Claremont’s senior boys faced a tough Harry Ainlay side in the championship game of the St. Michaels University School Invitational basketball tournament Saturday in Saanich.
The visitors from Edmonton, led by tournament MVP Andriy Halusko’s 28 points, edged the Spartans 71-65 for the crown.
Jamal Slack, with 19 points, and Alex Jordache, with 13 led Claremont. Both were named to the tournament all-star team, along with SMUS’ Jason Scully.
Both Ainlay and Claremont were 3-0 in round robin play.
The champs beat SMUS 82-73 in one semifinal, while the Spartans downed Vancouver College 89-59. SMUS beat Van College 70-60 for third place.
Noah Harris of Oak Bay, Jordan Lane of SMUS, Matt Neufeld of Lambrick Park and Taylor Montgomery-Stinson of Claremont earned team awards.
In the girls’ draw, which was a round robin only, Wellington from Nanaimo topped the field at 4-0. Lambrick Park was the top local team at 2-2 while SMUS went 1-3 to finish fourth.
Emma Entzminger of Lambrick made the all-star team, while teammate Stephanie Galitzane and SMUS’ Sam Colby won team awards.
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