Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Scully, Hyde-Lay Commit to UVic

                            Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

For Jason Scully and Graeme Hyde-Lay, a special present arrived just before Christmas this December, as both were extended offers to join the University of Victoria Vikes basketball program in the fall of 2015.

Hyde-Lay is a SMUS lifer who has been at the school since kindergarten, and Scully arrived at SMUS in grade four. Both have been instrumental in the school’s success on the basketball court in recent years, prompting the offers from UVic.

Scully also attracted interest from other universities by averaging more than 21 points and 9 rebounds per game with the Blue Jags so far this season, but ultimately the 6’5” wing felt that UVic was the best fit.

“I've been to many of the Vikes games while growing up in Victoria and I'm really excited to play for them next year.” said Scully, “I think it's really good to have some local guys like Graeme and I on the team and I will do my best to help the team win some games.”

Meanwhile, Hyde-Lay will practice with the team next year, but the 6’1” guard may have to wait until second year to get into game action.

“I'm really looking forward to joining UVic’s Program next year.” said Hyde-Lay, who also recalled his many experiences watching the Vikes growing up, “I watched the Vikes a lot growing up with my dad helping coach so it will be extra special for me.”

Graeme’s father and SMUS Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay was also pleased by the news, especially considering Coach Hyde-Lay himself played for UVic and later spent a total of nine years as an assistant on the Vikes Coaching Staff.

“They have worked hard on their games over the past few years, with positive results.” said Coach Hyde-Lay on Scully and Hyde-Lay's development. “Both understand the game very well and are very team oriented.”

“As one of their high school coaches, as a parent, and as a UVic alumnus, it will be wonderful for me to watch them represent the Vikes program in the years to come.” added the Blue Jags bench boss.

But first, however, Scully and Hyde-Lay have the rest of the Blue Jags season on their plate, as they look to finish their high school careers strong and bring a coveted provincial title home to SMUS. They begin a two game exhibition trip to Washington State this Friday.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Blue Jags Earn Third at Gary Taylor Classic with Win over Crusaders

                                 Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Jason Scully put up 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the SMUS Blue Jags to the 67-59 win over the Holy Cross Crusaders to close out the Oak Bay Gary Taylor Classic Saturday afternoon. Despite the win, it is safe to say the Blue Jags did not put forward the best of performances, at times struggling at the defensive end and allowing the Crusaders to score a number of easy buckets in transition.

The Blue Jags started the game well offensively and took a 9 point lead in the early going, but the Crusaders closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to cut the SMUS lead to 16-13 after one.

In the second, SMUS extended their lead to 12 points at one point and took a 9 point advantage into the break after giving up a late three-ball at the buzzer. Jason Scully led the way at half time with 11 points, meanwhile Graeme Hyde-Lay and Liam Catto chipped in with 6 points each for the Jags.

Holy Cross was once again able to play SMUS even for the majority of the third quarter, as the Jags had several players get in foul trouble. Heading to the fourth, the Blue Jags were up 54-46.

SMUS was able to keep their cushion in place the rest of the way, as the Crusaders came no closer than within 6 points in the fourth. In the end, the Blue Jags walked away with the 8 point victory with the final score being 67-59. 

Aside from Scully’s 26 point effort, Hyde-Lay finished with 18 points and 3 assists and Callum Montgomery contributed 5 rebounds and 3 assists for the Jags. Meanwhile, Jake Wilmot led the team with 4 helpers.

"We laboured a bit through the game today.” said Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay on the team’s performance, “A big focus for us in the new year is making smart basketball plays as well as time, score and shot clock awareness. Those things can be the difference in close games."

