Mission accomplished!
The Chat senior boys scaled the basketball mountain last Thursday, slaying the Sutherland Sabres en route to their first North Shore AA title since 2002.
Chat beat the Sabres 67-54 in an entertaining contest played at Collingwood Secondary School in North Vancouver.
Both teams got off to a slow start, as the first quarter was low scoring and defensive.
Chat jumped out to an early lead, but Sutherland was able to answer as each team matched shot for shot during the final minutes of the frame. Chat hung on and led 18-17 after the first quarter.
Chat poured it on in the second and found their scoring touch. Devan Haynes drove to the hoop at will and when he didn't knock one down, Aaron deJong and Matt Skei picked up the rebounds.
Chat opened up a 14-point lead, but had some foul trouble late, which enabled Sutherland to cut into the lead. The Sabres hit the final two shots of the quarter and trailed 35-24 at halftime.
Sutherland poured off the bench into the locker room and came out with renewed intensity in the third quarter going on a 6-0 run to cut Chat's lead to five with seven minutes to go in the quarter.
But Chat didn't panic.
Led by Devan's 11 points, Chat went on a 13-6 run in the final seven minutes and led 48-36 at the end of three.
Sutherland tried to get back into the contest, but every time the Sabres hit a shot, Chat answered right back.
Sutherland was able to claw back to within 10 points with under three to play, but Aaron and Matt hit some critical free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Devan finished the game with 29 points, Jason Janis had 10, Aaron and Matt each had nine, while Daniel Kingsbury added six points and was solid all night on the boards.
June-Young Kim scored 25 points for Sutherland while Cosmin Lungu added eight points.
Aaron was named to the tournament all-star team, and Devan was named MVP.
Devan and Aaron were also named to the North Shore league's regular season first all-star team.
"The win is very rewarding because this was our goal from the start of the season," said Chat head coach Bruce Haynes. "We had a few hiccups during the season when I didn't think we played as well as we could have or should have. But the last two games we played hard and well enough to win."
Haynes said the key was matching Sutherland's scoring in the second half.
"When we went into the second half up by 11 we got into some foul trouble and made a few mistakes," Haynes said. "They cut into the lead, but we changed a few things we were doing and got back to playing our game. We answered all their scores. We didn't panic. Our key players played the game the way they were supposed to and as a result we won."
Sabres head coach Brad Thornhill was gracious in defeat and gave Chat full credit for the win.
"I think Chat's athleticism was just too much," Thornhill said. "Aaron [deJong] and Devan [Haynes] were outstanding. I don't think we have anybody who can match up with those guys. Our guys played their hearts out. Had we made a few shots down the stretch when we needed them, we could have made a run at the end. Those guys were just too good for us."
Thornhill added that when his team cut the lead to 10 late in the fourth, he thought they could turn it around.
"I thought maybe we could get a miracle out of this one. But those guys move the ball so well and they're so aggressive," Thornhill added. "Our big concern was deJong and Haynes. We thought if we could hold those guys to under 20 each we'd be in a great position. The rest of their team stepped up. They deserved it. They're going to be tough in Kamloops."
Sutherland still had an outside shot at advancing to the provincials as they played Notre Dame on Saturday in the wildcard playoff, but Sutherland fell by six points to end their season.
The 2005 AA boys' provincials runs March 9 to 12 in Kamloops.
The boys' tournament, featuring the top 16 teams from around the province, runs along side the girls' AA tournament. Games will be played at Sport Mart Place, University College of the Cariboo and Valleyview and North Kamloops Secondary Schools.
As of press time, the draw was still being determined.
Team confirmed for the tournament include the King George Dragons from Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Christian Falcons from Surrey, the Pacific Academy Breakers from the Fraser Valley, the DP Todd Trojans from Prince George and the Prince Charles Comets from Creston.
"I think if we play like we did the past two games, we have a good chance of finishing very high," said Haynes. "Our first goal was to advance to the provincials. We've done that and now it's time to take this week to rest, practice and implement a few things into our game that will help us to be more offensive."
"This is a big deal for sure," added Chat principal Jim McGowan. "These guys have been working really hard over the past few years and to get a chance to go to the provincials and represent the school is a big accomplishment."
School officials report that donations have been pouring in to the school to help send the team to Kamloops. More support is needed. If you wish to donate to Chat's fundraising cause, drop by the school office.
