Senior Girls Basketball
The SMUS Senior Girls Basketball team wrapped up an outstanding season with a silver-medal finish in the BC AAA Championship tournament this past weekend at the Langley Events Centre.
As the No. 2 seed in the 16-team provincial tournament, the Blue Jags faced Little Flower Academy (No. 15) in their opening-round game on Wednesday. After a bit of a slow start, the Blue Jags got to work in the full court with their press and transition offence. Eight players contributed offensively, with Avery Geddes leading all scorers with 20 points. Alex Motherwell added 14 points and Charlie Anderson chipped in 12. Maddy Albert finished with 12 rebounds and six points. Grade 10 call-up Mya Beare also netted her first basket with the Senior team. SMUS went on to win 67-33.
In the next day's quarter-final action, SMUS played WL Seaton of Vernon. Looking for revenge from a loss to SMUS earlier in the season, Seaton was hoping to upset the higher seeded Blue Jags. However, SMUS' pressure proved too much in the end, as the Blue Jags coasted to a 68-32 win. Nine players got into the SMUS scoring mix, including Grade 12 Sophia Eiley, who scored her first basket of the season. Grade 10 call-up Indigo Edgington also contributed a couple of baskets. The backcourt trio of Anderson, Motherwell and Geddes combined for 42 points.
That win set up a semifinal match with AAA rival South Kamloops – a familiar opponent as the Titans were the Blue Jags’ 2023 BC semifinal match up as well. This would be a game of runs with both teams battling hard and playing very physically. Unfortunately, the Blue Jags got in early foul trouble and gave up a 16-point second-quarter lead. SMUS still led 32-24 at the half, but the Titans closed the gap as the game progressed. On the Blue Jags’ final possession in the dying seconds, Anderson attacked the basket hard to draw a foul. She hit one of two free throws to give SMUS a one-point lead with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock. The Titans called a time out, advanced the ball and executed a great side-out play for a clear look, but came up short, giving the Jags the dramatic 55-54 victory. Anderson led all scorers with 23 points, Geddes added 18 points and Motherwell contributed another 10. Liv Vincent pulled down six boards in the winning effort.
In the final game, the Blue Jags faced the tournament’s No. 1-seeded team, the Brookswood Bobcats. It was another game of runs, with the Blue Jags finishing the first quarter down 21-9. Then, behind a great team defensive effort led by Grade 11 guard Joss Olcen, the Blue Jags rallied to take a 35-23 lead at the half.
Unfortunately, a slow third quarter for SMUS offensively combined with too many mental defensive lapses allowed the Bobcats to claw their way back into the game and Brookswood led 44-41 heading into the final quarter. The back-and-forth action and atmosphere in the Langley Events Centre were tremendous. Brookswood tied the game with 6.7 seconds to play in regulation and, unfortunately, the Blue Jags weren't able to get a last-second shot away, so the game went into overtime.
In the overtime, the Bobcats proved too much to handle, as they pulled away to win 69-63. Geddes finished the final with 21 points, Anderson had 19 and Albert seven. “It was an excellent effort by both teams,” says SMUS Head Coach Lindsay Brooke.
Blue Jags’ guards Anderson and Geddes were named to the BC tournament's first all-star team and SMUS teammate Motherwell was selected to the second all-star team.
It was the second consecutive silver-medal finish for the Blue Jags at the Senior Girls AAA BC tournament. The SMUS team has a lot to look forward to next season, including the return of the dynamic guard duo of Anderson and Geddes, as well as the defensive prowess of Olcen and the forward potential of Olivia Pickering and Cate Pontefract.
The Blue Jags, 26-8 overall this season, will graduate Alex Motherwell, Maddy Albert, Liv Vincent and Sophia Eiley. “They are tremendous athletes and fierce competitors,’’ Brooke says. “All who have contributed in a significant way to the successful culture that SMUS Blue Jags have become known for.”
Junior Boys Basketball
Although it began with a disappointing loss in the opening round, the SMUS Junior Boys ended their BC Championship tournament experience last week in Langley with four consecutive victories and a 17th-place overall finish in the 32-team tournament.
On Monday, SMUS point guard Dani Pelyhe scored a twisting, left-handed layup in traffic with just four seconds left in regulation to give the Blue Jags a 57-55 win over Burnaby Mountain, capping a dramatic comeback from an 11-point halftime deficit. Pelyhe led SMUS with 17 points in the victory while backcourt mate Parker Sheehan added 16 to earn player of the game honours.
