After a difficult start to the single-A provincial championship tournament, Duncan Christian School's senior boys basketball team came back around and finished up on a strong note.
The Chargers started the tournament in Langley with two straight losses, but won their last two games to finish 11th in B.C.
"Looking back over the season, it was full of ups and downs, as they always are," DCS head coach Jim Brandsma said. "Some of the downs came at inopportune times from which we were not able to recover. They did result in learning opportunities which I hope will stick with guys for a long time."
The Chargers' first win of the tournament came last Friday when they topped Burnaby's Deer Lake School 74-53 in the third round. Mike Brandsma led the attack with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Adam Kapteyn had 23 points and an astonishing 24 boards, and Matt Brandsma scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
"With not too much to go on we went to work," Jim Brandsma said. "We played a much more disciplined team game with a lot more ball movement and we had some good contributions by a number of players. We were able to use the game as a teaching tool for some of the younger players on the team which was great. It was nice to bounce back and play like a team like we had been all season long."
The following morning, the Chargers won 68-46 over North Vancouver's Mulgrave. Josh Running Bear opened the scoring with back-to-back threes, and the team never looked back.
"We had a great effort all the way around," Brandsma said. "From some great defence by the young guys to great shots and rebounding by the seniors."
Matt Brandsma put up 20 points and nine rebounds, Mike Brandsma had 13 points and eight boards, and Kapteyn scored 12 and grabbed nine.
Seeded eighth after winning an unprecedented sixth-straight Island title, DCS opened the tournament last Wednesday with an 86-59 loss to the surprising Khalsa Lions from Surrey. Kapteyn had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Brandsma had 14 points and eight rebounds, Matt Brandsma scored 12 points, and Malachi Wall had eight boards.
In the second round, DCS lost 52-45 to St. Andrew's, the same team the Chargers beat 61-46 in the Island championship game. Kapteyn had 13 points and 15 boards, Matt Brandsma had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Mike Brandsma scored eight points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Kapteyn, Wall, Running Bear and Mike Brandsma all graduate this year, and it is bittersweet for Jim Brandsma — Mike's dad and Kapteyn's uncle — to watch them move on.
"When it is all said and done, I hope all the guys that I coach learn something more than basketball skills. The good Lord gave these boys some great talent for this game and I am glad to be able to come along for the ride. To the guys coming back, we got some shoes to fill but like these guys you will have your own memories."