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Coquitlam's Charles Best captures South Delta's T-Town Classic

Host Sun Devils fall to North Vancouver's Handsworth Royals in third place game of 12-team senior boys tournament

The larger 4A schools flexed their muscles to sweep the podium at South Delta Secondary’s T-Town Classic senior boys basketball tournament.

The 12-team event featured an assortment of schools from the 4A and 3A tiers of BC Boys High School Basketball based on enrollment size.

Following four days of action, Coquitlam’s Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils came away with top honours after a 77-68 win over Victoria’s Belmont Bulldogs in Saturday’s championship game.

The Blue Devils’ run to the title included an 83-62 victory over host South Delta in the semi-finals, after earlier victories against Pitt Meadows (88-58) and Abbotsford’s MEI Eagles (71-62). Six-foot-3 senior Mateo Gallant was a major force throughout and earned tournament MVP honours while Evan Sohi was named to the all-star team.

Belmont earned its way to the championship game with an 87-72 upset win over North Vancouver's Handsworth in the semis.

The Royals entered the week ranked No. 10 in the province among 4A schools. The Bulldogs also defeated the Delta Pacers 75-55 in Thursday’s quarter-finals. Trajan Chahal and Michael Adarjwah-wti were selected as all-stars.

Handsworth bounced back in in the third place game, opening up a 19-0 first quarter lead over South Delta, then staving off a gritty comeback by the hosts to eventually win 80-63. Sun Devils’ Grade 11 forward Finley McConnell rounded out the all-star selections.

The Pacers opened the tournament with a 69-56 win over Eric Hamber on Wednesday before falling to Belmont, Seaquam (79-52) and Merritt (58-48).

Delta gets right back into tournament action at this week’s Bob Carkner Classic at Steveston-London Secondary in Richmond.

Seaquam closed out the T-Town Classic with a 64-47 loss to MEI in the fifth place game. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 7 among 3A schools.