Blue Jags Capture BC AA Provincial Title

By: Mike Edwards

It was a long time coming, but the SMUS Blue Jags Provincial dream has finally become a reality. The Blue Jags defeated the Delview Raiders 66-40 in convincing fashion Saturday night to capture the BC AA Provincial Title, a win that is even more special for the seniors on the team after their heartbreaking loss in the Provincial Final one year ago.

This time around, however, the Blue Jags had their way. SMUS was nothing short of dominant in the tournament, winning each of their four games by at least a 26 point margin. The team's stretch of dominance can be extended back to their January 27 game against Claremont, the first of an 18 game win streak to close their season. It was truly a storybook ending to what has been a lengthy journey for many Blue Jags.

“I could not be more proud of this squad.” said senior guard Jake Wilmott, “This [Provincial Championship] was years in the making and we finally did it.”

The Blue Jags got off to a good start in the game, opening on a 16-4 run. But the Raiders clawed back to cut the SMUS lead to 19-13 after one quarter of play. Wilmott, Matty McColl and Callum Montgomery scored 4 points each in the first for the Jags.

The two teams played each other evenly in the second, as SMUS took a slim 29-22 lead into the break. Jason Scully led the way at recess with 9 points, McColl contributed 5 points and 7 rebounds and Wilmott chipped in with 4 points and 6 assists in the opening 20 minutes.

The Blue Jags exploded in the third quarter, pulling away from the Raiders to take a commanding 48-29 lead heading to the final frame. In the fourth, SMUS all but put the game to bed, highlighted by an emphatic Jason Scully jam off a beautiful feed from Montgomery. The dunk put an exclamation point on the Blue Jags Provincial Title win, by a final score of 66-40.

Scully finished as the high point man for the Jags, dropping in 21 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, and earned Player of the Game honours. Meanwhile, Graeme Hyde-Lay recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds, Wilmott totaled 11 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, Montgomery chipped in with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and McColl hauled in a team high 11 boards for SMUS.

In the awards ceremony, Hyde-Lay was awarded the tournament MVP, Scully and Wilmott were named to the first all-star team and Max Pollen received Defensive Player of the Tournament honours. In addition, Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay was named as the Coach of the Tournament.

“It feels great to have all our hard work pay off to win the Provincial Championship.” said G. Hyde-Lay, “I’m really honoured to be chosen for the MVP award, but most of all really proud of the boys for an amazing season.”

“I’m obviously extremely happy about how we finished up our season and our win really represents the way we’ve tried to play all year.” added Scully, “It feels great to close out the final which we weren't able to do last year.”

Despite the excellent streak of basketball throughout February and March that capped off the Blue Jags season, the 2014-15 campaign wasn’t all a smooth ride for the Blue Jags.

“Probably the best thing that could have happened to us was getting trounced by Semiahmoo on January 22.” said Coach Hyde-Lay following the game, “That game led us to really focus on our defence and rebounding. I know it’s a cliché, but defence and rebounding is what wins championships.”

“All the way through the team’s work ethic has been terrific.” continued Hyde-Lay, “It was a very sweet way to wrap up the last number of years with this core of players.”

For the 10 graduating Blue Jags (Hyde-Lay, Scully, Wilmott, McColl, Montgomery, Pollen, Liam Catto, Angus Catto, Alex Caton, and David Lee), they could not have asked for a better ending to their season and their high school basketball careers. Now, with the basketball and soccer Provincial Championships already in the bank, the attention turns to rugby as SMUS looks to complete the rare triple of three Provincial Championships in one year.

Blue Jags Power into Provincial Final with win over Cavaliers

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Graeme Hyde-Lay poured in a game high 25 points including 6 giant triphectas to power the SMUS Blue Jags past the Collingwood Cavaliers 67-34 and into the highly anticipated BC AA Provincial Final. The Blue Jags and Cavaliers were separated by a slim margin for the majority of the game until the third quarter when Hyde-Lay led a Blue Jags surge that saw them pull away.

 

Both teams got off to understandably slow starts out the gate, but SMUS settled in midway through the quarter and took a 12-4 lead after a low scoring opening period. Hyde-Lay led the way with 6 points in the first frame.

 

The two teams played each other evenly in the second quarter, as SMUS held a 28-23 lead at half time. Hyde-Lay continued to lead the way with 11 points and 3 rebounds at the break, Jason Scully added 10 points and 4 rebounds and Matty McColl corralled 6 boards for the Jags.

 

The Blue Jags extended their lead to start the third backed by a number of gigantic Hyde-Lay three-balls. Heading to the final frame, SMUS was up 49-30. The Blue Jags were able to hold a comfortable advantage the rest of the way, as they closed out the 67-34 victory.

 

Aside from Hyde-Lay’s monster game, Scully finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds and Max Pollen chipped in with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Meanwhile, McColl was a force on the boards all night, hauling in a team high 10 rebounds.

 

“Collingwood played a strong zone defence tonight so we had to take a lot of threes.” said Hyde-Lay after the game, “Fortunately I was able to get some good looks and make some shots.”

 

The Blue Jags will now gear up for what is the last and biggest game in all of their high school basketball careers: the BC AA Provincial Final against Delview. The game will tip off on the Arena Court of the Langley Events Centre at 3:45 PM on Saturday.

Blue Jags Top Grizzlies to Move into Provincial Semis

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags put together a complete 40 minute effort, topping the GW Graham Grizzlies 71-45 Thursday night to advance to the AA Provincial Semi Finals. The Blue Jags rock solid defence was the story in the game, as they held a typically high scoring Grizzlies team to only 45 points.

 

The Blue Jags came out with good energy to start the game, jumping out to a 24-16 lead after one quarter of play. Graeme Hyde-Lay dropped in 8 points in the opening frame while Jason Scully added 4 points and 5 rebounds.

 

The Blue Jags continued to play with high intensity at the defensive end and were able to build on their lead in the second, taking a 40-26 lead into half time. Max Pollen was the high scorer at the break with 10 points, Jake Wilmott chipped in with 8 of his own, Matty McColl recorded 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks and Scully tallied 6 points and 5 rebounds despite getting into foul trouble in the first 20 minutes for the Jags.

 

It was more of the same in the third quarter, as the Blue Jags high pressure defence continued to be the difference. Heading to the final frame, SMUS was up 51-30. That lead proved to be enough for the Blue Jags, as they maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way to finish off the Grizzlies by a final score of 71-45.