With the win, the Blue Jags finish in third place after posting a 2-1 record at the Gary Taylor Classic. The team will now get a well-deserved Christmas break, with practices resuming on December 29. Then, the team will head off to Washington State on January 2 for a pair of games in Port Angeles and Vashon Island.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Fighting Irish Hold Off Blue Jags on Day 2 of Gary Taylor Classic

                    Photo by Sarah Scully

By: Mike Edwards

A crucial 9-2 run inside the final two minutes proved to be the difference, as the Vancouver College Fighting Irish held off the SMUS Blue Jags to advance to the finals of the 2014 Gary Taylor Classic. Despite a big second half rally from the Blue Jags that saw them come back from 22 points down to take a lead with two minutes to play, the Fighting Irish were able to score when it mattered most in the final minutes Friday evening.

The Irish came out firing on all cylinders to start the game, forcing the Blue Jags into 7 turnovers in the opening frame. At the end of the first, SMUS trailed Vancouver College 24-9.

The Blue Jags picked up their intensity to start the second quarter, cutting the Vancouver College lead to 9 points. But the Irish had an answer for the Jags push and took a 41-24 lead into half time. Graeme Hyde-Lay led SMUS offensively with 10 points, and Jason Scully posted 6 points and 6 rebounds at recess.

SMUS once again had a strong push to start the third, outscoring the Irish 17-7 in the quarter to make a big dent into their lead. Heading to the final frame, the Jags were down 48-41.

The Blue Jags brought their momentum with them into the fourth, erasing the 7 point deficit and taking the lead on a jump hook from Hyde-Lay from outside the lane with 2:15 to play. But the Irish came back with 5 unanswered points as part of the decisive 9-2 run that saw Vancouver College put away SMUS for the 64-59 victory.

Hyde-Lay was the high point man for the Blue Jags in the loss, dropping in 18 points and adding 3 assists despite leaving the game briefly in the second quarter for repairs after sustaining a cut above his right eye. Meanwhile, Scully finished with his sixth double double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, plus he also recorded team highs in both assists and steals, with 5 and 4, respectively. Liam Catto also put forward a strong performance, posting 13 points and 6 rebounds for the Jags.

"Our goal was to be in the final." said Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay after the game, "It was a gallant comeback, but over the 40 minutes, 64-59 was a fair result."

SMUS will conclude play at the Gary Taylor Classic Saturday afternoon with a matchup against Holy Cross, as the team looks to head into the Christmas break on a high note. The game time is set for 2:15 PM at Oak Bay High School.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Blue Jags Handle Thunderbirds on Day 1 of Gary Taylor Classic

                                     Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Jason Scully notched his fifth double double of the season, pouring in 24 points, corralling 13 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists to lead the SMUS Blue Jags to their second highest scoring output of the season in the team’s 81-62 win over the Cowichan Thunderbirds to open the Oak Bay Gary Taylor Classic Thursday evening.

SMUS came out strong to start, going on a 14-3 run to open the game. After a strong offensive first quarter, the Blue Jags held a 30-14 lead. Graeme Hyde-Lay dropped in 13 points and added 3 assists to lead the Jags attack in the opening frame.

The Thunderbirds responded in the second, outscoring SMUS 25-19 in the period and cutting the Jags lead to 49-39 at half time. Jason Scully led the Blue Jags with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists at the break.

The Blue Jags continued to pick apart the Thunderbirds defence in the second half, restoring their comfortable lead of 20 plus points for the majority of the half. In the end, the Blue Jags came away with the 81-62 win.

Aside from Scully’s big game, the Blue Jags also received significant contributions from Hyde-Lay (15 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds), Max Pollen (12 points and 4 assists) and Callum Montgomery (9 points and 5 rebounds). Meanwhile, Lucas De Vries totaled a season high 3 blocks in the Jags winning effort.

“We took care of business against a solid team in Cowichan.” said Scully on the important win, “Our defense could have been better but offensively we were clicking pretty well.”

