Often, filmmakers (studios) attempt to recapture previous success by introducing a sequel, to which we know what the results usually are. On occasion, though, you’ll see a Toy Story 2, For a Few Dollars More, or a Terminator Judgment Day come out and capture everyone’s hearts even more than the first time. If coach Desi Collinson had been a movie director (I see him as a John Hughes type), I’m sure he would have been hoping for a Godfather 2 with his second-ranked high school basketball team, this time composed of both GidGalang Kuuyas Naay and Daaxigan Sk’adáa Née players.
Unfortunately, the stars did not align for the Haida Gwaii boys this year. Earlier this week, the unnamed squad simply called Haida Gwaii returned from the BC high school basketball championships in Langley with less than desired results as they finished third in their Single A division. While that is a respectable finish and it is very difficult to place top three for two years in a row, it is still a tough pill to swallow when the insular squad started the season seeking similar results as the year before but with their sights set on capturing the coveted first-place crown this time around. The talent and coaching were there, but even the best teams can have an off-night, just as the best filmmakers can have a dud (see: Megalopolis).
The boys’ story began on Wednesday against 15th-ranked St. Ann’s, who they had never faced yet, in an 8:30 a.m. game—something most of them were already used to after the All Native. In this game, they came out to a hot start and built up a 20-point lead by the midway point. However, things cooled off for them a little in the second half, where they couldn’t quite build on said lead. The Victoria-based academy gave Haida Gwaii some trouble in the second half, but the boys were able to maintain a double-digit lead on the way to a 79-65 victory. Daajing Giids senior Loay Almahamid was awarded the player of the game shirt after posting a triple-double of 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 turnovers (;p).
The next day, the boys faced seventh-ranked Sparwood Secondary at 5:15 p.m., where they grasped the game with a firm grip as soon as the ball hit the court. The Spartans, hailing from a small town (by metropolis standards—Sparwood has nearly as many people as Haida Gwaii, which is considered a big town by our standards) in southeast BC, put up valiant efforts, but the talent and depth of our boys were just too much to handle as they cruised to a 78-52 victory. Gaw Tlagée 11th-grader Naden “The Babyfaced Assassin” Sjolund-Brown nabbed player of the game honours in this bout with a team-high 23 points.
By Friday, the competition for the boys hit its tipping point when they played familiar foe Unity Christian School, who were ranked third instead of first this year, in a rematch of the final from the year before. This 3:30 p.m. game carried similar competition between the two, but it didn’t quite have the same emotional impact as last year’s matchup. Haida Gwaii was up by double digits early in the game, but foul trouble to top gun Cal Collison in the second quarter hamstrung the boys, as he was the cog that drove the machine. This allowed Unity to lock in and climb their way back, eventually taking the lead late in the game. The squad from Chilliwack hung on to their advantage as Haida Gwaii was unable to build up any kind of rhythm, falling to the Flames 93-83 in the end despite 23 points from the OM’s Collison, including five three-pointers. Unfortunately, this pinch point dropped our boys down to the third-place game as a result, where they were to play against another team they hadn’t faced yet.
On the final day, the boys competed against Southpointe Academy from Delta, who were ranked closely behind them at fourth. Despite their close ranking, the boys came out strong in their 8:45 a.m. game, taking a commanding 27-5 lead to end the first quarter. The boys were able to keep their stranglehold on the Titans for the rest of the game as they just couldn’t keep up with Collison’s 12 three-pointers, who dropped 47 points on them to lead the good guys to a 99-67 victory and secure a third-place finish. Collison easily earned himself the player of the game for his heroics in their final act, leaving his mark in front of a bigger audience, including some important eyes, as he led Haida Gwaii to bronze.
Now that provincials have ended, I can’t help but feel just like Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber because I hate goodbyes. But with that final road trip in the bag for this group, we bid farewell to six seniors and another successful high school basketball season. While it may not have been successful in terms of end results, the program was a success outside the game with what they were able to accomplish together after finally combining the North and South high school basketball teams, an idea that has been tossed around before but never really gained any kind of real traction. With lots of hard work, dedication, and of course, support from the island, the boys bonded and built unforgettable experiences together and, as a result, took steps towards becoming young men.
Awards
All-stars:
First team – Cal Collison
Second team – Naden Sjolund-Brown and Logan Jones
Best Defensive: Loay Almahamid (back to back, baby!)
Most Inspirational Team: The Handsome (mostly→) Haidas