The Maaqtusiis Magic quest for the 2014 BC Junior All Native boys’ title has ended in defeat with a loss of 98-90 to Van City in an evening game at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops. The loss gives Magic fourth place in the tourney.
“The guys played their hearts out to the end and I’m proud of all of them,” said Magic head coach Travis Thomas. The teams were neck-and-neck for the first quarter of the game with Van City holding a slim 20-19 lead going into the second quarter.
Thomas’ plan was to have his team contain Van City’s Dylan Joe and get Magic forward Riley Botting points from inside. The plan faltered though as Joe evaded being double-teamed and scored 35 points in the game. Botting was pushed around in the key early on, but he still managed to score 20 points in the first half.
“We couldn’t contain [Joe] but we did the best we could. He’s a good shooter and he got his points tonight,” Thomas said.
Van City held a 49-41 lead at the half and Thomas made adjustments going into the third quarter. He moved his defense further out on the perimeter and had his players pass to Botting more. The plan worked as the Magic held Van City to scoring six points and they took the lead 84-77 mid-way through the fourth quarter. But it also took some wind out of the players’ sails, Thomas said.
“It slowed them down but it also winded our guys,” he said.
Van City tightened up their defense and went on a 13-point run to make it 91-86. Magic pulled within six points but that’s as close as they would get as Van City took the game.
The aftermath of the game was poignant for Magic. After a traditional all-player cheer at centre floor with both teams, several Magic players shed tears and were consoled by supporters.
“It’s the agony of defeat. You can see it,” Thomas said. “It’s the last junior all native for Dominic Thomas, Riley Botting, Gabe Campbell and Leo Torres, so they were emotional.”
Thomas singled out Botting and Adam Campbell, who had 38 and 18 points on the night, respectively. “Riley worked his butt off on both ends of the floor, and Adam really hustled it tonight.”
The third quarter, when Magic rallied to overcome a 15-point deficit, stands out in Thomas’ mind. “We got 15 points but it was really our defense that did it. I’ve preached defense all year and I could see the team bought into it,” he said.
Magic’s end was bitter-sweet. Earlier in the day, they beat Snuneymuxw 70-69 with one second left on the clock. Magic’s Iziah Robinson scored the winner on a play in which Botting was used as a decoy.
“Every grey hair I have on my head now is from today. I’m going home grey,” Thomas said.
Magic has eight players returning next year and will be back to compete in the 2015 BC Junior All Native, which is being held in Nanaimo.
The Vancouver team now plays the Tl’kemcheen Warriors in the semi-finals.