With the win, the Blue Jags have themselves a matchup with highly-touted Vancouver College in what Scully says will be “a good test” for the team. The game will take place at 5:45 PM on Friday evening at Oak Bay High School.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Blue Jags Get By Thunder to Remain Perfect in League Play

                    Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Coming off a big win over Walnut Grove to close out the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament and with a big game against Cowichan looming to begin the Gary Taylor Tournament, it appeared as though the SMUS Blue Jags Victoria Tier 1 League game versus the Spectrum Thunder wedged in between was a prime trap game candidate. That was exactly how it played out, as the Blue Jags were able to fend off a feisty Thunder squad despite a lacklustre performance Tuesday night to improve to 3-0 in Victoria Tier 1 League play.

Both teams got off to slow offensive starts, however the Blue Jags were able to pick it up late in the quarter to take a 18-13 lead after one. Graeme Hyde-Lay dropped in 7 points and Matty McColl led the Jags with 5 rebounds in the first quarter.

SMUS took their momentum with them into the second, going on a 7-0 run to start the frame. But the Thunder fought back, going on a 7-0 run of their own to cut the SMUS lead to 28-20 at the half. Jake Wilmott led the Jags with 8 points at the break.

The Blue Jags coasted through the second half, resting on the cushion they built for themselves in the first half. It was also a good opportunity for the Blue Jags' bench to get some quality floor time, as Alec Keech, Jack Sherrod, Lucas De Vries and Angus Catto had strong showings off the bench in the second half.

In the end, the Jags walked away with the 51-39 victory. Wilmott finished as the high point man for the Jags putting up 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Meanwhile, Hyde-Lay posted 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Liam Catto hauled in a team high 10 boards including 5 at the offensive end.

“I just try to compete under the basket.” said Liam Catto – Angus' twin brother  on his strong rebounding effort, “It was a tough game for us but we’re happy to pull out the win.”

The Blue Jags will next enter competition at the Gary Taylor Classic that goes December 18-20 at Oak Bay High School. First up for the team is an important game with Cowichan that will tip off at 3:00 PM on Thursday.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Blue Jags Hold Off Gators to Earn Fourth at VC Emerald Tournament

                                   Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Jason Scully put forward his best statistical performance of the season, pouring in a season-high 29 points and adding 12 rebounds and 4 assists as the SMUS Blue Jags held off a late push from the Walnut Grove Gators to conclude play at the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jags had built a 20 point lead midway through the third quarter, but the Gators clawed back to within 3 only to have their comeback spoiled by a late game-sealing three from Jake Wilmott.

The Blue Jags started strong, opening on a 7-0 run to begin the game. But the Gators replied late in the quarter, cutting the SMUS lead to 4 at the end of one. The Jags took an 18-14 lead at the end of the first on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Scully.

SMUS continued to play well offensively in the second, shooting the three at a high percentage and extending their lead to 43-32 at the half. Scully led all players with 16 points and 8 boards for the Jags, and Wilmott chipped in with 12 points at recess.

The third brought more of the same, as the Blue Jags were able to extend the lead to 20 at one point, and took a 16 point advantage into the final frame. However, the Gators staged a big comeback push to start the fourth quarter, as they cut the SMUS lead down to 3 with under 2 minutes to play. But a crucial Wilmott three-ball with just under a minute to go put SMUS back up by 6 and put away the 73-65 Blue Jags victory.


Aside from the double double from Scully, Wilmott finished with 18 points and 5 assists and Graeme Hyde-Lay added 9 points and 4 helpers for the Jags.

 "I was able to get open from attention going to my teammates and got a couple shots and knocked them down." said Wilmott on his timely shooting, including the dagger three that put the game to bed.

The Blue Jags now head home from the Emerald tournament with a 2-1 record, good for a fourth place finish. Next up for the Jags is a Victoria Tier 1 League date at Spectrum at 7:30 PM on Tuesday. Then the Blue Jags will gear up for the Oak Bay Gary Taylor Classic that goes from December 18-20.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Blue Jags Take Down Totems on Day 2 of VC Emerald Tournament

                   Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Three different players totaled at least 18 points, and the SMUS Blue Jags were able to overcome an early deficit to take the 76-67 win over the Semiahmoo Totems on the second day of the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament.