 

Scully scored a team high 15 points and 11 rebounds for the double double, while Pollen finished with 13 points and 4 assists to go along with an excellent shut-down defensive performance on GW Graham’s best player, earning him Player of the Game honours. The Blue Jags also received contributions from Hyde-Lay (12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists), Wilmott (10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals) and McColl (8 points and 9 rebounds) on the evening.

 

“I was very pleased with our defensive effort tonight.” said Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay on the team’s game, “GW Graham is a talented offensive team with three very good scorers, so to hold them to 45 was pleasing.”

 

The Blue Jags will now move on to the Semis in the AA Provincial Tournament against Collingwood at 8:45 PM at the Langley Events Centre.

 

“Collingwood is a very well coached and well drilled team.” added Hyde-Lay, “We'll have to do it all again tomorrow.”

Blue Jags Roll Over Eagles to Advance to Provincial Quarters

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags opened the BC AA Provincial Tournament in convincing fashion, rolling over the sixteenth seeded Mt. Elizabeth Eagles 95-28 Wednesday night to advance to the Quarter Finals.

 

The Blue Jags got off to a slow start at the offensive end in the first few minutes, but were able to feel their way into the game by the midway mark of the first quarter to take a 27-2 lead after one. Callum Montgomery exploded for 12 points in the opening period while Jake Wilmott recorded 4 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.

 

With the comfortable lead, the Blue Jags were able to rest their starters and allow the bench to get into the game in the second frame. Despite an improved shooting effort from the Eagles in the quarter, SMUS still held a sizeable 46-19 lead at half. David Lee led the way off the bench with 9 second quarter points for the Jags.

 

The Blue Jags expanded their lead in the third, heading to the final frame with a 73-21. SMUS coasted through the fourth to close out the 95-28 victory.

 

Montgomery finished as the high point man with 18 points and 4 rebounds, and was also awarded Player of the Game for his efforts. Meanwhile, Lee chipped in with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals and Wilmott was just one rebound shy of a double double with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. The Blue Jags also received contributions from Jason Scully (12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals), Graeme Hyde-Lay (9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals) and Matty McColl (8 rebounds).

 

"The starting five executed extremely well." said Blue Jags Assistant Coach Reagan Daly after the game, "I thought that the reserve crew played hard particularly in the second half when they focused defensively."

 

With the win, the Blue Jags will have a meeting with GW Graham in the Quarters. The game will tip off at 5:15 PM at the Langley Events Centre.

Blue Jags Top Kondors to Capture Second Consecutive Island Title

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags put forward another dominant performance Saturday night, topping the host Kwalikum Kondors 73-36 in hostile territory to capture their second AA Vancouver Island title in as many years. Strong defence was once again the story for the Blue Jags, who took command of the game early and didn't look back.

Despite getting into foul trouble early on in the first quarter, the Blue Jags executed well at the offensive end to jump out to a 21-10 lead. Callum Montgomery led all players with 10 points in the opening period.

The Blue Jags continued to score efficiently at the offensive end in the second and were also able to keep up their strong defensive play, expanding the lead to 37-19 at half. Montgomery still led the way with 16 points at the break, meanwhile Graeme Hyde-Lay dropped in 6 points, Jason Scully chipped in with 4 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds and Jake Wilmott added 4 points and 4 boards for the Jags.

SMUS kept it coming to start the third, squashing any comeback hopes the Kondors had. From there it was smooth sailing as the Blue Jags finished off the Kondors for the 73-36 victory.

Montgomery finished as the high point man with 18 points to go along with 5 steals, while the Blue Jags also got contributions from Hyde-Lay (14 points and 5 assists), Wilmott (13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals) and Scully (9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks). Scully was also awarded the MVP of the tournament for the second consecutive year, while Hyde-Lay and Wilmott were named to the First All-Star team.

"I thought in all three games we defended and rebounded with great energy and that was reflected in the low point totals we conceded." said Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay on the team's strong tournament, "You have to be able to guard and rebound to be successful in the playoffs."

"Our hats go off to Kwalikum." continued Hyde-Lay, "The reality is it would have been hard for them to maintain the same emotional level they had last night in their big win [over Lambrick Park], but it is a great feat for them to have qualified for Provincials."

"The BCs will be a great challenge for us but we are playing our best basketball at the right time." added Hyde-Lay, "We just have to take it one game at a time."

The Blue Jags now have four games remaining on their schedule, the first of which will be in the round of 16 at the Provincial Tournament in Langley.

Blue Jags Clinch Provincial Berth with Emphatic Win Over Eagles

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags punched their ticket to Langley for the BC AA Provincial Tournament in emphatic fashion Friday night, blowing out the Brentwood Eagles 64-22 to advance to the Island Tournament Finals and secure the top three finish needed at to qualify for the Provincial Tournament. The Blue Jags displayed one of their most complete performances of the season, and they appear to have found the perfect time to string together their best stretch of basketball this season.

 

The Blue Jags came out flying to start, opening the game on a 9-2 run en route to a 18-8 lead after one quarter of play. Jason Scully led the way with 8 points and 3 rebounds while also protecting the rim with 3 blocks in the first, and Jake Wilmott chipped in with 6 points and 4 rebounds for the Jags.

 

The Blue Jags brought their momentum with them into the second, playing with high intensity at the defensive end to limit the Eagles to only 4 points in the frame. At half time, SMUS held a 35-12 lead. Scully (10 points and 8 rebounds) was just two rebounds short of a first half double double, while Graeme Hyde-Lay dropped in 10 of his own and Wilmott added 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in the opening 20 minutes.

 

The Blue Jags kept the foot on the gas pedal and didn't let up in the second half, adding to their lead further highlighted by a monstrous alley-oop dunk by Scully off a Matty McColl feed. SMUS once again played stellar defence in the period, holding the Eagles scoreless in the entire third quarter. The Blue Jags coasted through the final period to put the finishing touches on the 64-22 victory.

 

Hyde-Lay was the high point man with 13 points, Scully recorded a double double with 12 points and 11 boards, and Wilmott finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and a team high 6 steals in the game for the Jags.

 

"It was obviously a very good performance on the defensive end which is the most important thing for us as a team." said Wilmott, who also received Player of the Game honours, "We also clinched our berth to Langley which is very exciting."

 

The Blue Jags will now move on to the Island Final where they will meet the hosts Kwalikum coming off a big win over Lambrick Park in the other Semi Final. The game time is set for 7:30 PM on Saturday at Kwalikum.

Blue Jags Inch Closer to Provincial Berth with Win Over 49ers

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags opened the AA Island Tournament Thursday night, taking care of business with a 70-42 triumph over the Ladysmith 49ers in the Quarter Finals. With the win, the Blue Jags took one step closer to clinching a berth in the AA BC Provincial Tournament.

