You’ve got to believe.
It’s the time of year where faith and best wishes are high on the list of things to be open to, and for the New Westminster Hyacks senior boys basketball team, that goes double.
Hosting this week’s Bob Gair Classic, which kicks off today (Wednesday) with a game at 2 p.m., the Hyacks are hoping to spread good cheer along its lineup as they tip-off against league rival Cariboo Hill.
“I think we’re close, not far away from coming together,” remarked New West coach Ted Cusick. “Some things I’m really pleased with, and other things not so much.”
After dropping their first league test 10 days ago, some favourable bounces would be a welcome break at this time of year, Cusick mused.
“At practice (Monday) they were all loosy-goosy and feeling pretty good, which I like to see,” said Cusick. “They put up 80 points against the top team in the province, so that’s a good thing. Sure, (Centennial) scored 21 more, but, hey, baby steps.”
Having tested their mettle against the No. 1-ranked Centennial Centaurs last Thursday, falling 105-81, the Hyacks are hoping a march to the tourney final will bolster team chemistry and confidence.
Staying within striking distance for part of the game before the Coquitlam school went on a bit of a run in the third quarter, the Hyacks saw what it takes to be elite.
The Cents’ big gun, Dominic Parolin, proved unstoppable and scored 35 points, including a handful of three-point shots that confounded the defensive strategy Cusick had installed for the six-foot-eight centre. Parolin also racked up 10 rebounds.
Leading New West shooter was Kirk Bothwell, with 29 points, including connecting on five of nine three-pointers. He also secured three steals. Contributing 16 points and 10 rebounds was Grade 11 forward Quentin Leberg, while Bradie Traverse tallied 10 points and six assists.
It was just one of three games last week, which also saw them fall 76-74 to Burnaby North in the regular season opener, along with an exhibition 77-67 victory over Sands of North Delta.
Cusick said he’s feeling confident in going to his bench, as players challenge for bigger roles.
“I’m still shuffling my lineup and getting kids some playing time,” he noted. “We’ve got kids who are working hard to get longer looks. ... (Grade 11 Luke Dixon) shot some threes (against Centennial), going three of six, and he’s fighting for more time.”
At the same time, Cusick conceded that the team’s main issue – a steady flow of turnovers – hasn’t come around like he’d hoped.
“Maybe we’re not concentrating enough or rushing things, but you can’t win many games when you average 24 turnovers (a game),” he said.
Because his game plan is a fast break tempo, turnovers are a price of admission. However, when the shooting seems to go cold it’s hard to get ahead. And when the turnovers breech 20 per game, it takes some hot shooting to come out ahead.
“My shooters haven’t been hitting yet,” said Cusick. “I thought we would be a fairly good (three-point) shooting team but so far, just a few positive signs.”
Against Centennial, the team flashed some success, finishing 13-for-39 from long distance. But they were just two of 10 in free throws. In the last-second loss to Burnaby North, they were just six of 23 from outside.
And league wins are what really matter, Cusick said.
Today's opener against Cariboo Hill counts as a league contest, providing even more incentive to come out firing.
“I want us to win in front of our home crowd and just cut down the turnovers,” said the coach. “My style of play fosters a shooting game, so we run a lot and defence doesn’t matter. I wish it did,” he added with a laugh.
Thursday’s 2 p.m. opponent will be against the winner of Port Moody and 2-A Cambie. The tourney wraps up with 7:15 p.m. games that evening. The other teams in competition are ranked A.R. MacNeill of Richmond (No. 8 in 3-A), Enver Creek, Queen Elizabeth and Sir Winston Churchill. All games are at the Pearson (corner of Eighth Street and 10th Avenue).
