Brooks Secondary School’s T-Birds grade eight boys basketball team thundered to victory in its season opener against the Sechelt Chatelech Eagles, December 17, scoring 61 points to the Eagles’ 23.
Casper Poelen’s quick moves along the baseline and impressive vertical jump enabled him to dominate the offensive boards. Poelen scored 22 points and made nearly half a dozen blocked shots.
Posting up alongside Poelen was Brooks’ six-foot, three-inch centre Donovan Savage who pulled down a host of defensive rebounds. Savage racked up 16 points and shot 100 per cent from the free throw line.
Ben Carlson, playing point guard, caught fire in the second quarter, consistently driving the ball into the offensive end to lead the Brooks squad in assists.
Ben Viglasi sunk the game’s only three-point shot, drawing applause from a small but enthusiastic crowd who had otherwise shown up to cheer the Eagles from Sechelt bleachers.
Eli Carson, meanwhile, consistently frustrated his Sechelt defender by finding open spaces in the wings and sinking set shots from outside the key.
Strong performances were also posted by Isaiah Brach, Ethan Schmunk, Neave McKinnon, Keaton Mastrodonato and Daniel Hoelzley.
Due to changes in the BC Ferries schedule, the T-Birds will be playing all of their regular season games against Sunshine Coast teams before returning to the Vancouver Island in mid-February for the league playoffs.
