The Dover Bay Dolphins made it all the way to the championship game before losing in the first all-Island provincial final in more than 45 years.
Dover's senior AAAA boys earned the chance to play for a championship and came second, falling 81-66 to the Spectrum Thunder on Saturday, March 8, at the Langley Events Centre.
The Thunder were the defending AAAA champions, the Dolphins won the AAA title last year, and both teams were highly ranked all year this year setting up the anticipated provincial championship game.
Dover got the margin as close as two points early in the fourth quarter, but couldn't grab a lead and Spectrum was able to pull away. The Dolphins were led by Frank Linder, who scored 28 points, with Joe Linder scoring 18 and Van Suiter adding 15.
Frank and Joe were first-team all-stars and Suiter was a second-team all-star. Frank won the Inspiring Bandit Scholarship and Dover Bay won the School Spirit Award.
The Spectrum-Dover provincial final was the first time two Vancouver Island teams have played for B.C.'s top high school basketball prize since 1978, when the Nanaimo District Islanders defeated the Oak Bay Bays. Oak Bay was also a top-three ranked team this year but missed out on provincials after dropping a challenge game to Dover a few days after Island championships.
"Island basketball is the best it's ever been," said Tyler Verde, Spectrum coach. "The competition we've had all year, the competition we've had against those guys, grinding against them and honestly working together in ways has really helped our team and their teams and the Island grow as a whole. It's really special to see how well [the Island] is doing in all tiers in the province."
At senior AAA boys' provincials, held concurrently last week at the Langley Events Centre, Nanaimo's Wellington Wildcats came fourth after falling to another Island team, the Mark Isfeld Ice, in the bronze-medal game by a final score of 76-71. Grayson Ritzand led Wellington with 32 points and Brayden Savage scored 26 points. Savage was selected a first-team all-star and Ritzand a second-team all-star.
A senior A boys' provincials in Langley, the Nanaimo Christian School Trail Blazers finished 12th. Their final game was a 70-45 loss to Meadowridge; Dylan Legrow led NCS with 14 points.
