The high-school basketball season is set to tip off at Semiahmoo Secondary Monday, when all three of the school’s boys hoops teams take on their Cloverdale rivals from Lord Tweedsmuir.
The two schools will play four games against one another in Semiahmoo’s gym, starting with a Grade 8 tilt at 3 p.m., followed by a Grade 9 game at 4:30, juniors at 6 and seniors at 7:30.
For the senior boys squad, the coming season is a chance to build on last year, which saw the Totems qualify for provincial championships for just the fourth time in school history, and the first time since 1976. They finished the season eighth in the province.
“I’m very excited for the season and the boys are excited, too. We’ve been practising for three weeks and they’re tired of just playing against each other in practice. They’re raring to go,” said Semiahmoo senior boys coach Ed Lefurgy.
Semi’s team will be younger than last year’s – this year’s roster has just three Grade 12s and will include a pair of Grade 10 starters – but Lefurgy was confident they’ll be just as competitive as last season’s squad.
“They might be a little green in the beginning, but I think by midseason, by February, they’ll be right there,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any pressure (to live up to last year’s performance), but I do know that we’re hungry.
“We want to keep building. Our goal is to get back to provincials.”
Earl Marriott Secondary’s senior team also hits the court Monday night, when they travel north to Holy Cross, for an exhibition game against the Crusaders.
Both Semiahmoo and EMS will begin regular-season play on Dec. 9, with Semi hosting the Tamanawis Wildcats and Marriott hosting the Seaquam Seahawks.