This past weekend Centrecourt hosted its sixth annual summer run, HOOPFEST TWENTY TEN and it was an event of many firsts. After five years of calling Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary home, the tournament moved on up like George and Weezy to the penthouse that is the Langley Events Centre. Running twenty four games over the course of two days on two courts, HOOPFEST TWENTY TEN welcomed ten teams and a combination of over three hundred people through the doors during the hot August weekend.
With an eclectic mix of fresh faced rookies and cagey veterans, the tournament featured such notable names as Brent Malish and Kamar Burke (Birds), Roopi Clair (NWO), Jacob Doerksen (The School), Joey Haywood and Nick Toews (Runnin’ Rebels), Gurj Jhaj and Aman Heran (Athelite), Richard Anderson and Matt Rachar (Assault) and Kyle Grewal (Herbalex). While many of those names have been around the summer circuit for a few years, one player that stepped into the spotlight in a huge way and will most certainly use his play during the tournament was The School’s Tonner Jackson. The 6’7” hybrid from Trinity Western University teamed up with the tournament’s MVP Jacob Doerksen to help lead The School back to the winners circle after a one year hiatus. Rewinding back to 2004 and the run that Doerksen had in his first year of the HOOPFEST tournament mirrored that of the weekend Jackson put together as both players gave little appearance of being out of place against a number of older and more experienced players. Filling the stat sheet with thirty points a game in their semi final meeting with Athelite and the championship game, Jackson gave his running mate a battle for the MVP crown.
Sunday afternoon’s semi finals featured the top four teams in the tournament, with one court hosting The Birds (4-0) against the Runnin’ Rebels (3-1) while The School (4-0) squared off against Athelite (2-2). Holding a 57-39 halftime lead, the Rebels knew better than to look ahead to the championship game, as The Birds launched themselves back into the game with a 12-0 run early in the second half. Hitting for 20 of his team high 29 points in the second half, Haywood put the Rebels into a position to claim their second straight championship. The other semi final broke down to a two on two battle between Athelite and The School as Jackson and Doerksen teamed up against the backcourt duo of Heran and Jhaj. Hitting for 66 of the team total 91 points, Heran and Jhaj needed a bit more help from the other members of the Athelite squad to advance them to the title game, falling short by nine points in the end. Jackson and Doerksen combined for a total 59 of the 100 School points.
After five gruelling games, HOOPFEST TWENTY TEN capped off with the only two teams ever to claim a championship as The School and Runnin’ Rebels took to the floor for their sixth game in forty eight hours. Not only looking to silence the critics who place an asterisk next to their 2009 chip, the Rebels were seeking to gain redemption for a four point loss in the round robin schedule, a game which itself could have been title worthy. Opening with a 17-6 lead, the Rebels looked to set the tone against their opponents from the Fraser Valley, knowing full well that at some point the deficit would be cut. Little by little the double digit advantage was chipped away, slowly turning into a four point lead favouring The School, 44-40. At that point it was like the Rebels whole weekend came to a crashing halt, as a lid was put on their basket, defensive assignments were missed and their pilot (Haywood) fell into severe foul trouble with four in the first half leading to a game changing 18-0 run that put all but one nail in the coffin for the Rebels. Down twenty two points at halftime, the Rebels made one final comeback attempt, closing to within eleven points, but The School already had their sights set on the title as Doerksen and Jackson dropped thirty points apiece to pace The School’s scoring on route to a 116-91 title clenching victory, their fifth in six years.
HOOPFEST TWENTY TEN AWARDS
CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ($350 Keg Gift Certificate & Ten Vancouver Giants Game Passes) – The School
HOOPFEST MVP ($125 Morgan Creek Keg Gift Certificate, “B-on-the-Ball” Souvenir Basketball, Bitmoreimage Canvas Print, Baden Elite Basketball, Baden Game Binder) – Jacob Doerksen (The School)
HOOPFEST ALL-STARS ($25 Morgan Creek Keg Gift Certificate, $10 Blockbuster Gift Certificate, Baden Elite Basketball, Baden Game Binder) – Tonner Jackson (The School). Joey Haywood and Nick Toews (Runnin’ Rebels), Brent Malish (Birds), Aman Heran (Athelite)
HOOPFEST Honorable Mention All-Star (Fitness World VIP Pass) – Kyle Grewal (Herbalex)
Player of the Game Awards (McDonalds Meal Certificate)
Team Packages provided by Langley Jugo Juice and UBC Thunderbirds
HOOPFEST TWENTY TEN PARTICIPATING TEAMS: The School, Runnin’ Rebels, Birds, Athelite, Herbalex, Assault, Vancouver United, NWO, Bearcats, Monstars