 

The Blue Jags got off to a strong start, scoring a number of transition buckets in the first frame to jump out to a 29-9 lead. Jason Scully led the way with 7 points in the opening period, meanwhile Graeme Hyde-Lay added 5 points and 3 assists.

 

The 49ers regrouped to start the second, going on a 6-0 run to begin the quarter. But the Blue Jags responded with a pair of triples from Alex Caton and Max Pollen to retake a comfortable 37-18 advantage into half time.

 

The Blue Jags kept it going to start the second half, continuing to find quality open looks and extending their lead to 58-27 after three quarters. From there it was smooth sailing for the Jags as they closed out the 70-42 victory.

 

Scully finished as the high point man with 11 points, meanwhile Callum Montgomery had a strong night at both ends with a Blue Jags season high 10 steals to go along with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Meanwhile, the Blue Jags also received contributions from Jake Wilmott (9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists), Hyde-Lay (8 points, 4 assists and 2 blocks), Liam Catto (8 points and 6 rebounds) and Lucas De Vries (8 rebounds).

 

"I just try to jump the passing lanes and pick their pockets like I'm stealing cookies from the cookie jar." said a cheerful Montgomery on his season high 10 steals after the game.

 

The Blue Jags will now advance to the Semi Finals of the Island Tournament where they will meet Brentwood for the first time since the ISA Tournament back in November. The scenario is simple – a win and the Blue Jags will punch their ticket to Langley for Provincials.

Blue Jags Top Lions in Physical Affair to Win South Island Tournament

                                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags put forward one of their best defensive performances of the season, defeating the Lambrick Park Lions 61-47 Saturday afternoon to win the South Island Tournament. For the 10 graduating seniors on the team – all of whom have made great contributions to the SMUS basketball program over the years – it was the final home game of their high school basketball careers.

The Blue Jags got off to a good offensive start in the first quarter, but Lambrick Park stayed in the game thanks to a number of second chance points off offensive rebounds. Max Pollen led the way with 9 points in the opening frame as SMUS took a 19-16 lead.

The story continued to be the physicality on the boards in the second, with possession hotly contested on each and every missed shot. The Jags were able to up their hustle in the rebounding department and that reflected on the scoreboard, as they widened their lead to 32-21 at half time. Callum Montgomery (4 points and 6 rebounds) and Jason Scully (7 points and 4 rebounds) led the Blue Jags on the boards in the opening half.

The two teams played each other evenly in the third, as the Blue Jags were able to maintain a 10 point cushion entering the fourth quarter. The Lions continued to hang around and stay within reach in the final period, until a late Graeme Hyde-Lay triple followed by a Scully and-one put Lambrick Park away for the 61-47 Blue Jags victory.

Scully finished as the high point man on the afternoon, scoring a game high 21 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Meanwhile, Hyde-Lay finished with 13 points and 4 steals, Pollen chipped in with 11 points and 3 rebounds and Montgomery totaled 8 points and 8 boards for the Jags.

“We were really happy with how we defended.” said Scully on the team’s strong shutdown effort, “We struggled at times on the boards but we were still able to find ways to maintain our lead.”

With the win, the Blue Jags earn the number one seed for the South Island in next week’s Island Tournament, where they will look to qualify for Provincials with a top three finish. The tournament will begin on Thursday at Kwalikum High School.

Blue Jags Down Stags to Open South Island Tournament

                   Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

With a strong regular season behind them, the SMUS Blue Jags began their much anticipated "second" season with the South Island Tournament Friday afternoon, opening on a high note by downing the Shawnigan Lake Stags 61-41 in the SMUS double gym.

The Blue Jags got off to a slow start offensively, as the Stags jumped out to a early lead three minutes into the game. But the Blue Jags came alive to finish the quarter on a 14-2 run, taking a 20-8 lead after one. Graeme Hyde-Lay lead the way with 9 points in the opening frame.

The two teams played each other relatively evenly in the second, but SMUS kept a 10 point advantage at half time for a 28-18 lead. Hyde-Lay still lead the way at half with 12 points and Jason Scully contributed 7 points 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

The Blue Jags expanded their lead to start the second half, heading into the final frame with a 16 point cushion. SMUS kept it coming the rest of the way to close out the 61-41 victory.

Hyde-Lay finished as the high point man with 20 points to go along with a team high 7 steals on the day. Meanwhile, Jake Wilmott tallied 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, Jason Scully notched a double double with 13 points, 13 boards, 4 helpers and 2 blocks and Callum Montgomery added 5 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals for the Jags.

"We had a bit of a shaky start but once we got rolling we got into a rhythm." said Hyde-Lay on the team's performance, "It was a good start to the stretch drive for us."

With the win, the Blue Jags will head into the South Island Tournament Final against Lambrick Park, which will also be SMUS' last game on home court for the team's seniors. The game time is set for 2:15 PM on Saturday in the SMUS double gym.

Blue Jags Conclude League Season with Rout of Rams

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags concluded their 2014-15 Victoria Tier 1 League regular season in style Saturday afternoon, putting together one of their strongest offensive outputs of the season in their 86-25 rout of the Mt. Douglas Rams. Lost in the 86 point outburst was an equally strong defensive effort, as the Blue Jags surrendered only 8 points in the final three quarters.

The Blue Jags got off to a rather sluggish start, giving up some easy inside buckets to the Rams in the early going, however some timely transition baskets kept SMUS tied with the Rams at 17-17 after one.

The Blue Jags woke up in the second and created separation from the Rams thanks to a 12-0 run to begin the quarter. After outscoring Mt. Douglas 26-3 overall in the frame, SMUS took a 43-20 lead into half time. Jason Scully led the way at the break with 12 points and 4 rebounds, Jake Wilmott contributed 10 points and Max Pollen added 7 for the Jags.

SMUS took their momentum with them into the second half, continuing to extend their lead after outscoring the Rams by another big margin in the third quarter, this time 29-2. Heading to the fourth, the Blue Jags held a 72-22 advantage. From there it was smooth sailing through the fourth as the Blue Jags closed out the 86-25 victory.

The Blue Jags received contributions on the scoreboard from a number of players on the afternoon. Scully finished as the high point man, posting 18 points and 5 rebounds, meanwhile Liam Catto notched 12 points, 6 rebounds and a team high 6 steals for the Jags. In addition, Wilmott (10 points, 4 assists and 4 steals), David Lee (9 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists), Graeme Hyde-Lay (8 points, 4 assists and 4 steals) and Lucas De Vries (6 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks) also had strong showings. Finally, Matty McColl recorded his first double double of the season, totaling 10 points and 12 rebounds on the day.

