The Island champions will get handed the Colonist Cup trophy on Saturday (March 5) in Victoria. But the real prize is the berth at provincials that also goes to the winner.
The Dover Bay Dolphins have a chance to get to that Island final at the senior AAA boys’ basketball Island championships in Victoria after tipping off the tourney with a win.
Dover beat the Belmont Bulldogs 59-46 on Thursday in a bit of a strange game. The Dolphins raced to a 15-0 lead, then slowed down until their lead had dwindled to 33-32 early in the fourth quarter. Moments later, though, Dover went on a 10-0 run that settled things.
“The guys maintained their focus and their enthusiasm and we were able to grind it out,” said Mark Simpson, the team’s coach.
Dover centre Seme Rabeh said the Dolphins just tried to keep their heads in the game and keep working.
“We played defence really hard and if we play every game like that we have a great chance to win the championship,” he said.
Jason McKee led Dover with 22 points, Jon Bethell scored 16 and Rabeh added 11.
Dover is scheduled to face the Cowichan Thunderbirds on Friday night at 8:15 p.m. after the T-birds upset the Oak Bay Bays 67-60 in the first game of the tournament.
The Wellington Wildcats lost their first game at the Island championships, falling 85-50 to the Claremont Spartans. Piero Simovic was Wellington’s top scorer with 16 points.
The other first-round matchup saw the host Mt. Douglas Rams defeat the G.P. Vanier Towhees 59-42.
GAME ON … The Island final will be played Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Mt. Douglas Secondary School gym.
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