Day 1 of the BC Gr9 Boys Provincial 3×3 Basketball Championships is complete with the Final Four teams advancing through pool play, elimination and seeding rounds to the semi finals and finals this afternoon.
The BC Gr9 Boys Provincial 3×3 Basketball Championships were open to any Grade 9 player, whose school team did not make the 26th Annual BC High School Grade 9 Boys Invitational Provincial Basketball Championships. Teams could have 2 Grade 8 players from the same school.
3×3 Games were held throughout the day at Semiahmoo Secondary School as part of the 26th Annual BC High School Grade 9 Boys Invitational Provincial Basketball Championships co-hosted this year in South Surrey schools, Earl Marriott and Elgin Park Secondary Schools.
This FREE to PLAY (no entry fee) basketball event is being held in partnership with the Langley Event Center based Vancouver Bandits of the CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League). Last year’s $500 Basketball Development Bursary has been doubled to $1,000 this year ($500 for 1st, $250 for 2nd, $150 for 3rd and $100 for 4th). This is for the recipients’ basketball development like gear, fees and training. The Final 4 teams also receive Provincial trophies, Championship T-shirts and Vancouver Bandits game tickets and gear.
It was a great day of 3×3 basketball with teams (totaling over 100 players) coming from the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. The teams were competing to earn the right to advance to the Championship Semi and Finals this afternoon at Earl Marriott High School.
Teams gathered for the day and under FIBA rules, played many games of exciting basketball. The day began with registration confirmations, moving into pool selection then onto a 3×3 rules clinic hosted by referees provided by the Vancouver Bandits. Round robin play immediately followed. After several rounds of round robin play and a short break, the teams then moved into elimination and seeding play.
These Final Four 3×3 teams earned the right to move on to join the Provincial Championship Team Finals this afternoon at Earl Marriott Secondary School, with 3×3 Semi Finals beginning at 2:15 and the Championship Finals at 4:30 just before the 4:45 tipoff time for Team Championship Final.
The Final 2 for the Team Provincials Final this afternoon was decided before a standing room only crowd at Earl Marriott between between #1 Seed Vancouver College Fighting Irish over an upset determined #12 Seed Elgin Park Orcas and #2 Seed Grandview Heights Grizzles defeating #3 Seed Collingwood Cavaliers.
The Final Four 3×3 teams are;
1. Abbotsford Christian Knights
2. Notre Dame Jugglers
3. Frank Hurt Hornets
4. Holy Cross Crusaders
3×3 support of minor officials was provided by volunteers from the recently created Howie Family Foundation group (formed to remember a former Semiahmoo basketball player who loved the game, Ryan Howell. Sadly he passed away in 2012). Many of the volunteers were former Semiahmoo basketball players and their families. The family plans to hold fund raising events and make donations to young basketball players to help with basketball development like gear, fees and training. The Howie Family has decided to make its first basketball development award today for $500 to one of the players from the Final Four 3×3 teams. The Howie Foundation, spreading a special passion for the sport of basketball.