“Obviously we had a slow first quarter but we turned it on offensively getting going with a lot of back to back stops and scores.” said Wilmott on the team’s performance, “We outscored them by a big margin in the rest of the game and that speaks to our ability as a team.”

“Looking forward it's going to be very important to try and start our games with the same effort we had after the first quarter today for entire games.”

With the win, the Blue Jags end their Victoria Tier 1 League season with a 10-1 record. The team will now gear up for the last – and most important – stretch of the season. First up is the South Island Tournament hosted by SMUS from February 20-21.

Blue Jags Prove Too Much for Bulldogs, Sweep Season Series

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags put the foot on the gas pedal early and didn't look back, defeating the Belmont Bulldogs 66-39 Thursday night in a hostile Belmont environment. The two teams have grown familiar with each other this season – this being their fourth meeting – with the Blue Jags coming away with all four victories to sweep the season series.

The Blue Jags got off to an excellent start, canning five treys in the opening frame coupled with strong interior defence to jump out to a 24-3 lead after one quarter of play. Graeme Hyde-Lay led the team with 11 points in the opening frame.

SMUS expanded their lead in the second, opening the quarter on a 15-2 run to take a comfy 42-15 lead at recess. Hyde-Lay still led the way at half with 13 points and 3 assists and David Lee dropped in 8 of his own. Meanwhile, Liam Catto (6 points and 7 rebounds), Jake Wilmott (4 points and 7 rebounds) and Matty McColl (4 points 6 rebounds) also had strong showings in the first 20 minutes for the Jags.

The lead built up in the first half was enough for the Blue Jags, as they sat on their cushion the rest of the way. In the end, SMUS wrapped up the win by a final score of 66-39.

Scully finished with a team high 16 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Meanwhile, Hyde-Lay totaled 15 points and 5 assists and Lee also chipped in with 15. It was a strong night on the boards for the Blue Jags, who were led by McColl (13 rebounds), Wilmott (12 rebounds) and Catto (10 rebounds) in that department.

“I’m trying to be more confident looking for my shot and tonight my teammates were able to find me some good looks.” said Lee after the game, “I thought we rebounded very well tonight and really looked to run which resulted in some easy buckets.”

SMUS will now gear up for a Saturday afternoon tilt against Mt. Douglas. The game will get underway at 3:00 PM at SMUS, as the Blue Jags look to extend their season high eight game win streak.

Blue Jags Edge Lions for Seventh Straight Win

                   Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Jason Scully equaled his season high with 28 points and added 11 rebounds, and Max Pollen sank two crucial free throws in the final seconds to give the SMUS Blue Jags a 60-57 triumph over the Lambrick Park Lions in Victoria Tier 1 League Play Tuesday night. The win is the Blue Jags’ seventh straight overall, dating back to their January 27 game at Claremont.

 

SMUS got off to a strong start, jumping out to a 17-9 lead after one quarter of play. Scully dropped in 10 points to go along with 4 rebounds in the first frame.

 

Lambrick Park cut into the deficit early in the second, coming within 2 points midway through the frame. But SMUS closed the half strong to take a 34-26 advantage into the break. Scully continued to lead the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

 

The Lions came out strong to start the second half, erasing the 8 point deficit by the end of the third quarter to head to the final frame tied at 46. The Lions took their momentum with them into the fourth, taking a 4 point lead prompting a SMUS timeout. But the Blue Jags responded with a crucial 9-2 run to take a 3 point lead with just over a minute to play. SMUS was able to hold their lead the rest of the way thanks to a pair of Max Pollen free throws for a 60-57 Blue Jags victory.

 

Aside from Scully’s big game, the next highest scorers for the Jags were Graeme Hyde-Lay (11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists) and Liam Catto (11 points on 2-for-3 shooting from downtown). Meanwhile, Pollen totaled 9 points and 4 assists for SMUS.

 

"I’ve been trying to work on my free throws in the gym.” said Pollen on his two clutch buckets from the charity stripe, “Tonight it paid off when it counted.”

 

Next up for the Blue Jags is another Victoria Tier 1 League tilt at Belmont. The game will tip off at 7:30 PM on Thursday, as the Blue Jags look to keep their momentum rolling as the regular season winds down.

Blue Jags Take Down Rams in League Play

                                  Photo by Dave Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Jason Scully dropped in 24 points and added 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks to lead the SMUS Blue Jags to an 84-46 victory over the Mt. Douglas Rams in Victoria Tier 1 League action Thursday night. The Blue Jags pulled away in the second half after a tight first 20 minutes to take home their sixth straight win overall.

The Blue Jags came out with good energy, starting the game on a 13-2 run. Mt. Douglas had a strong push back, however, cutting the SMUS lead to 20-16 after the first quarter of play. Scully led the way with 12 points in the opening frame.

The Jags cooled off shooting the ball in the second, allowing the Rams to stay in the game. At recess, SMUS had a 38-28 lead. Despite the team’s poor shooting half, Jake Wilmott stepped up for the Jags with 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from behind the arc to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 steals in the first half.

The Blue Jags started strong to open the third, taking control of the game and expanding their lead to take a comfortable 66-33 advantage to the final frame. SMUS coasted through the fourth to close out the 84-46 victory.

Aside from Scully’s team high 24 points, Wilmott finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, Liam Catto contributed 9 points and 6 rebounds and Callum Montgomery chipped in 4 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. Meanwhile, Lucas De Vries hauled in 8 rebounds to go along with a team high 5 blocks and Graeme Hyde-Lay had a great defensive performance with a team leading 6 steals that more than made up for an uncharacteristically rough shooting night.

“I was able to score efficiently tonight and my teammates did as well.” said Scully after the game, “That will be important for us the rest of the season and especially at Provincials.”

With the win, the Blue Jags improve to 6-1 in Victoria Tier 1 League play with four league games left on the schedule. Next up for the Jags is a key date at home versus Lambrick Park on February 10, followed by a meeting with Belmont a week from today.

Blue Jags Defeat Bulldogs, Islanders en route to Brentwood Tournament Crown

                 Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags entered the stretch drive of the South Island High School basketball season on the right foot with four strong performances in two days to capture their second straight Brentwood College ‘Countdown to the Playoffs’ Tournament title. The Blue Jags defeated the Belmont Bulldogs in the Semi Final before taking down the NDSS Islanders in the Final Saturday to earn the first place finish.

