The Duchess Park Condors got to where they needed to go at the 2020 BC Senior Boys’ Basketball Championships, but couldn’t get through the door that led to a blue banner.
The number-one overall seed in the AAA tournament avenged its 2019 semi-final loss with a berth in yesterday’s (March 7) gold medal match, but were met with an offensively strong opponent in G.W. Graham Secondary (Chilliwack) that led for more than 75 per cent of the contest.
The birds lost to the third-ranked Grizzlies by a score of 79-67, claiming the second-place silver medal in Langley, and finished the four-day event, 3-1.
"Toughest loss of our lives," said Head Coach Jordan Yu in a social media post following the game.
"We are bigger than the game itself and will be [okay]. So much love for my boys! Proud of them all!"
DPSS was eyeing the Prince George-district school’s first title in 40 years at that level of competition in high school basketball.
The Condors won the AA boys’ provincial championship in 2006, while their senior girls’ counterpart took home the BC AAA banner in 2016.
Duchess Park was led on the scoresheet by Caleb Lyons with a game-high 25 points, followed by Jackson Kuc with 24 to his name.
Kuc also recorded the most steals (7) and highest three-point percentage (33 per cent) in Saturday’s championship final.
Tony Zejnulahovic posted a team-high 12 rebounds, six on both sides of ball, and three assists.
The boys only led by as many as five points compared to the Grizzlies’ 20 amongst a game that saw five changes the entire evening.
The second-place finish also marks the second consecutive season the Condors have medalled at the provincial championships after winning a bronze in 2019.
.@DPSSCondors Sr. Boys’ basketball program also earns its 2nd provincial medal in back-to-back AAA tournaments 🥈🥉 They salvaged 3rd place in 2019 after losing its semi-final match by a single point to North Delta | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/Pyn3DLoP2w
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) March 8, 2020
DPSS closes out its 2019-20 season with the BC silver medal along with a fifth-straight city title and another North Central AAA Zone banner for the gym.
Cedars Christian was the only other Prince George-based school down in Langley that made the top 10 at basketball provincials.
The Eagles won their last game of the Single-A tournament to land in seventh place.
The 1A North Central Zone champions from Prince George claim 7th place at provincials with a 2-2 record as follows...
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) March 7, 2020
▪️81-60 win over Gudangaay Tlaats'gaa Naay
▪️79-66 QF loss to Highroad Academy
▪️75-53 loss to Barriere
▪️92-38 win over Glenlyon Norfolk 🏀
The D.P. Todd Trojans couldn’t find a way to win on the final day of the AA competition, settling for 12th place at the 16-team event.
On Friday (March 6), Prince George Secondary closed out the AAAA provincials with an 0-4 record and 16th place.
