The Wildcats were able to claw their way to the top in Island senior AAA hoops.
Wellington Secondary School's senior boys' basketball team won the Island championship on Saturday night at the Nanaimo District Secondary School gym, defeating the host NDSS Islanders 64-50.
"We came out with a ton of intensity," said Hayden Jeffrey, Wildcats point guard and tournament MVP. "Defensive intensity is our strong suit, that's how we win games and that's what we did in this tournament from the start."
It was the reverse result of last year's Island final, and the first-ever Island title for Wellington at the AAA level.
"It was great," said Brooks Branchi, Wildcats shooting guard. "It was so relieving [after] we came this far."
The gym was packed for the all-Nanaimo final, creating big-game atmosphere.
"You could hardly hear yourself think out there and that's what you want in a game like this. It was fun," Jeffrey said.
Branchi scored a game-high 21 points in the final, with Jeffrey adding 13. For the Islanders, Max Reed scored 19 and Will Fridriksson scored 12.
Wellington's appearance in the final wasn't expected, as the Wildcats knocked off the previously undefeated Isfeld Ice in Friday's semifinal, 72-45.
"We just gained all the confidence in the world," Jeffrey said of the semifinal win.
Graham Giske, co-coach of the Wildcats, said he's proud of the guys for their history-making win and noted Wellington has had some really strong teams and players over the years.
"The guys really deserved it," Giske said. "They've overcome a lot of hurdles this season. We had a tough schedule and it hasn't been easy. It's been a bumpy road, that's for sure, but that's what makes us good and prepared us for this moment."
In Welly's semifinal win, Ryder Jenks scored 20 points, Branchi had 15 and Alex Staniforth scored 14.
In addition to Jeffrey's MVP award, first-team all-stars included Jenks, Reed and Callum Gemma, also of NDSS. Staniforth, Branchi and Fridriksson were second-team all-stars.
Elsewhere in Nanaimo, the Dover Bay Dolphins finished fourth at senior AAAA Island championships in their home gym. Dover ended the tourney with a 68-66 loss to Belmont in a back-and-forth game Saturday. Quinn Mirau and Jeff Webb were selected as second-team all-stars at the tournament. The Oak Bay Bays are AAAA Island champions after defeating Cowichan 89-57 in the final.
GAME ON … Both Wellington and Nanaimo District earned berths into the provincial championship tournament, to be held March 9-12 at the Langley Events Centre. Results from senior A boys' Island championships, involving the Nanaimo Christian School Trailblazers, weren't available at press time.
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Hayden Jeffrey of the Wellington Wildcats chosen MVP of AAA Island championships… #Nanaimo #basketball pic.twitter.com/h6ce5xV5rh
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) February 28, 2016