First up for the Blue Jags was a matchup with Belmont, which saw them get leading scorer Jason Scully back from illness. The Blue Jags came out with great energy defensively, forcing Belmont into 9 turnovers in the first 5 minutes and 13 in the opening quarter. The Blue Jags aggressive play gave them a 19-8 lead after one.

SMUS built on their lead in the second, going on a 17-2 run carrying over from late in the first to take a 32-10 lead. At half time, SMUS held a 42-17 advantage. Alex Caton led the way with 7 points at half, meanwhile Jake Wilmott, Max Pollen and Matty McColl chipped in 6 points each for the Jags.

It was more of the same in the third, as the Blue Jags were able to get quality looks at the offensive end while containing the Bulldogs to contested shots. After three quarters of play, the Blue Jags were up 58-25. SMUS finished off Belmont in the fourth, advancing to the Final with a 78-36 victory.

Liam Catto was feeling it in the final 20 minutes, dropping in 14 second half points for 19 in total to lead the team. The Blue Jags also received contributions on the score sheet from Caton (9 points), Wilmott (8 points, 4 assists and 3 steals), McColl (8 points and 5 boards) and David Lee (6 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds).

With the win, the Blue Jags earned themselves a spot in the Finals against the NDSS Islanders. Both SMUS and NDSS played with good pace in the first, leading to a number of buckets in transition for both teams. At the end of one, the Blue Jags had a 14-11 lead.

The Islanders came out strong to start the second, taking a 4 point lead midway through the quarter. But SMUS battled back to retake a slight 31-30 edge at the break. Hyde-Lay led the way at half with 9 points and 4 assists, Pollen had 8 points 2 assists and 3 rebounds and De Vries added 4 points and 4 boards for the Jags.

The Blue Jags had a good start to the second half, creating separation from the Islanders thanks to a 10-2 run to open the third quarter. But NDSS responded to cut the SMUS lead to 43-38 heading to the final frame.

NDSS chipped away at the deficit in the fourth, coming as close as 4 at one point, however SMUS was able to hold off the Islanders to take home the Brentwood Tournament crown by a final score of 57-49.

Hyde-Lay was the high scorer in the Final, putting up 18 points, 4 assists and 3 steals. Meanwhile, Wilmott scored 5 points and hauled in a big 10 rebounds and Pollen recorded a team high in assists with 6.

"Overall, very pleased with the performance in the four games. We prepared well and competed hard." said Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay recapping the tournament, "The Final proved to be something of a grind, but thanks to very good second half defence and some timely baskets versus NDSS, we scrambled our way home."

"In addition to the starting core players, others such as David Lee, Alex Caton and Lucas De Vries made big contributions to a successful weekend." added Hyde-Lay.

The tournament was a big step in the right direction for SMUS, who will now focus their attention to the remainder of the Victoria Tier 1 League schedule. The Blue Jags will look to ride their momentum into their next league date at Mt. Douglas at 7:30 PM on Thursday.

Blue Jags Cruise Past Panthers, Ice to Earn Semi Final Berth on Day 1 of Countdown Tournament

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags opened the Brentwood College ‘Countdown to the Playoffs’ Tournament Friday with two wins in convincing fashion over the Parkland Panthers and Mark Isfeld Ice. The Blue Jags were once again without leading scorer Jason Scully, but put together two complete performances to earn a berth in the Semi Finals.

First up was a matchup with Parkland Friday morning, where the team was also without Max Pollen in addition to Scully. The Blue Jags got off to a rough offensive start, shooting the ball at only 25% from the field in the first quarter. Good defence, however, kept SMUS ahead 10-9 after a low scoring opening frame.

The Blue Jags picked it up to start the second, going on a 17-3 run to begin the quarter. Grade 10 call-up Ben Keep from the junior team provided an instant spark, canning a pair of corner triples to aid the Blue Jags run. SMUS outscored Parkland 29-5 in the quarter to take a 39-14 advantage into the half. Keep led the way at the break with 8 points, meanwhile Lucas De Vries also chipped in 8 of his own. Jake Wilmott was close to a triple double pace in the opening 20 minutes with 4 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds.

The Panthers shot the ball better in the third, as the two teams played each other relatively evenly in the frame. Heading to the fourth, SMUS still held a comfortable 54-26 lead. The Blue Jags coasted through the final period to close out the 72-33 win.

Alex Caton (10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals), De Vries (10 points and 7 rebounds), Callum Montgomery (10 points and 5 rebounds) and Graeme Hyde-Lay (10 points) were the high scorers for the Jags, meanwhile David Lee picked off a team high 6 steals in the game. Aside from Keep's strong game, fellow grade 10 call-up Jasper Bosley also put forward a great showing with 9 points and 4 boards.

"It was a good opportunity for me." said Bosley on being able to make an impact in his first game at the senior level, "I'm glad to have contributed to the team's success."

Next up was a game with Mark Isfeld who had also won their first game of the tournament earlier in the day against Windsor. SMUS got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 20-8 lead through one quarter of play. Wilmott had 8 points in the first and Pollen – returning to the lineup after missing the first game – chipped in 6 for the Jags.

The Blue Jags continued to extend their lead in the second, outscoring the Ice by a whopping 25-2 margin in the quarter. The Jags put forward one of their most complete halves of the season against a very solid Mark Isfeld team, taking a commanding 45-10 advantage into half time. Wilmott continued to lead the way offensively with 12 points, Caton dropped in 10 points and Montgomery added 7 and 5 steals.

From there the Blue Jags eased through the second half, as many key players received rest allowing the Jags bench to see the floor for an extended period of time. SMUS finished off Mark Isfeld by a final score of 67-24.

Wilmott finished with 15 points before being subbed off midway through the third, meanwhile Lee recorded 5 points and 5 assists and Matty McColl secured a team high 6 rebounds for the Jags.

As mentioned, the Blue Jags' two wins have earned them a Semi Final date against Belmont which will tip off at 10:45 AM at Shawnigan Lake School on Saturday. Following that game, SMUS will have one final game on Saturday to close out the tournament, which they are hoping is the Finals at 6:00 PM at Brentwood College.

“It's going to be interesting tomorrow with an upset in the Lambrick Park game.” said Wilmott, referring to NDSS’ upset win over Lambrick Park on the other side of the draw, “But it’s exciting to go ahead with a chance to win the tournament.”

“Today proved we can play at an extremely high level as a team and hopefully we keep it up.”

