Delta Pacers will be concluding their outstanding season next week against B.C.'s best Grade 8 boys basketball teams after placing third at the Fraser Valley Championships.
The Pacers secured a spot in the 16team invitational tournament at Pitt Meadows secondary with an impressive run through the Valley playoffs which concluded with a 62-50 win over Langley's Walunt Grove Gators on Monday night at Arch Bishop Carney secondary in Port Coquitlam.
The game was tied at 27-27 at the half when Delta capitalized on numerous fast break opportunities and their bread and butter inside play, exploding for 21 points to lead 48-35 after three quarters.
Seeded second in the 32-team championships, the Delta District champions opened play with decisive home court victories over AD Rundle from Chilliwack and Langley Christian to advance to the main draw. They were matched-up with seventh seed Lord Tweedsmuir in the quarter-finals and the Pacers stuck with their game plan from start to finish, frustrating their Cloverdale opponent with a zone defence. Delta jumped out to a 17point halftime lead and cruised to a 46-20 victory.
On Saturday, the Pacers squared off with Surrey champions Tamanawis.
Despite a close victory over the Wildcats in December, the Pacers knew that this would be a battle of contrasting styles of play. In the end, the perimeter play and lights out shooting of the Wildcats outdid the strong post play of the Pacers in a hard-fought 41-37 loss.
The teams could very well meet at some point again during the provincials, which tip-off next Thursday. Delta and Tamanawis will be joined by three other Valley schools including champion MEI.
Team members headed to the B.C. c championships include: Jack Kraemer, Keatan Mann, Carter Warn, Conor Edgson, Mitch Robinson, Jacob Cowley, Jared Ferreira, Tyler Jones, Parker Strukoff, Jas Singh, Cam Gray, Dylan Bubel, Brennan Matharu, Cam Ratzlaff and Duncan Ross.
This marks the second time head coach Aaron Akune has guided a Pacer team to the tournament. Delta's last appearance was in 2010 when the Ladner school placed eighth.
