The Delta Pacers Grade 8 boys basketball team has quietly gone about putting together a very solid season.
After finishing second in league play at 9-3 and compiling a 13-8 record overall, the Pacers have put together some strong performances of late.
After a convincing victory over Delview in the league semi-finals, the Pacers faced North Delta in the district final. They turned a 20-19 halftime edge into an 18-point lead at the end of three quarters largely due to an intense defensive performance.
A balanced scoring attack featuring Gurpaul Teja with 16, Gurpreet Teja (14), Logan Newman (10) and Josh Murphy (8) keyed the Pacers to a 58-35 victory.
The win proved satisfying for the young Pacers and validated their commitment to team defence after two losses to the Huskies during league play.
The 11th seeded Pacers began the Fraser Valley Championships on the road Tuesday night against the 22nd seeded Princess Margaret Lions. Once again, the Pacers defensive pressure proved to be too much for the Lions to handle.
After starting the game on a 17-0 run, the Pacers continued to use their size and strength to their advantage. Jackson Goodman, one of the team's top rebounders, gives the Pacers a starting lineup that includes three players 6'1" or better. Key post players off the bench include Kyle Booth, Curtis Tyson and Kaylin Kaila.
While the offensive strength of the Pacers is their post play, guards Jeremy Gill, Jared Beaton, Riley Duimel, Christian Narciso, Evan Chong and Matteo Corea play important roles on the defensive side, following a seasonending injury to point guard Devin Basi.
The Pacers took their four-game winning streak into the second round of the Fraser Valley Championships Thursday night (after Optimist press deadline) where they faced the sixth seed from Lord Tweedsmuir.
The Fraser Valley Championships continue this weekend at Westview Secondary with teams vying for berths to the provincial tournament hosted by Pitt Meadows in early March.