Blue Jags Best Spartans to Get Back in Win Column

                   Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Liam Catto notched his first double double of the season, tallying a team high 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 4 assists as the SMUS Blue Jags got back to their winning ways with a 72-46 triumph over the Claremont Spartans in Victoria Tier 1 League play Tuesday night. Catto stepped up big time for the Jags who were missing team leading scorer Jason Scully due to illness.

 

The two teams played each other evenly to start the game, as SMUS and Claremont were tied at 11 after a defensively-minded first quarter.

 

The Blue Jags came out flying to start the second, going on a 12-2 run to start the frame prompting a Claremont timeout. SMUS was able to maintain their cushion for the rest of the period, taking a 29-19 advantage into the half. Catto had a strong opening half, posting 11 points and 7 rebounds for the Jags.

 

SMUS carried their strong play with them into the second half, blowing the game open thanks to a 12-0 run to start the third quarter. Heading to the fourth, the Jags had a comfortable 54-29 advantage. From there it was smooth sailing through the final frame as the Jags put the finishing touches on the 72-46 win.

 

Aside from Catto's big game, several other Blue Jags made a mark on the score sheet. Graeme Hyde-Lay put up 10 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals, Callum Montgomery totaled 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals and Max Pollen chipped in 9 points. Meanwhile, the Jags also received contributions off the bench from Alex Caton (7 points and 6 rebounds including 5 offensive boards), David Lee (7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals) and Lucas De Vries (5 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks).

 

"It feels great." said Catto on his first double double, "We started off slow but we got into it in the second half and played aggressively."

 

The Blue Jags will now gear up for the Brentwood Countdown to the Playoffs Tournament held January 30-31 at both Brentwood College and Shawnigan Lake School. The Jags will have four games in the two day tournament, the first of which tips off at 10:30 AM Friday morning versus Parkland at Shawnigan Lake.

Crusaders Too Much for Shorthanded Blue Jags

                           Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The Cambie Crusaders took a stranglehold early and didn’t look back, defeating the SMUS Blue Jags 82-52 Friday afternoon in the SMUS single gym. The win came against a shorthanded Blue Jags squad, however, with many key players including Jason Scully, Graeme Hyde-Lay, Jake Wilmott, Callum Montgomery, Matty McColl and Liam Catto being held out for rest.

 

The Blue Jags got off to a good start, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead. But the Crusaders came back with 16 unanswered points and took a 23-9 lead after one.

 

The Crusaders continued to force turnovers and expand their lead in the second, taking a 47-24 advantage into the half. Alec Keech led the way offensively with 8 points and Lucas De Vries corralled 8 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks in the opening 20 minutes.

 

The Blue Jags played the Crusaders relatively evenly in the third, but were unable to make a dent into the deficit. Heading to the fourth, the Blue Jags were down 69-40. The Crusaders coasted through the final period to close out the 82-52 triumph.

 

Alex Caton was the high scorer for the Jags, dropping in 15 points and adding 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Meanwhile, David Lee was just a rebound short of his first double double with 10 points and 9 rebounds and Max Pollen also chipped in 10 points of his own. In addition, De Vries (10 rebounds and a Blue Jags season high 7 blocks) and Angus Catto (10 rebounds) had strong efforts on the boards for the Jags.

 

"We made it hard on ourselves to stay in the game by turning the ball over so frequently but we had better ball movement in the second half that led to good looks" said Caton after the game.

 

The Blue Jags will have all hands on deck for their next test, a big one against Claremont in league play. The game will tip off at 7:30 PM at Claremont on Tuesday.

Blue Jags Stumble in Second Quarter, Fall to Totems in Exhibition

                   Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Two days after the latest BC AA Rankings were released with the SMUS Blue Jags moving up to the number one spot, the Jags put forward a performance that did not live up to the standard. SMUS struggled mightily at the defensive end Thursday night, surrendering a season high 81 points in the loss to the Semiahmoo Totems in exhibition play.

 

Both teams got off to fast offensive starts, as the Totems jumped out to a 21-19 lead after a high scoring opening quarter. Jason Scully dropped in 8 points and Callum Montgomery added 6 points and 3 steals in the first frame.

 

The two teams traded three-point bombs to start the second quarter, as the game maintained its offensive focus. The Totems created some separation midway through the period, using an 8-0 run to take a 45-35 advantage into the half. Max Pollen had a strong second quarter, scoring 8 points in frame to go along with 3 assists.

 

The Totems were able to maintain their cushion in the third, as SMUS came as close as 6 points before Semiahmoo extended their lead to 14 heading to the final frame. The Totems continued to add to their lead to start the fourth and held it the rest of the way to finish off the 81-63 victory.

 

Scully led the Blue Jags attack on the night with a team high 17 points and 6 rebounds. Meanwhile, Montgomery finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 9 steals and Graeme Hyde-Lay recorded 12 points and 5 helpers. It was a tough night on the boards for the Jags who were outrebounded 50-28 by a bigger Totems squad, however Matty McColl showed great hustle securing 8 rebounds to lead the team.

 

“Right now we're not doing our job defensively.” said Blue Jags Assistant Coach Jeff Rud after the game, “It’s a SMUS basketball staple.”

 

“We have to play better defence because we aren’t going to score with some of the top teams in the province.”

 

Next up for the Blue Jags is another exhibition date with a team from the lower mainland in HJ Cambie Secondary School. Many of the Jags players will be held out for rest, but it is a great opportunity for the Blue Jags bench to get some quality minutes. The game time is set for 2:30 PM on Friday afternoon at SMUS.

Blue Jags Fall to Bays in Police Tournament Final

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

One week after coming out on the short end of a close matchup with the Oak Bay Bays, the SMUS Blue Jags got a chance at revenge in the Victoria City Police Tournament Final. Once again, however, the Jags suffered a tough defeat at the hands of the Bays, dropping the contest by a final score of 63-55 in front of a boisterous SMUS faithful Saturday night. After the Blue Jags took an early lead, Oak Bay turned the game in their favour thanks to a 20-1 run spanning just under eight minutes of the first and second quarters that proved to be the difference. If you missed the game, you can watch it in its entirety on SMUSTube here.
 

The Blue Jags came roaring out the gate, opening the game on a 13-4 run. But Oak Bay closed the first quarter on a 13-1 run of their own to take a 17-14 lead after one.

The Bays added to their lead to start the second, extending the advantage to 10 at one point as a result of the aforementioned 20-1 run carried over from the first quarter. The Blue Jags battled back, however, cutting it down to 6 at half time thanks to a pair of Max Pollen triples late in the half. At the break, the Bays held a 34-28 lead. Jake Wilmott led the way for the Jags with 7 points and 3 rebounds in the first half.

