They won 10 of their first 11 games and claimed two tournament titles. The Christmas break is now behind them, and the Duchess Park Condors are ready to resume their season.
Chances are, victory celebrations will continue to be a common scene after their games.
The Duchess Park senior boys basketball team has a potent mix of veterans and youngsters. To date, only the PGSS Polars -- in overtime -- have stolen a win from the high-flying squad. The Condors are anchored by Grade 12 captains Josh Raphael and Andrew Whittaker and are bolstered by the likes of Grade 11 post player Brandon Mariotto and Grade 10 point guard Montell Lindgren. Coach Brendan Harrop saw these individual talents, and others, start to gel into a cohesive unit in the games before the break and is looking forward to seeing the Condors continue that process.
"We have this group of returning seniors that have played senior for a few years and then we have this group of really strong juniors, but they haven't actually played together a ton so that's really what the whole first month has been about -- developing some chemistry and some trust," Harrop said. "That's been our biggest focus, to get these guys working together. I feel it's coming along. It seems like it's getting better every time out."
In the P.G. City Basketball League, the Condors will host the D.P. Todd Trojans Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. Other games that night will see the Cedars Christian Eagles visit the Polars and the Kelly Road Roadrunners travel to College Heights to take on the Cougars.
The Condors, city champions last season after a 77-72 win against the Trojans, are fortunate to have Raphael and Whittaker leading the way again this season.
The six-foot-one Raphael has seen floor time at all the forward positions and has been scoring 25 to 30 points per game. He's also the team's best defensive player.
"He's fun to watch," Harrop said. "He's definitely our high scorer and, defensively, he really shuts down the other team's top player."
Whittaker, meanwhile, is Duchess Park's starting shooting guard. He has been a member of the senior Condors since his Grade 8 season and is adept at lighting up the scoreboard from long range.
"He shoots the ball really well," Harrop said. "It's one of those 'impossible to teach but love to have.' He loves to shoot that three-ball. A lot of teams like to play a zone (defence) against us because we have size and we have guys who can drive the ball. Just to have that outside weapon is really key. It's a real nice advantage."
Mariotto, the Grade 11 post, provides muscle and size in the paint. He's close to six-foot-five and uses his intimidating frame to full advantage both offensively and defensively.
"He's a big presence in the middle," Harrop said. "He's great to have out there defensively because guys are more hesitant to go to the hole. And he's also got a pretty good (scoring) touch inside."
Then there's the Grade 10 Lindgren. The multi-talented point guard played for B.C.'s Under-16 team last summer and has been a huge part of Duchess Park's success thus far.
"He's an exceptional athlete and leader," Harrop said of Lindgren, who was Duchess Park's starting quarterback during football season. "He's an important piece."
The main goal for the Condors this season is to win February's double-A zone championship tournament, a qualifier for provincials. The B.C. tournament will be held in Kamloops in March.
"I think we have one of the top chances to (win zones)," Raphael said. "We've beaten every (double-A) team in the city so I think this is our time to go to provincials.
"I don't like to think about it too much -- just play one game at a time, otherwise I get a little anxious thinking about it."
The next tournament for the Condors starts on Thursday, the Trojan Wars at D.P. Todd.
