Senior Boys Basketball
The SMUS Blue Jags turned in an impressive performance over this past weekend, winning three straight games to capture the Vancouver Island AA Senior Boys Basketball title for the first time since 2015.
Senior guard Davis Hardy scored 25 points in Saturday’s 81-50 championship-game victory over Pacific Christian in a packed Lambrick Park gymnasium. Hardy was selected MVP of the eight-team Island tournament. Grade 12's Jack Driscoll was named player of the game in the final with 15 points on five three-pointers.
Backcourt teammate Dani Pelyhe and guard Wil Woods were also honoured with individual awards for the tournament. Woods, a Grade 12, was named was also selected as the tournament’s top defensive player. Pelyhe, in Grade 11, was named to the Island tournament’s first all-star team after a 22-point performance in the final. SMUS forward Elliot Mairet was selected as a second-team all-star.
The Blue Jags’ toughest test in the Island tournament came in Friday’s semifinal round, where they beat Brentwood College 67-64 behind a 36-point output from Hardy. Pelyhe added 14 points in the win, which clinched SMUS a berth in the provincial tournament for the first time since 2022, while Mairet had 12 points. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Pacific Christian shocked host Lambrick Park with a 70-61 win.
Hardy poured in 35 points to lead SMUS in Thursday’s opening round 92-60 win over Highland of Comox. Pelyhe, Mairet and Woods added 13 points each in that victory.
The Blue Jags, currently ranked No. 6 among BC AA teams, will now await the draw to be unveiled for the BC AA Championship tournament March 5 to 8 at the Langley Events Centre. The tournament seedings and draw will be announced on Sunday, March 2.
Junior Girls Basketball
The SMUS Junior Girls Basketball team won three of its four games to finish fifth out of 24 teams at the BC Junior Girls Invitational tournament, which ended Sunday in Chilliwack.
The Junior Jags got a first-round bye thanks to their No. 5 provincial ranking heading into the BC tournament. In their first action at Chilliwack on Friday, they rode a 29-point performance from guard Linn Kuepper to beat RE Mountain of Langley 63-60. Mikaela Dubé scored 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the win while Elspeth Rodger contributed 13 points and Addie Tait six.
The Blue Jags’ quest for a BC championship ended in their second game of the tournament, however, as they fell 53-38 to host GW Graham on Saturday. Down only a single point at halftime, SMUS was held to just two points in the third quarter. Kuepper scored 17 points to lead the Blue Jags while Dubé added 10. GW Graham advanced all the way to the championship game of the tournament, before losing to Riverside.
SMUS bounced back with a 51-48 decision over No. 1-ranked Johnston Heights of Surrey in its third game, played later Saturday. Dubé led the way with a 17-point, 18-rebound effort while Kuepper also scored 17 points. Rodger was player of the game for SMUS with 14 points and seven rebounds while also guarding Johnston Heights’ top player.
The Junior Jags wrapped up what was a terrific season with a convincing 66-38 win over third-ranked MEI in the fifth-place game. Kuepper led SMUS with 26 points to earn player of the game honours while Dubé had 16 points and 19 rebounds and Rodger added 15 points.
For her performance over the tournament, Kuepper was honoured with a second-team all-star selection.
“Overall, it was a great weekend,” said Head Coach Tina Lum. “I am really proud of how the team ended the tournament with a dominating performance over third-ranked MEI.”
Senior Girls Basketball
The Senior Girls Basketball team will head to Langley on Wednesday for the 75th annual BC High School Championships. As the second seed in the AA draw, the Blue Jags will open with a match against No. 15 seed Nechako Valley Secondary of Vanderhoof.
Head Coach Lindsay Brooke is looking forward to the tournament after a solid week of training. “At this point in the season, we are fine tuning some details both offensively and defensively,” Brooke said. “It is really important that energy is high and players are healthy, rested and mentally sharp for the week ahead.”
“I do not know much about our first-round opponent. We will focus on our own play and what we can control, including our game-day routine. This is a veteran team, bringing lots of experience to the tournament. I am confident we will be ready to perform come Wednesday.”
Squash
SMUS Squash team members dominated action at the Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament held Saturday at Shawnigan Lake School
The SMUS Junior and Senior Boys teams won their respective titles with dominant performances. The Junior Boys didn’t drop a single match while the Senior Boys beat Brentwood 5-0 and Shawnigan 4-1.
The SMUS Girls team placed second after a close 3-2 encounter with Shawnigan in the final.
Included on the SMUS Junior Boys team are Elliot Judson, Rakshith Arun, James Ashwin, Omar Ghoneim and Wilson Kong.
Making up the Senior Boys team are Roshan Pathak, Max Arndt, Kieran MacKay, Carsten Rodger and Keith Alexander
Competing for the SMUS Girls were Mila Lampa, Amya Naimi, Carys Van Alphen, Laila Shetty and Maxi den Boer.
Seven members of the SMUS Squash team are heading to Vancouver this coming weekend to compete at the BC Junior Closed Championships (provincials).
Volleyball
The SMUS Grade 8 Boys Competitive team claimed the bronze medal at the Thunder Classic volleyball tournament held over the weekend at Spectrum.
The Blue Jags placed first in their pool on Friday night, defeating Cedar Hill, PCS and Colquitz. SMUS beat Arbutus in a playoff quarterfinal but then lost in a semifinal against Colquitz Red in the third set. The Blue Jags completed the tournament by defeating heavy hitting Central Middle School in the bronze-medal match.
“The team played fantastic all weekend and I’m very proud of them,” said SMUS coach Brady Doland.
Recognition
A famous SMUS alumnus and a current SMUS Coach and Athletic Director were each recognized for outstanding contributions to their sport this week.
Rugby legend Gareth Rees '85 received the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for his incredible contributions and achievement with Rugby Canada.
And current SMUS Athletic Director and Senior Girls Basketball Coach Lindsay Brooke was honoured with a selection to the ‘Team of the Decade’ for the 90s, recognizing her play as a star point guard for a BC champion Spectrum team.