The two teams played each other evenly in the third as Oak Bay had a slight 47-39 edge after a foul-ridden quarter. Oak Bay came out firing to start the fourth, going on an early 5-0 run in under a minute prompting a SMUS timeout. The deficit proved to be insurmountable, as each time the Blue Jags had a push the Bays had an answer. Oak Bay was able to maintain their lead the rest of the way to close out the 63-55 victory.
 

Pollen was the high point man for the Blue Jags with 13 points, while Jason Scully dropped in 12 and added a season high 17 rebounds along with 3 blocks. Meanwhile, Wilmott finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds, Graeme Hyde-Lay posted 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists and Callum Montgomery totaled 7 points and 4 steals on the night to once again lead the team in the steals department.

“Not unlike a week ago they were better over the 40 minutes. We had a disastrous eight minute window at the end of the first and start of the second.” said Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay, “Give credit to the Oak Bay defence, but we shot the ball poorly and missed 14 free throws.”

“We set various targets and, without ever being in any kind of offensive rhythm, fought back to within four points on two occasions. The effort was certainly there and everyone competed hard.” continued Hyde-Lay, “We now have a solid practice window which we must use efficiently.”

Despite the loss, SMUS still finished a very respectable second place in the Police Tournament. Next up is a January 22 home exhibition against a well regarded Semiahmoo squad before a key league game five days later at Claremont.

Blue Jags Advance to Police Tournament Final with Win over Highlanders

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

It’s not about how you start – it’s about how you finish. The SMUS Blue Jags have taken that motto to heart in recent games, as the team once again rebounded from a poor first half and stepped up in the second to take control of the game and advance to the finals of the Victoria City Police Tournament. Graeme Hyde-Lay led the way for the Jags, dropping in a team high 21 points in the 64-41 victory over the West Vancouver Highlanders.

The Blue Jags started strong, creating a number of turnovers in the early going thanks to their high pressure trap defence. Hyde-Lay scored 8 points in the opening quarter and Jake Wilmott added 6 as SMUS took a 14-6 lead.

SMUS struggled with their execution at the offensive end for a large portion of the second quarter, however a late rally highlighted by a steal then and-one in transition by Max Pollen gave the Jags a 25-13 lead at half time. Hyde-Lay remained the high scorer, posting 13 points meanwhile Wilmott had 9 points to go along with 8 rebounds at recess.

The Highlanders came out strong to start the third, cutting the SMUS lead to 4 at one point. But the Blue Jags responded with a momentous 14-2 run to close the frame to restore their cushion and take a 41-25 advantage into the final period. The Blue Jags were able to maintain their lead the rest of the way, putting the finishing touches on the 64-41 win.

Aside from Hyde-Lay’s big game, Wilmott finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first double double of the season. Meanwhile, Liam Catto notched 12 points and 5 rebounds and Callum Montgomery tallied a team high 4 steals.

"Yesterday I had a good talk with Coach Hyde-Lay and it put me in the right mindset to help the team in whatever category we needed.” said Wilmott after the game, “Tonight it resulted in me getting my first double double of the year which feels great.”

With the win, the Jags will advance to the Victoria City Police Tournament final where they will meet arch rival Oak Bay. The game time is set for 5:00 PM on Saturday, as the team looks to avenge their loss to the Bays from a week ago.

Blue Jags Take Care of Trojans on Day 1 of Police Tournament

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Graeme Hyde-Lay and Jason Scully scored 19 points each, and the SMUS Blue Jags used a strong second half to defeat the David Thompson Trojans 64-47 Thursday evening in front of a lively crowd in the SMUS double gym.

Both teams got off to slow starts, as the Trojans were in the bonus by the five minute mark of the first quarter. Hyde-Lay scored all 12 of the Blue Jags points in the opening frame to give SMUS a 12-10 lead after one.

The Blue Jags and Trojans continued to play each other evenly for the majority of the second quarter, but SMUS pulled away late in the period to take a 27-20 lead at half time. Hyde-Lay once again led the charge offensively with 16 points, Jason Scully recorded 4 points and 9 rebounds and Max Pollen shot 2-for-3 from downtown for 6 points at the break.

The Blue Jags came out flying to start the second half, opening on a 9-0 run and creating separation from David Thompson. Heading to the fourth, SMUS held a 47-28 advantage. The Blue Jags were able to maintain their cushion in the final period, wrapping up the 64-47 win.

Aside from their 19 point effort, Scully also added a season high 15 rebounds to go along with 2 rejections and Hyde-Lay dished out 5 helpers to lead the Jags attack. The Jags also received notable contributions from Liam Catto (8 points and 6 rebounds) and David Lee who energized the crowd after two consecutive blocks on the same defensive possession.

“We had a slow start but the guys were able to get me some open shots and I was happy to take them.” said Hyde-Lay after the game, “We had a really good effort in the second half to close out the game.”

With the win, the Blue Jags will next meet West Vancouver Secondary School in the Victoria City Police Tournament semi-final. The game will tip off at 7:00 PM Friday night at SMUS.

Blue Jags Top Bulldogs to Improve to 5-1 in League Play

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

In between a highly intense game versus rival Oak Bay last Friday and the start of the Police Tournament – the marquee annual basketball tournament hosted at SMUS – on Thursday, was a Victoria Tier 1 League matchup with the Belmont Bulldogs on the schedule on Tuesday night.

It had all the elements of a trap game for the Blue Jags, and that proved to be the case through one half of play as SMUS wavered on the edge of falling into the trap. But a strong second half was enough to give the Jags the 65-38 victory to improve to 5-1 in league play this season.

 

SMUS and Belmont both got off to slow starts to begin the game, as both teams shot 35% or lower from the field in the opening quarter. The Blue Jags had a 12-11 lead after one.

 

The Blue Jags and Bulldogs continued to play each other evenly in the second, as SMUS took a 26-20 advantage into the break on a last second three from Alex Caton. Jason Scully led the way with 6 points and Matty McColl corralled 4 rebounds for the Jags after a low scoring first half.

 

The Blue Jags picked it up in the third, pulling away from the Bulldogs thanks to a 10-2 run to open the quarter. Heading to the fourth, SMUS held a comfortable 18 point cushion. In the final frame, the Jags added to their lead to take home the 65-38 victory.

 

Lucas De Vries finished as the high point man for the Blue Jags, dropping in 11 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. Meanwhile, David Lee notched 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists and Callum Montgomery posted team highs in rebounds and steals with 7 and 6, respectively.

