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‘Everyone is just locked in’: Duchess Park Condors ready to redeem 2019 heartbreak at BC senior boys basketball provincials

Prince George’s top-seeded team to face Sir Charles Tupper today (March 6)
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

The Duchess Park (DPSS) senior boys’ basketball team is back where they left off one year ago.

Prince George’s AAA school, ranked first overall at the 2020 BC Championships in Langley, are setting up to play in the semi-finals this afternoon (March 6) for a second straight provincials tournament, and are eyeing a different result from 2019.

“We have built routines for the day of games, all season which has led us to our provincial championship run,” said Condors’ Head Coach Jordan Yu to PrinceGeorgeMatters about his players sticking with the process.

“This is really just a big family that has worked and played together all year long and have put themselves in a position to succeed. There is a belief amongst our team that we are doing on and off the court is giving us a good shot to win basketball games and we are just going to stay the course throughout the remainder of our run.”

DPSS lost on a three-point shot in the dying seconds of last year's semi-finals by the North Delta Huskies, who eventually went on to win the BC banner.

The birds then battled to a bronze medal in a 75-54 rout over A.R. MacNeill (Richmond).

Thus far, Duchess Park Secondary maintains a 2-0 record at the 16-team tournament.

“I think everyone is just locked in right now,” Yu added.

“We are taking it game by game and focusing on our routines and just doing what we do best. The boys all have a really good feel for each other on and off the floor and everyone is sticking to their roles.”

The Condors defeated Mark R. Isfeld Secondary, the 16th seed from Courtenay, early Wednesday morning (March 4) by a score of 83-60 to start the week, led by Jackson Kuc’s 20-point performance.

The city champions five years running followed suit yesterday (March 5) against Pitt Meadows with an 84-68 quarter-finals’ victory over the Marauders to advance to the semis.

If DPSS is successful in beating fourth-seeded Sir Charles Tupper (Surrey) today, they’ll have a shot at winning their school’s first AAA provincial title in 40 years.

“Tupper is so well-coached and a great program and they have a great group of players on their side,” said Yu about their upcoming opponents.

He believes it’ll take determination and focus to take down the Tigers, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

“They are so versatile and can score so many different ways. I do believe we match up extremely well in every position and it’s going to turn out for a great game of basketball. We are excited to get back to this game as we were here last year and will be standing our ground like a mountain for Tupper to have to get over.”

Opening tip-off between the two teams goes for 3:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, D.P. Todd, the runners-up to the Condors in the 2020 Prince George city championship, nabbed their first win of the 2020 BC Senior Boys’ AA provincials to better their chances at cracking the top 10.

The Trojans, who started seventh at the Langley competition, will square up against Surrey’s Southridge Secondary tonight to try and get to the ninth-10th place game.

Prince George Secondary is hoping to win its final two games at the AAAA championship to claim 13th.

The 16th-seeded Polars are facing Frank Hurt Secondary (Surrey) this morning.

In Single-A action, Cedars Christian got to the quarter-finals, but lost at the hands of number one-ranked Highroad Academy on Thursday.

The Eagles, who were ranked ninth at the beginning of provincials, but can finish in fifth if they beat Barriere tonight.