The University of Victoria Vikes men’s and women’s basketball teams are away for tournaments in Quebec City and Toronto, but basketball fans can still get their fill at CARSA Performance Gym as the Vikes alumni welcome six top-notch high school teams.
The second annual Vikes Alumni Senior Boys Invitational will feature local No. 1-ranked teams in Brentwood College (double-A) and the Oak Bay Bays (quadruple-A) along with Vancouver College and Washington state visitors from Vashon Island High School, Kitsap High and Seattle Academy.
“We have six very high-quality teams on display, with every matchup over the three days [involving] B.C. versus Washington state and any profit we might make through gate receipts will go toward allowing a current high school player to attend and play for UVic in the future,” said Vikes Alumni basketball chairman Phil Ohl.
Day 1 on Thursday has Vancouver College — coached by former UVic great Lloyd Scrubb and led by talented guards Jack Dumont and Cam Wright and rugged six-foot-three forward Levi Dvorak — facing the Vashon Island Pirates at 1 p.m.
The visiting Pirates — home of 2009-12 Vikes guard Zac Andrus — impressed Island fans a year ago and are led by skilled back-court players Noah Edmonds and Jahmiah Hoogen.
Defending B.C. double-A champion Brentwood College, fresh of an impressive win at the Heritage Woods Kodiak Classic, takes the floor at 2:45 p.m. against North Kitsap.
The Mill Bay squad, which many consider to be the best team in the province, irrespective of the tiering system, is led by Bruno Chan, Brendan Sullivan and Nathan Pasloske. The Vikings of North Kitsap counter with their own highly skilled crew including point guard Zac Olmsted and six-foot-five wingman Kai Warren.
The first day of competition ends with Oak Bay — lead by guards Caelen Scott and Diego Maffia and a trio of six-foot-six forwards in Cam Henderson, Riley Cronk and Andrew Pittman — tipping off against Seattle Academy at 4:30 p.m.
Play resumes on Friday with Seattle Academy vs. Brentwood at 1 p.m.; North Kitsap vs. Van College at 2:45 p.m.; and Vashon Island vs. Oak Bay at 4:30 p.m. The tournament concludes Saturday with Van College vs. Seattle Academy at 9 a.m.; Brentwood vs. Vashon Island at 10:45 a.m.; and Oak Bay vs. North Kitsap at 12:30 p.m., followed by presentations at 2 p.m.
Daily admission to the tournament is $5 for adults, with all students under the age of 18 entering for free. All nine games will also be live-streamed on bcss.tv.
