Delta Pacers are hoping to thrive in a different role when the Fraser Valley Southwest League playoffs tip off today at Tamanawis secondary in Surrey.
A year ago, the senior boys basketball team entered the tournament as the second seed thanks to a sparkling 8-2 regular season record. However, the Pacers stumbled out of the gate, falling 85-80 to the seventh place Elgin Park Orcas. It was a loss the Ladner school never recovered from. Delta went to finish fifth in the tournament and was seeded 15th for the Fraser Valley Championships before being promptly bounced in the opening round by Heritage Woods.
This time, the Pacers are coming into the eight team event as the fifth seed thanks to a pair of narrow losses in the past 10 days that left them with a 6-4 league mark. Delta will get the opportunity to avenge one of those defeats when it takes on Panorama Ridge at 6: 30 p.m. tonight. The Surrey school trimmed the locals 73-71 last Wednesday, scoring the winning basket with less than a second remaining.
An opening round win would not only advance Delta to tomorrow's semi-finals but guarantee no worse than a fourth place finish which would help immensely for next week's Fraser Valley Championships. The 32team tournament is deep in contenders with as many as 15 schools capable of securing one of the eight berths on the line for next month's B.C. "AAA" Tournament at the Langley Events Centre.
Meanwhile, district titles will be determined this week with Delta Junior and Grade 8 playoff tournaments underway.
The Pacers Junior and Grade 8 boys teams both take unbeaten regular season records into their respective draws. The 11-1 South Delta Sun Devils are the team to beat in the Junior Girls draw.
The district championships conclude tomorrow night at South Delta secondary school with the finals slated for 3: 30 p.m. (Grade 8 Girls), 5 p.m. (Grade 8 Boys), 6: 30 p.m. (Junior Girls) and 8 p.m. (Junior Boys).
