Twice the Terry Fox Ravens had their backs against the wall at the Fraser Valley senior boys basketball 4A zone tournament that wrapped up Sunday at the Langley Events Centre. Both times they prevailed.
And while the team lost its battle with Walnut Grove for fifth place on Sunday, 64-62, the Ravens will enter the provincial championship tournament as the sixth seed out of the Fraser Valley and the only representative from Fraser North.
Ravens’ head coach Brad Petersen said the resilience his young squad showed in the competitive Fraser Valleys that ate the other five teams that qualified from Fraser North will serve them well when the provincial championship tips off March 7 at the Langley Events Centre.
“There’s nothing better that prepares you better for the provincials,” Petersen said. “We had a very difficult path to get there, and we were somehow able to get there.”
That path began with an 86-54 win over North Surrey in the first day’s elimination round. A 99-53 loss in the second round to W.j. Mouat, who entered the tournament ranked seventh in the province, sent the Ravens to the consolation bracket. There, they defeated Yale, 83-67, to secure a spot in the championship round where there are no more second chances.
The Ravens opened with a 67-38 win over Princess Margaret last Wednesday, then followed that up with an 89-85 victory over Holy Cross last Thursday.
Petersen said that win over the 10th-ranked Crusaders has given his squad belief in itself.
“We always knew we could compete with almost anybody,” Petersen said. “When we see that happen at the most important time of year, it really gives you confidence.”
Petersen said the road to provincials hasn’t been an easy one for his Ravens, who finished third in their division and one only once at their own Legal Beagle tournament in January. Leading the way has been 6’1” guard David Chien, whom his coach calls the team’s “Mr. Everything.
“He contributes all over the floor,” Petersen said. “He’s a very calm and very poised player.”
So much so, Chien was named to the Fraser Valley tournament’s second all-star team.
Petersen said the Ravens’ regular season and tournament record shouldn’t be taken at face value, though. He deliberately constructed a tough schedule to steel his charges for a run at provincials.
“We preached this was our goal, and we thought this might be a bit high for us to grab,” Petersen said. “We’re playing our best basketball at the right time.”
• The Pinetree Timberwolves lost their bid for the seventh spot in provincials up for grabs at the Fraser Valleys when they were defeated 83-67 by Holy Cross on Sunday.
The draw for the provincial championship will be determined on Sunday.
Two to girls provincials
Two teams from the Tri-Cities have qualified for the BC girls AAA basketball championships that begin on Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre.
The Heritage Woods Kodiaks will play top seeded Kelowna in the tournament’s opening game at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, while Riverside plays Claremont at 3:30 p.m.