 

“I just try to put the ball in the net whenever I get it in a good position from my teammates or from an offensive rebound and tonight it worked well.” said De Vries after the game, “We could have shot the three better but we played good defence and got the win.”

 

As mentioned, the Blue Jags will now gear up for the Victoria City Police Tournament hosted at SMUS from January 15-17. The team’s first game will tip off at 3:30 PM on Thursday against a tough AAAA school from the lower mainland in David Thompson.

Bays Edge Blue Jags in Nail-biter

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The highly anticipated matchup between the SMUS Blue Jags and Oak Bay Bays certainly lived up to the hype, as the two teams went toe to toe Friday Night at Oak Bay High School in front of a raucous capacity crowd with roughly equal support for the two sides. In the end, the Bays (ranked third in BC at the AAAA level) came out on top 65-59; however SMUS can take plenty of positives away from a game that could have gone either way.

Both teams got off to fast offensive starts, as Oak Bay and SMUS shot the ball at a high percentage in the first frame. After a back-and-forth opening quarter, Oak Bay held a 20-17 lead.

The Bays extended their lead early on in the second thanks to a 5-0 run, but SMUS roared back with a 16-4 run of their own to close the half. At the break, SMUS was up 33-29. Jason Scully led the way at the half with 10 points and Graeme Hyde-Lay dropped in 9 and added 3 assists.

The Bays came out strong to start the third, taking the lead back and heading to the final period with a 53-48 advantage. Oak Bay added to their lead early in the fourth, taking a 9 point lead at one point. SMUS didn't quit, however, battling back to cut it to 4 after Hyde-Lay picked off a pass and went coast to coast for the lay-in. But a costly miscommunication by the Blue Jags on an inbounds play with inside a minute to go took the wind out of their sails, as the Bays iced the game with a pair of free throws to close out the 65-59 victory.

Hyde-Lay finished as the high-point man for the Blue Jags, putting up 23 points. Meanwhile, Scully chipped in with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Jake Wilmott registered 7 points and 7 boards, and Liam Catto totalled 9 points on 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc.

Despite the loss, the Blue Jags put forward a valiant effort and rose to the occasion, putting together one of their best overall performances of the season. Ultimately, however, it was SMUS' lack of execution on the small details that gave Oak Bay the edge, according to Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay.

"Over the 40 minutes they were the better team." said Coach Hyde-Lay after the game, "Areas that we knew would be a concern were dribble penetration and defensive rebounding and that was the case. The most important time of the game is the first four minutes of the third quarter and we were very poor in that time frame."

"We had a lot of good efforts and we have some little areas where we have to get better." continued Hyde-Lay, "those little mistakes are things we can get away with against lesser opponents but not against Oak Bay."

Next up for the Blue Jags is a Victoria Tier 1 League date at home versus Belmont on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM. Then, the Jags will enter play in the Police Tournament hosted at SMUS from January 15-17, where, as Coach Hyde-Lay put it, the team is "really hoping to do [their] part and hopefully get another crack at Oak Bay in the final."

Blue Jags Ride Strong Second Half to Defeat Thunder

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

One day after registering a Blue Jags season high 7 steals, Callum Montgomery one-upped himself with 9 takeaways along with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to guide the SMUS Blue Jags to a 78-48 win over the Spectrum Thunder Tuesday evening.

The 6’3” wing flirted with a triple double in the game, coming as close as any Blue Jag this season before being subbed off midway through the fourth quarter. The performance came after the decision was made by Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay prior to the game to sit out three starters (Jason Scully, Graeme-Hyde-Lay and Jake Wilmott) for rest.

Spectrum got off to a strong start, taking a 10-8 lead midway through the first quarter. But the Blue Jags went on a 9-0 run immediately thereafter and took a 19-14 lead after one.

The Thunder once again had a strong start to the second quarter, erasing the deficit and taking a 24-21 lead. But a three-ball at the buzzer from Liam Catto finished off a late Blue Jags rally to enter to half up 33-29. Montgomery had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals and Liam Catto put up 10 points and 3 rebounds at the break for the Jags.

The Blue Jags created separation in the third, taking a 56-42 advantage into the fourth despite having several players get into foul trouble. SMUS wrapped up the game in the final frame to take home the 78-48 victory.

Aside from Montgomery's monster game, Liam Catto also put forward a big showing, posting 20 points and 7 rebounds, meanwhile brother Angus Catto notched 12 points thanks to 4 makes from behind the arc.

"I was able to step in with some of the guys out today and had the opportunity to score some easy buckets." said Montgomery on his big night, "We came out slow but we picked it up in the third and were able to pull away."

The Blue Jags will now prepare for what is arguably their biggest test of the season to date – a high anticipated matchup with rival Oak Bay. The game will tip off at 7:30 PM on Friday at Oak Bay High School.

Blue Jags Pounce on Islanders to Break Out of Slump

                    Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

The SMUS Blue Jags put forward a complete 40 minute effort and got off the schneid Monday evening with a convincing 79-43 victory over the Nanaimo District Secondary School Islanders. It was a strong performance in all facets of the game for the Blue Jags, something they desperately needed in order to put the two game trip to Washington behind them and get back on track.

 

The Blue Jags came out with good energy, opening the game on an 11-2 run. After a strong first quarter, SMUS was up 25-6. Liam Catto led the way with 7 points for the Jags, and Matty McColl chipped in with 5 in the frame.

 

The Islanders responded to start the second, going on a 5-0 run to open the quarter. But the Blue Jags answered back and took a 39-17 lead into the half. Catto still led the Jags with 10 points and Callum Montgomery picked up 3 steals at recess.

 

SMUS continued to build on their lead in the third, ending with a sweet tic-tac-toe passing play on the fast break finished off by Montgomery. From there it was smooth sailing through the fourth as the Blue Jags put the finishing touches on the 79-43 win.

 

Jake Wilmott (13 points and 5 rebounds) and Graeme Hyde-Lay (13 points and 4 rebounds) were the high scorers for the team, meanwhile Jason Scully recorded 12 points, 7 boards and 5 assists. The Jags also received significant contributions from Montgomery who finished with 11 points and a Blue Jags season high 7 steals on the night.

"I just tried to jump passing lanes and get some steals where I could." said Montgomery on setting the Blue Jags season high in the category, "We played well defensively and brought a lot of energy."

 

The Blue Jags now have a quick turnaround, as they have the Spectrum Thunder rolling into SMUS Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM. Then, the team will head into Oak Bay High School on Friday for a big tilt against one of BC's top AAAA teams.