The Blue Jags started slowly once again, allowing the Totems to jump out to an early 17-5 lead in the first frame. But the Jags picked it up for the second half of the quarter to cut the deficit to 21-13 at the end of one.

SMUS came out strong to start the second quarter, as Max Pollen heated up shooting the ball to aid the Jags comeback effort. SMUS eliminated the 8 point deficit and took a 4 point advantage of their own into half time. Pollen posted in 14 points, Graeme Hyde-Lay contributed 11 and 4 rebounds, and Lucas De Vries hauled down 7 boards in the opening half for SMUS.

The Blue Jags continued to score at the offensive end in the third, recording 26 points in the frame to extend the lead to 8 points. Heading to the final frame, the Blue Jags took a 62-54 lead on a last second reverse lay-in from Hyde-Lay.

In the fourth, SMUS was able to keep Semiahmoo in check offensively as they walked away with the 76-67 win. Jason Scully was the high point man for SMUS, posting 19 points and 9 rebounds. The Jags also received significant contributions on the scoreboard from Hyde-Lay who finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and Pollen who also dropped in 18 on 55% shooting.

"My shot felt good today", said Pollen on his strong shooting night, "there were lots of opportunities to shoot so I took them."

With the win, SMUS improves to 1-1 in the Emerald Tournament which wraps up on Saturday. The Blue Jags will look to finish off the tourney strong with a matchup against Walnut Grove at 1:45 PM.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Blue Jags Fall to Bears on Day 1 at VC Emerald Tournament

                                            Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags came out flat and weren't able to recover, dropping their first contest of the Vancouver College Emerald tournament to the Mt. Boucherie Bears 72-56 Thursday night. Despite hanging around on the scoreboard, the Blue Jags weren't able to put together a big enough comeback push.

SMUS got off to a slow start and dug themselves into a hole early on as the Bears opened with a 14-0 run. The Blue Jags battled back in the second half of the quarter to cut the Bears lead to 18-12 at the end of one, capped off by a Jason Scully buzzer-beater from the top of the key.

The Blue Jags were able to play the Bears even in the second frame, despite shooting the ball at a uncharacteristically low percentage from three. Alec Keech gave the Jags a much needed spark late in the quarter with two quick offensive boards, followed by a buzzer-beating jumper from the short corner to cut the Bears lead to 33-27 at recess. Callum Montgomery led SMUS offensively with 8 points, Scully added 7, and Jake Wilmott chipped in 6 for the Jags in the first half.

The second half was reminiscent of the first, as the Blue Jags were unable to really get going in many facets of the game. Each time the Jags pushed to cut the lead, the Bears had an answer. In the end, Mt. Boucherie was able to pull away late for the 72-56 victory.

Scully led the Jags in scoring on the night with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jake Wilmott added 13 points and 6 boards. Meanwhile, Callum Montgomery dropped 12 points while adding 4 rebounds and 4 assists and Max Pollen recorded a team high 5 helpers. Arguably the best performance of the night, however, came from Alec Keech who corralled 5 rebounds including 4 at the offensive end.

"I try to work hard on every possession and do the little things well." said Keech on his mindset heading into the game, "If we work hard as a team we will be successful."

The Blue Jags will continue competition in the Emerald Tournament Friday evening with a tilt against Semiahmoo at 5:30 PM. Following that game the Jags will have one more game on Saturday depending on Friday's game results to wrap up the tournament.

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Scully Hits Game-Winner at the Buzzer, Blue Jags Edge Lions in Overtime Thriller

                   Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Jason Scully came up clutch for the SMUS Blue Jags in hostile territory, nailing both a game-tying three with 4.8 seconds left in regulation and the game-winner at the buzzer in overtime, to give SMUS a thrilling 68-65 win over their cross town rivals, the Lambrick Park Lions. Scully also broke his previous season high in points, notching 28 and adding 12 rebounds for the Blue Jags.