Sheehan scored 15 points and received his second straight player of the game award on Tuesday as the Junior Jags finished the BC tournament with an impressive 61-57 win over the Tamanawis Wildcats in the consolation-side final. Pelyhe again led the Blue Jags with 18 points while forward Eliot Tait turned in a strong 12-point performance.
The win capped a successful season for the Blue Jags who finished with a 31-9 overall record against Junior competition in 2023-24.
Rowing
SMUS Rowing kicked off its 2024 spring racing season at the 2024 Elk Lake Spring Regatta with energy and determination. Despite facing the elements – from sun to rain and even a bit of snow or hail – SMUS athletes persevered, showcasing their grit and resilience. Racing through all the seasons in one weekend only highlighted the determination of SMUS crews, who have set a high standard for the season ahead.
Saturday racing featured strong performances from SMUS crews. The U17 Women’s Coxed Quad and the U19 Men’s Straight Quad finished third in their respective A Finals. The U19 Men’s Novice Eight also left a lasting impression with a second-place finish, showing promising talent early in the season. The day concluded with a triumphant victory for the U17 Women’s Coxed Four, who captured first place and set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Sunday included more commendable performances from SMUS rowers. The U17 Men’s Four finished third. The U19 Men’s Double placed fourth in the C Final, while the U19 Men’s Eight was sixth. The SMUS U17 Women’s Four displayed remarkable determination, capturing an impressive sixth-place finish despite competing in the U19 race.
“Thank you to all the organizers, umpires, and volunteers whose hard work and dedication made this weekend's event possible,” says SMUS Assistant Coach Sarah Hagkull. “Congratulations to all our athletes for a promising start to the season!”
Saturday Results:
- (3rd) U17 Women’s Coxed Quad: Final A
Jane Lee, Elizabeth Hardcastle, Clara Curry, Juliet Crowe, Bianca Batoni (Cox) - (3rd) U19 Men’s Straight Quad: Final B
William Song, Noah Melo, Oliver Pressello, Cameron Jones - (6th) U19 Women’s Single (1x): Final A
Rowan Denis - (6th) U19 Women’s Single (1x): Final B
Marlene Dietrich - (3rd) U17 Men’s Coxed Quad (4x+): Final A
Lucas Zhou, Tristan Salter, Joey Gao, Leo Denis, Elise Gomori (Cox) - (1st) U17 Women’s Coxed Four (4+): Final A
Braelyn Rowan, Clara Curry, Juliet Crowe, Mira Wirk, Bianca Batoni (Cox) - (6th) U19 Women’s Double (2x): Final B
Claire Lawler, Rowan Denis - (19th/29) U19 Women’s Double (2x):
Pippa Hlannon, Marlene Dietrich - (2nd) U19 Men’s Novice Eight (8+): Final A
Sam Kriegler, Liam Haberle, Lucas Zhou, William Zeng, Tristan Salter, Jiahan Lai, Leo Denis, Joey Gao, Jaclyn Chow (Cox)
Sunday Results:
- (4th) U19 Men’s Double (2x): Final C
William Song, Tiger Zhang - (7th) U19 Women’s Straight Quad: Final A
Claire Lawler, Pippa Hlannon, Marlene Dietrich, Rowan Denis - (8th) U19 Men’s Four (4+): Final A
Tony Yu, Oliver Pressello, Cameron Jones, Sam Kriegler, Jaieme Aubertin (Cox) - (7th) U19 Women’s Four (4+)
Elizabeth Hardcastle, Pippa Hlannon, Claire Lawler, Rowan Denis, Caroline Tam (Cox) - (6th) U19 Women’s Four (4+): Final A
Mira Wirk, Braelyn Rowan, Clara Curry, Juliet Crowe, Bianca Batoni (Cox) - (6th) U19 Men’s Eight (8+): Final A
Tony Yu, Oliver Pressello, Liam Haberle, Noah Melo, Sam Kriegler, Cameron Jones, William Song, William Zeng, Jaieme Aubertin (Cox) - (3rd) U17 Men’s Four (4+): Final A
William Zeng, Tristan Salter, Jiahan Lai, Leo Denis, Bianca Batoni (Cox) - (6th) U17 Men’s Eight (8+): Final A
Jane Lee, Lucas Zhou, William Zeng, Tristan Salter, Jiahan Lai, Joey Gao, Leo Denis, Elizabeth Hardcastle, Elise Gomori (Cox)
