The Argyle Pipers senior boys are gunning for a provincial AAA basketball title starting todat at Langley Events Centre, loaded up with a talented, tight, senior-laden lineup.
The Pipers, ranked No. 3 coming into the tournament, kick off provincials with a 1:45 p.m. tip-off today against Richmond. Argyle is coming off a dominant showing in the Howe Sound Championships where they knocked off Bodwell 99-55 in the AAA final.
“The team’s been together mostly since Grade 8 so it’s good to finish off with a Howe Sound win,” said head coach Bruce Wallace after Argyle collected their Howe Sound hardware last Wednesday at Handsworth Secondary. “I’ve coached this group from Grade 8 all the way up through. Hopefully we can culminate with a provincial tournament victory.”
The Pipers are led by Alex Wallace, the coach’s son, a six-foot-four guard who was named the league MVP and the Howe Sound Championship MVP.
“He plays hard on both sides of the ball,” said Bruce Wallace of his son, who is also an elite soccer player. “He plays tough defence, he rebounds and scores.”
Other leading Pipers include slick Grade 11 guard David Finch, Grade 12 guard Ben Marshall and Grade 12 forward Anton Mellinghaus, all of whom earned all-star status at the Howe Sound Championships.
Argyle will, however, have a big hole to fill at provincials as multi-sport star Devin O’Hea – he’s also a high-level soccer and football player – is out with an injured thumb, hurt on the football field.
“You’re taking someone out of your lineup that plays 35 to 40 minutes a game and plays tough defence,” said Wallace. “The one advantage we do have is we have a deep bench, but taking one of the starters out that puts in that much effort, it’s going to be tough.”
Wallace, however, still has confidence in his team, which boasts four Grade 12 starters and nine seniors total on the roster. They’ve also benefitted from a tier change – the Pipers long played at the AAAA level but the school population numbers dropped them down to AAA this season. They come into the tournament ranked behind No. 1 Byrne Creek, a team that beat Argyle in overtime this season, and No. 2 South Kamloops. Wallace said he thinks his team can hang with any of the top teams.
“I think we have a pretty good chance of winning the tournament,” he said. “We’re going to have to get the breaks along the way and we’re going to have to play well, but I think we’ve got as good a chance as any of the top-four teams.”
• • •
Elsewhere at provincials the Handsworth Royals are representing the North Shore at the AAAA level. The Royals, ranked No. 5 coming into the tournament, will play Surrey’s Holy Cross to open the tournament today at 3:30 p.m. at Langley Events Centre.
At the AA level Seycove is the Howe Sound rep, coming into the tournament ranked No. 7. The Seyhawks will play Prince George’s D.P Todd today at 3:30 p.m. at the LEC.