Lambrick got off to a fast start to open the first quarter, draining three triphectas in the first 4 minutes of the game. But a late Liam Catto three-ball cut the lead to 18-15 for Lambrick Park at the end of the opening period.

The Lions continued to shoot the ball well in the second, but the Blue Jags were able to keep pace despite a tough offensive first half. The Lions had a slight edge at half time, taking a 30-27 lead into the break. Jake Wilmott, Max Pollen and Graeme Hyde-Lay put in 6 points each in the opening half, meanwhile Scully corralled 5 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.

The Blue Jags increased their intensity and came out strong to start the third, taking over the lead and extending it to 6 at one point thanks to their strong full court press. But the Lions battled back, cutting SMUS’ lead to 2 points at the end of the quarter. Heading to the fourth, SMUS had a 47-45 advantage.

After a key and-one from Scully to extend the lead to 6, Lambrick roared back with 8 unanswered points to take 2 point lead with just over 2 minutes to play. Then, with 4.8 seconds on the clock and SMUS with the ball down by 3, Hyde-Lay found Scully who drilled the game-tying three-pointer over a Lions defender to send the game to overtime. Below is a video of Scully's game-tying shot:
 
                               Video by Dave Edwards

The Lions came out firing to start the extra frame taking an early 6 point lead, but the Blue Jags came back with 6 unanswered points of their own to tie the game with just over a minute left. After Lambrick failed to take the lead with less than 10 seconds left, the Blue Jags moved quickly back the other way. The ball once again found its way to Scully, who effortlessly drained the game-winning three point shot at the buzzer to give SMUS the win.

“It's a great feeling in the short term to be able to get the win against one of our main rivals in AA this year.” said Scully after the game. “That being said, we took a step back from our games on the weekend and obviously there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

Aside from Scully’s clutch performance, Wilmott finished with 16 points and 4 steals for the Jags, and Hyde-Lay led the team in assists with 5.

With the win, the Blue Jags improve to 2-0 so far in Victoria Tier 1 League play. Next up, the team travels to Vancouver on Thursday to take part in the Vancouver College Emerald Tournament from December 11-13.

Saturday, December 06, 2014

Blue Jags Defeat Griffins, Go Two-for-Two in Weekend Exibition Games

                             Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags concluded their two weekend exhibition games Saturday afternoon, defeating the RC Palmer Griffins 74-48 for their second convincing win in as many days after having beat St. Thomas More Friday evening. Jason Scully was once again the high point man for the Blue Jags, equalling his season high in points with 27 and collecting 7 rebounds.

SMUS got off to a quick offensive start, as they were able to solve the Griffins zone defence in the early going. SMUS took a 22-8 lead after one, with Jason Scully leading all players with 15 points and Graeme Hyde-Lay adding 5.

The Griffins picked it up in the second, playing SMUS even for the majority of the quarter. But the Blue Jags continued to get good quality looks at the offensive end and were able to take a 39-23 lead despite shooting at a low percentage from behind the arc. Scully ended the half with 19 points, meanwhile Jake Wilmott contributed 6 assists and Matty McColl recorded 2 blocks for SMUS.

The Blue Jags coasted through the second half, wrapping up the win by a final score of 74-48. Aside from Scully's 27 point effort, the Blue Jags also received contributions from Hyde-Lay, who finished with 14 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds and Wilmott who recorded 9 points, 7 helpers and 3 boards. Callum Montgomery also put forward a strong defensive effort, posting a team high 5 steals on the day.

"The team came in with the right mentality and we pressed as a unit.” said Montgomery after the game, “We caused a lot of turnovers and our work rate was bound for success."

The Blue Jags will look to extend their three game win streak on Tuesday as they travel to Lambrick for the Jags’ second Victoria Tier 1 League game of the regular season. The game time is set for 7:30 PM at Lambrick Park High School. Following that game, the Blue Jags will head to Vancouver on Thursday for the prestigious Vancouver College Emerald Tournament held December 11-13.

