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.

Pirates Pull Away in Second Half, Top Blue Jags

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Through one half of play, the SMUS Blue Jags had put together the bounce back performance they were looking for. The second half, however, was a different story, as the Vashon High School Pirates separated themselves and pulled away to send SMUS home 0-2 in their two game Washington State exhibition series.

Both teams got off to strong starts in the opening quarter, as SMUS came out with much better energy than the game prior versus Port Angeles. The Pirates and Blue Jags were deadlocked at 12 after one quarter of play.

The two teams continued to play each other evenly in the second, as a buzzer beating put back from the Pirates put them up 20-17 at half time. Graeme Hyde-Lay led the way with 7 points at the break, Jason Scully corralled 5 rebounds and Max Pollen led the team with 3 helpers for SMUS.

Vashon came out flying to start the second half, forcing the Blue Jags into turnovers and difficult looks thanks to their high pressure defence. The Pirates went on a massive 18-0 run spanning just under 8 minutes to blow the game open, and took a 38-19 lead. Vashon was able to maintain their cushion the rest of the way for a final score of 52-26. Blue Jags Head Coach Ian Hyde-Lay summed up the two game exhibition trip after the game.

"Overall the two games were disappointing for us." said Coach Hyde-Lay, "Vashon was unquestionably the best team we've played this year and we competed well for the first half."

"We were not at the races in the second half." continued Hyde-Lay on the game Saturday, "We were tentative, we lacked aggression, and we were easy to play against. We didn't compete the way you need to compete against a quality opponent."

"The game summarized the season to date in that we were inconsistent. Our seniors, our best players, have to be our best players and that wasn't the case at times."

The Blue Jags now return home and get back at it on Monday with a home matchup versus Nanaimo District Secondary School at 5:00 PM. Then, the Jags will host Spectrum on Tuesday before the highly anticipated tilt at Oak Bay on Friday.

Blue Jags Falter in Loss to Roughriders

                  Photo by Mike Edwards

By: Mike Edwards

Plagued by turnovers, the SMUS Blue Jags opened their two game exhibition trip to Washington State with a rather forgettable performance against Port Angeles High School, dropping the contest 55-45 in front of a sizable crowd Friday evening.

Both teams struggled shooting the ball to start the game, as SMUS adjusted to some slight rule changes including the 35 second shot clock. The Jags held an 8-6 lead after one quarter of play on a late corner three from Jake Wilmott.

The Blue Jags opened the second on a 6-0 run, however the Roughriders countered with a 13-0 run of their own to close the half to take a 19-14 lead into the break. Jason Scully led the Jags with 7 points in the opening half and Graeme Hyde-Lay dished out 3 assists.

The Blue Jags were able to draw even with the Roughriders at 22 early in the third, but Port Angeles pulled away late in the frame to take a 36-26 lead heading into the fourth. The two teams traded buckets for the majority of the final quarter, and a late comeback push from SMUS was too little and too late as the Roughriders walked away with the 55-45 victory. It was SMUS’ lowest offensive output of the year.

Scully finished with 22 points to lead the Jags offensively, meanwhile Hyde-Lay recorded a team high 6 assists and Matty McColl hauled in 8 rebounds for SMUS. Alex Caton also put forward a strong showing off the bench, with 5 points on 67% shooting in his first game action of the season, after having been sidelined by a shoulder injury suffered last summer.

“We had a good week of practices before these games which let me get back up to speed and test my shoulder.” said Caton on how his shoulder felt in his first game back, “It was great to get back out there with the guys although the result was not what we were hoping for.”

The Blue Jags will look to get back on track Saturday evening with a matchup against Vashon Island High School at 4:00 PM. Following that game the team will return home for a date with Nanaimo District Secondary School on January 5.