They’ve still got it.
The team of 1980-2005 alumni Charles Hays/Prince Rupert Secondary Rainmakers defeated the current iteration of the Charles Hays (CHSS) Senior Boys’ White Team Rainmakers 101-86 this past Saturday in the Jim Ciccone Rainmaker Alumni Tournament.
The tournament, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Rainmakers basketball program in Prince Rupert, saw the senior boys’ team from the high school split into two squads as well as a team from the junior boys’ squad compete against three alumni teams, varying in playing dates ranges from back in 1946.
The teams played nine games between Friday and Saturday and in the final, current senior boys’ assistant coach Ryan Bishop and brother Brody Bishop were on fire against the team in white.
While Ryan notched 14 points, all in the third quarter, Brody was on fire, putting up 40 points throughout the game to lead the 1980-2005 Rainmakers over the current high-schoolers.
Justin McChesney matched Brody, scoring 34 points himself for the current Rainmakers and Skyler Wesley scored 10 to lead the team in the loss.
“[The tournament is going] good. We all know each other and respect each other. I think I have improved alot under the program and [head coach] Mel [Bishop] and I’m very grateful for that opportunity,” said senior boys’ Grade 11 member Ben Rabel during the tourney.
“I have a few friends that played on my team, that I satyed close with oveer the years since graduation (2001). Thanks to the program, I was able to make some friends that are basically brothers,” added Rainmakers alumnus Daniel Jackson.
Along with the game action, Raimakers head coach Mel Bishop was honoured after the tournament for his decades of dedication and contributions behind the bench of the ‘Makers.
For his service, Mel was given a personalized plaque, made from the floorboards of the gymnasium of the former Prince Rupert Secondary School (now Prince Rupert Middle School) and the honour was kept secret until the presentation.
“How on Earth did you get part of the floorboards?” Mel asked while receiving it.
The bench boss has been coaching the program since 1981.
The current Rainmakers are back at it when they host Lower Mainland competition from Jan. 7 - 9.
- With files from William Gye