Good basketball is played in the north too.
The D.P. Todd Trojans proved that point when they finished ninth out of 16 teams at the junior boys provincial championship tournament, which wrapped up Saturday in Vancouver.
The Trojans entered provincials with a 34-0 record but hadn't faced any of the top-ranked clubs from the Lower Mainland. Against some of those southern powers, the Trojans ran to a 2-2 record and were rewarded with their top-10 placing.
In the game for seventh and ninth place, the Trojans faced the MEI Eagles of Abbotsford and lost 60-55 after battling back from an early deficit.
D.P. Todd began provincials with a 57-49 setback against St. George's of Vancouver but then rolled to consecutive victories against Surrey's Princess Margaret (44-35) and New Westminster (52-40).
Haydn Molcak of the Trojans was selected as a second all-star and Sean Gaiesky won a team award in recognition of his effort, positive attitude and leadership.
Host Vancouver College downed Claremont of Victoria 48-39 in the championship game.
At the junior girls provincials in Langley, the zone champion Duchess Park Condors (2-2) finished 11th and the College Heights Cougars (0-4) were 16th. In their last games, the Condors beat Notre Dame of Vancouver 45-29 and the Cougars lost 29-24 to Charles Hays of Prince Rupert.
Victoria's Oak Bay defeated South Kamloops 47-41 for gold.
