The Mt. Boucherie Bears made it to the final game of the final match of the 2015 season, but couldn’t quite consummate the deal.
The Oak Bay Oaks defeated the Bears on Saturday evening in Langley to win the B.C. high school boys AAA volleyball title.
The Bears, who were ranked third in the province, came up just short in five sets in the championship match, 25-20, 11-25, 23-25, 25-21, 9-15.
“It’s obviously a bit of a sting for all of us, to go so that far and not quite have enough to close out the match,” said Bears coach Joel Kern. “At the same time, obviously I’m ridiculously proud of these guys. They played their hearts out and competed at the highest level for much of the tournament. And they just got better as it went along.”
After going 1-2 in the round robin, the Bears hit their stride in the playoffs, taking care of Delta, Fraser Heights and Moscrop in consecutive matches to reach the final.
Boucherie’s Brodie Kern, who was named a second team all-star, led the Bears in the final with 23 kills, while Jeremy Bednar, a first team all-star added 16.
Coach Kern also lauded the play of Sean Haylow, Bobby Blaskovits and Kyle Flavin who along with Kern and Bednar, were key for the Bears during the tournament and all season long.
Kern said the 2015 Bears, who were ranked first, second and third at different times during the year, were a special group of both players and people.
“I’d say of all the teams been a part of this was tightest knit group, on and off the court,” Kern said. “I’m also proud because they’re good guys, good people, really enjoyable to be around. That’s what I’m happiest about.”
The silver medalists are: Isaac Dutka, Jeremy Bednar, John Mcintosh, Sasha Josipovic, Lucas Overton, Bobby Blaskovits, Mitch Glutek, Brodie Kern, Harrison Larson, Kyle Flavin, Sean Haylow and the coaches are Joel Kern and Steve Clements.
The KSS Owls, who went into the championship as the No. 1 ranked team in B.C., ended up in fifth spot.
The Owls lost to eventual champion Oak Bay in the quarters, then went on to defeat Vancouver Tech 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-16) in the 5th/6th place game.
Ryan Samuelson of KSS was named to the second all-star team.
Meanwhile in the provincial boys AA division, the George Elliot Coyotes finished in seventh place, defeating Vernon’s W.L. Seaton 26-24, 25-23 in their last match.
Morgan Nichols of GES was named to the second all-star team.
