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| Charles Hays Senior Boys Rainmakers have advanced to the AA Provincial championship today, following last nights hard fought win over Vancouver Island's Brentwood College |
The scoreline of 69-55 for Friday nights Semi-Final victory for the Charles Hays Rainmakers over the Brentwood College, probably doesn't do justice to the frantic fourth quarter that delivered the Makers' to their spot in this afternoon's Provincial AA Basketball championship.
While the Rainmakers held the lead for much of the game and came out of the semi-final experience on the winning side of the ledger; it was their poise in holding back a strong surge by Brentwood in the final frame that perhaps makes the Friday night win extra gratifying.
The night started well for Charles Hays, the team building to an 8-0 lead in the first five minutes of play, their speed, ball control and strong defensive work frustrating Brentwood early on, leading to an early time out for the Vancouver Island time to reset their game plan.
Brentwood did finally get into gear starting to knock down some of the Charles Hays lead, though the ebb and flow of the first quarter remained in the Rainmaker's favour taking them to the end of the first up by a score of 17-1.
The Makers dominate much of the Second quarter, strong work on the boards denying the Mill Bay team any additional chances from their perimeter shots, a quick turn around game taking the ball to the opposition net building the Rainmaker's lead to 38-19 at half time.
Brentwood however would come out of the dressing room in the Second half ready to make a run at the defending champion Rainmakers.
Showing some strong determination as they slowly but surely erased the Maker's advantage on the scoreboard, chipping away enough of the Rainmaker points to end the third quarter just seven points away from the Charles Hays squad with the 47-40 score indicating that the final quarter was set to be a frantic one.
Coming out fast in the final quarter, Brentwood continued to close the gap, their push assisted by a number of untimely fouls of frustration by the Rupert side which saw the Vancouver Islanders pull within 4 points at the 6 minute mark.
That would be the last threat that Brentwood would pose to taking control of the game, with the Rainmakers settling down their defensive play to reduce those scoring opportunities that were bringing the danger on.
Offensively the Charles Hays Seniors returned to form, their scoring hands becoming hot again, just as Brentwood's cooled off, by two's and three's the Maker's quickly brought an end to the Brentwood plans to make some noise, building on their lead to take the game to the final score of 69-55.
The Boxscore of the Friday night match up can be reviewed here.
With the win and having navigated the knock out dangers of the tournament of the week previous, the Rainmakers now make for their return to the Finals and some basketball destiny.
This afternoon set to provide for yet another appearance in a Championship game and the opportunity for the team to claim their second Provincials banner in as many years.
The showdown to come will feature Surrey's King George Dragons who were the Second seed in this year's AA Tournament bracket, the Dragons knocking off Lambrick Park to take their place in the Finale to a wild week of High School ball.
The AA Championship match up is one that was anticipated in the Tournament preview show of one week ago.
"So, there's our tournament draw for the 2A, you know when we look at that; it really is a question can anyone challenge Charles Hays, isn't it?
Yeah I think so, when you look at them what they've done and as you say where they sit if you put them in Triple or Quad A that's a team that's going to be provincially ranked.
I think King George on the other side has really become that consistent team every year that's ready to compete for a provincial championship, so if the two seeds play through we're going to have a great final on the Saturday." -- BC High School Basketball observers Howard Tsumura and Chris Kenndy last Sunday during the stream cast of the AA Preview show
Showtime now beckons for two High School programs that are considered among the best in BC, tonight's showdown between the Rainmakers and Dragons set to deliver some high tempo basketball to the crowds at the Langley Events Centre when the tip off arrives at 3:45 PM today.
Rainmaker fans can access the stream cast of the tournament from the Pay Per View portal on the tournament website,
As well, Charles Hays is hosting a viewing party once again tonight at the Prince Rupert Boulevard campus, keep an eye on the CHSS twitter feed and that of the CHSS Rainmakers for updates on tonight's game and other notes from the tournament.
You can review more of the 75th Anniversary of the Provincials from our archive page here.
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