Friday, December 05, 2014

Blue Jags Overpower Knights for Statement Win

                                      Photo by Sarah Scully

By: Mike Edwards

Through five games of the 2014-15 SMUS Senior Boys Basketball season, the Blue Jags had yet to put together a complete 40 minute effort, drawing a sense of urgency from Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay. But a seemingly daunting matchup with the St. Thomas More Knights – ranked number one at the BC AAA level – was just what the doctor ordered.

Right from the start, the Blue Jags clicked on all cylinders and never looked back, taking down the Knights 72-27 for a massive statement win. Jason Scully had a monster game for the Jags, pouring in a season high 27 points on 71% shooting and adding 12 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists. SMUS also got a big boost with the return of Graeme Hyde-Lay and Callum Montgomery from injury.

SMUS came out flying to start, feeding off of a lively crowd in the single gym and pressuring St. Thomas More into a number of turnovers. The Jags played arguably their best quarter so far this season and were rewarded with a 19-4 lead at the end of a dominant opening period. Scully posted 8 points and 4 rebounds in the first frame and Max Pollen put in 7 for SMUS.

The Blue Jags took their momentum into the second, keeping up their strong play for the duration of the frame. SMUS continued to build on their lead and took a commanding 41-13 advantage into the break. Scully continued to lead the charge for the Jags, with 19 points and 7 rebounds in the first half.

The second half brought more of the same, as the Blue Jags held the Knights to only 4 points in the third quarter to give SMUS a 57-17 advantage. From there it was smooth sailing through the fourth as the Jags finished off the Knights for an emphatic 72-27 win.

Scully’s double double is his third in six games this season. Meanwhile, Pollen was dynamite for the Blue Jags, recording 20 points and 4 steals. In his first game back, Hyde-Lay finished with 13 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.

“I'm just really happy to be back playing with the boys and it was great to have such a great team performance.” remarked Hyde-Lay on his return to action, “Hopefully our work rate and intensity will stay high in the coming games."

The Blue Jags will look to keep the ball rolling Saturday afternoon, with another tough opponent from the mainland in RC Palmer. The game time has been moved up to 1:15 PM in the SMUS single gym.

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Blue Jags Tip Off League Season with Win Over Spartans

                   Photo by Sarah Scully

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags tipped off their regular season of the Victoria Tier 1 League Tuesday night, defeating the Claremont Spartans 65-43 in the SMUS single gym. Jake Wilmott dropped in a game high 23 points for the Jags.

Despite a slow start to the game for SMUS, the Blue Jags were able to jump out to a 16-8 lead after the first quarter. Jake Wilmott led all players with 10 points in the opening period and Matty McColl added 5 rebounds.

Claremont struggled shooting the ball in the early going, allowing SMUS to extend the lead to 15 points half way through the second frame. The first half ended with a Matty McColl buzzer-beating lay-in to close out a relatively low scoring half, with the Blue Jags leading 28-16.

It was more of the same in the third, as neither team played particularly well offensively, however SMUS was able to add to their lead and took an 18 point advantage into the fourth quarter.

The Blue Jags wrapped it up in the final frame, securing the 65-43 win. Aside from Wilmott’s 23 point effort, Jason Scully totalled 14 points and 7 rebounds, David Lee contributed 8 assists, and Lucas de Vries recorded 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. For the Spartans, Anton Ngongo scored a team high 12 points and Zack Manns added 11.

Despite the win on opening day of league play, Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay stressed that the team still has a lot to improve on. "We are a bit behind on the details as a result of the extended soccer season and we have lots to work on.” said Coach Hyde-Lay on the team’s progression.

The Blue Jags will next be in action Friday and Saturday, hosting exhibition games against two top teams from the lower mainland. First up is St. Thomas More at 5:45 PM on Friday evening, followed by RC Palmer Saturday afternoon at 1:45 PM. Both teams are ranked at or near the top of the BC AAA and AA rankings, respectively, which should make for two highly contested tilts.