The Walnut Grove Gators raced out to an early lead and then their defence held firm.
The result was a 43-33 victory over the Brookswood Bobcats in the Grade 8 boys’ Langley district basketball championship game.
It was played at the Langley Events Centre on Thursday afternoon.
Walnut Grove was 8-0 during league play while the Bobcats lone loss came to the Gators, 49-22.
The district final was much closer as the Gators had trouble with Brookswood’s tough zone defence.
“Brookswood came out hard and we didn’t shoot very well,” said Walnut Grove co-coach Terry Stead. “(And) we had to use our size, which we didn’t use as well as we have in the past.”
The Gators also used an effective full court pressure to force turnovers.
The district championships were played in the arena part of the Langley Events Centre, with Basketball BC’s portable court on top of the ice. The day was a test-run of sorts for next month’s B.C. high school senior boys’ AAA championships.
That contributed to the poor shooting performances in all of the games, as the players were not used to the depth perception in the gym — usually the baskets are right against the end walls, but in an arena setting, there is plenty of space behind the baskets.
During league play, the Gators steamrolled the competition, winning their eight games by an average of 39 points per game.
The score was 24-12 at the half, but the ’Cats could not get the deficit closer than eight points.
Walnut Grove’s Tamir Alatrash came out strong, scoring eight of his team’s first nine points, setting the tone.
“He is a big kid and he is a good athlete,” said coach George Kozlovic, the Gators co-coach. “He can get aggressive and he worked hard at both ends.”
The Gators, who won a tournament in Fleetwood Park a few weeks back, expect to be in contention at the Fraser Valley championships next week.
“We will be somewhat in the mix,” Stead said. “No one stands out, there is a lot of parity.”
To be successful, the team needs to use their size and limit their mistakes.
“When we make better decisions with the ball, we are pretty good,” Kozlovic said.
The Gators are seeded second for the Fraser Valley championships, which begin on Tuesday (Feb. 22). Walnut Grove will face Mt. Slesse at home.
Brookswood faces Tamanawis at Colleen and Gordon Howe Middle School.
Langley Fundamental plays at Vedder and Betty Gilbert plays at Pitt Meadows.
