A rematch of last’s years Surrey RCMP Basketball Classic final got one day closer to reality Tuesday, after both White Rock Christian Academy and the defending champion Tamanawis Wildcats advanced past the Round of 16.
In total, eight teams are still in contention at the annual all-Surrey senior boys hoops tournament, which is set to wrap up Saturday.
The WRCA Warriors, the BC AAA No. 4-ranked team and winners of 10 of the last 14 RCMP titles, have not won the tournament since 2010, and lost last year by a single basket in overtime.
“We’re hoping to avenge that loss,” said WRCA coach Dale Shury, prior to his team’s 78-54 win over Fraser Heights Tuesday afternoon at Southridge.
“I always call this tournament the unofficial Surrey (playoff)championship, so it’s important.
“We’re coming off a good week, so we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves.”
Last week, WRCA won the prestigious Legal Beagle Tournament in Coquitlam, while also earning a win in league play over Elgin Park.
In addition to WRCA and Tamanawis – who knocked off Sullivan Heights 91-43 Tuesday – other teams advancing through to RCMP quarter-finals after Tuesday victories were Southridge, who beat Pacific Academy 73-61; Enver Creek, 80-61 over the Semiahmoo Totems; North Surrey, who beat Princess Margaret handily 87-38; Cloverdale’s Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers, who won 89-53 versus Queen Elizabeth; Elgin Park, with a 70-61 win over Fleetwood Park; and Panorama Ridge, who beat Earl Marriott 78-48.
Quarter-final action hit the court Wednesday with WRCA taking on South Surrer rivals Southridge; Enver Creek playing North Surrey; Tweedsmuir facing off against Panorama and Elgin Park playing Tamanawis.
Games continue today and Friday, with the final set for 7:45 p.m. Saturday at Enver Creek Secondary.
The tournament began Sunday with a qualifying round, with winners moving into Tuesday’s main draw and losers being bounced into the B Pool.
Frank Hurt, Surrey Christian, L.A. Matheson, Clayton Height, Kwantlen Park and Johnston Heights were vying for a B division title, but games were played Wednesday. The B tournament wraps up Thursday.
Junior boys
In the junior boys RCMP tournament, four teams are left in contention for the championship – Semiahmoo, Fleetwood Park, Lord Tweedsmuir and Tamanawis.
Semiahmoo, which was set to play Fleetwood Wednedsay in semifinal action, advanced into the final four after a quarter-final win Tuesday over Panorama Ridge, while Fleetwood advanced after beating White Rock Christian.
On the other side of the bracket, Tweedsmuir beat Enver Creek Tuesday to advance, while their semifinal-round opponent, Tamanawis, beat North Surrey in quarter-final action.
Thursday, the fifth- and sixth-place games will be played at Panorama Ridge, while the final game will be played at noon Saturday at Enver Creek.