The D.P. Todd Trojans survived a second-half surge by the Nechako Valley Vikings and were rewarded with a zone championship.
The junior boys basketball team from D.P. Todd claimed the zone title on the Vikings' home floor in Vanderhoof last weekend. In the final game, the Trojans prevailed 63-49. They were up 35-20 at half-time and by the early stages of the third quarter had extended their lead to 45-22. At that point, the Vikings -- sparked by a trio of three-pointers from Jonathan Mueller -- exploded for 16 unanswered points and were right back in the game.
To the Trojans' credit, they regained their composure and held the Vikings off the rest of the way.
D.P. Todd's Haydn Molcak was chosen as the tournament's most valuable player, while Beckett Fawcett of Nechako Valley grabbed the top defensive player award.
Molcak was also a first-team all-star, as was twin brother Colby. Other first-team all-stars were Mueller and Dakota Clapperton of the Vikings and Tyrell Laing of the third-place PGSS Polars.
Second-team all-stars included Kaleb McKee (NVSS), Inderpal Bassi (PGSS), Anthony Mijatovic (D.P. Todd) and Dave Septon (Kelly Road).
The tournament victory qualified the Trojans for provincials, March 6-9 in Pitt Meadows.
