The Charles Hays Senior Boys basketball team are the best in the northwest in 2014 and will be competing in provincials next week.
The boys travelled to Smithers last weekend to play Caledonia Secondary and the host Gryphons for the tourney. The Rainmakers opened the title on Friday afternoon with a 67-50 win over host team. Leading the way was Justin McChesney with 21 points, followed by Rosendo Masocol and Garrett Kobza with 14 points apiece.
In their second game, Charles Hays trailed Caledonia by 16 at the half, but stifling defence kept the Terrace team to a single basket on 13 attempts in the fourth quarter enroute to a 55-48 final.
Terrace then eliminated Smithers from the competition, meaning another win over Caledonia would clinch the title.
In their second meeting of the tournament, the Rainmakers fell 53-43, setting up a winner-take-all championship game.
In that game, the Rainmakers took the banner with a 51-41 victory that saw Masocol net 14 points and Perry Terrell scoring 12.
"I think we were very good defensively," said coach Mel Bishop, who has high hopes for provincials.
"If we play hard and play our game, we should be competitive."