughout provincials, especially defensively.”
Gary Ahuja/Langley Times
Credo Christian Kodiaks’ Cam Pol (#3) was named a second team all-star at the B.C. 1A senior boys basketball championships at the Langley Events Centre.
