GW Graham’s senior boys basketball team blew out Elphinstone secondary 78-54 Saturday night to take top spot at their own Grizzlies Showcase Tournament.
Playing in front of a loud home-court crowd, the Grizz were led in scoring by Cole Wicker, who put up 21 points.
Zach Klim poured in 15 with Ty Hall (11), Geevon Janday (10) and Jude Hall (10) hitting double digits. Janday was a monster on the boards, pulling down 11 defensive rounds, more than the rest of his team combined.
Janday was a beast for the entire tournament and was named the MVP.
Wicker and Gus Goerzen were first-team all-stars with Ty and Jude Hall earning second team honours.
“The Grizzlies really want to thank the community for coming out and supporting the team each and every day,”
said coach Jake Mouritzen. “The gym was packed and the atmosphere was electric. The Grizzlies nation was on full display this weekend.”
GWG’s expanding partnership with Mt. Slesse middle school was on display as two bus loads of Timberwolves came out for the Thursday games.
One of the top-ranked AAA teams in the entire province, GWG left wrecked teams in their wake, starting last Thursday with an 87-76 win over the St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints.
Janday had 21 points and 18 rebounds. Wicker had 18 points, Klim 17 and Ty Hall 14.
GW Graham’s next game was a laugher against the Pacific Academy Breakers, with the Grizzlies taking an 85-37 final. The locals went deep into the bench, with 12 players hitting the score-sheet.
Ty Hall’s 16 led the way.
Janday and Klim had 10 apiece and Wicker turned into a rebounding machine, pulling down 11.
A Friday semi-final saw the Grizz face their toughest test, grinding out an 87-84 win over Prince George’s Duchess Park Condors.
Janday was a force, dropping 29 points on one end of the court and pulling down 16 total rebounds (14 defensive). Anmol Shoker produced 15 points. Jude Hall and Wicker had 11 apiece and Ty Hall had 10.
“It was an excellent weekend for the team,” Mouritzen said. “We have some key players with injuries right now (Anmol Shoker, Armaan Shoker, Cairo Almarez and Jake Lawson), so we had some key players step up huge this weekend, and our bench proved once again that Graham might have the deepest team in the province.”
The Grizzlies head to Victoria this week for the prestigious Oak Bay Gary Taylor Classic, taking on the Belmont Bulldogs in their Thursday opener.