Elphinstone Secondary School claimed the school’s third North Shore basketball title after the Grade 9 boys team edged Collingwood 54-52 on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
The Cougars went 14-5 on the season including a 5-2 record in North Shore League play.
Elphi started its playoff run with a 41-19 win over Sutherland Feb. 2 and edged Handsworth 41-38 in the North Shore semifinal game on Feb. 4.
Other season highlights included two bit wins at the Capilano tournament with a short roster, a two-hour defence-only practice with Gonzaga University men’s assistant coach Kevin Kundarewich, and beating perennial powerhouse Terry Fox by one point at the Colt Classic Tournament in Richmond.
Coaches Jason Bristow and Travis Dempster were proud of how the boys worked hard in practice and played unselfishly all year long.
The bantam boys had an equally strong season, compiling a 5-4 record in league play, and made it all the way to the North Shore final before losing 33-23 to Windsor on Feb. 11.
The Cougars started the playoffs with a 39-36 win over Collingwood on Feb. 2 and a 45-38 win over St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) on Feb. 4 in the North Shore semifinal.
The junior boys finished with a 6-2 overall record (4-1 in North Shore League play). They won their first playoff game 61-60 over Seycove on Feb. 2, but lost to Handsworth 66-37 in the North Shore semifinal on Feb. 4. The Cougars then played in the North Shore consolation playoff game on Feb. 11 where they dropped a close 57-52 decision to STA.
The senior boys had an up and down season with some tournament and exhibition success, but had trouble in the North Shore League, finishing with a 0-6 record.
The Cougars lost 61-43 to STA in the first round of the playoffs on Feb. 19.
