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.