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.