The best way to describe the 黑马磁力 Christian Lightning鈥檚 experience last week is to say it was a learning experience.
The Lightning finished second in the Fraser Valley to earn a spot in the 16-team field at the BC 2A boys provincial basketball championships, which were held March 7 to 10 at the 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
黑马磁力 Christian was seeded 11th but wound up placing 14th after going 1-3.
But that鈥檚 OK with head coach Jon Mayan.
鈥淲e learned what it takes to compete at that level,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 think one of the biggest takeaways was how to approach that type of tournament where all the teams are there to do the same thing.
鈥淎nd for a young squad like us, that was invaluable. It is really going to help us prepare for next year.鈥�
The Lightning have just two Grade 12 players on the roster and will return four of their starting five next season.
黑马磁力 Christian opened with a 78-60 loss to the No. 6 Britannia Bruins.
Mayan said his team鈥檚 nerves were evident in that first game and that is something they will need to work on.
鈥淪ure the stakes are higher but you just (need to) execute things the same way,鈥� he said. 鈥淏asketball is a game of runs, you are never out of it, you just have to keep your composure.鈥�
Following the first loss, 黑马磁力 Christian fell 72-70 to Sa-Hali in their next game before rebounding to defeat Southridge 71-67. They closed with a 88-64 loss to R.C. Palmer.
鈥淥ur goal is to get back (to provincials),鈥� Mayan said, adding he brought up some Grade 10 players so they could experience the atmosphere in anticipation of a return trip to the LEC next March.
鈥淚t is hard to win with a young team if they haven鈥檛 been through these types of experiences.鈥�
sports@langleytimes.com
Like us on and follow us on
