Just when it appeared the Prince George Polars were dead in the water against the Queen Charlotte Saints, a shark named Tyrell Laing opened up his jaws and clamped down.
With the Polars trailing 69-36 heading into the fourth quarter at the quad-A boys basketball high school provincial championship Friday in Langley, Laing refused to yield and triggered a remarkable comeback. The Grade 11 point guard was at his best in the final quarter, scoring a good chunk of his game-high 45 points to lead PGSS to an 88-83 victory.
The Polars outscored the Saints 42-14 in the final 10 minutes, erasing a deficit that hit 25 points earlier in the game. Laing shot 8-for-12 from the field, hit six three-pointers and contributed 10 steals, five turnovers and five assists to give PGSS (1-2) its first win of the tournament.
Jesse Barnes, the Saints' six-foot-six forward, collected 43 points to lead his team.
The Polars will play West Vancouver today at 4:45 p.m. in a consolation round game.
Meanwhile, in the double-A boys championship, also being played in Langley, Kwalikum defeated the Nechako Valley Vikings of Vanderhoof 56-43 on Friday. The Vikings (0-3) will finish off the tournament today at 11:30 a.m. against Mt. Elizabeth.
