Over the weekend the Rainmakers’ senior boys’ basketball team took part in the Zone Championships against Smithers and celebrated their final victory in the PRSS gymnasium, the team’s home for over 70 years.
Now the boys are preparing to take on the best in British Columbia in the Provincials.
The Zone Championship games started on Friday with an intense game against Smithers. The Rainmakers’ were playing fiercely, while Smithers was playing catch-up all evening. Tyler Verde from the Rainmakers’ showed a prime example of how much the team really wanted it, as he dove for the ball in the last half of the game and ended up landing face-first on the bleachers. This didn’t stop Verde because after only a few minutes of rest, he threw himself back on the court. By the end of the evening the Rainmakers’ had gotten themselves the win with a final score of Rainmakers 71 and Smithers 58.
After losing the previous game, Smithers came back with a vengeance on Saturday afternoon’s game, but still could not beat the Rainmakers. In the end, the Rainmakers came out on top with an 81-67 victory.
Coach Mel Bishop said all positions played superiorly against Smithers considering the size difference between the two teams.
“I was really impressed with the defensive pressure we can put on, especially with the back court. We’re small but we’re very quick. Our back court played tremendous defense and put a lot of pressure on the ball, which we need to because we’re smaller. Also, I thought the forwards rebounded well, especially in Saturday’s game,” commented Bishop.
Although the Rainmakers’ senior boys will no longer reside in what is currently PRSS, the team’s coach will remain as Mel Bishop. Bishop has been the team’s coach for 31 consecutive years and will follow the team on its move to Charles Hays Secondary School in September.
In the mean time, the Rainmakers’ will begin preparing for Provincials at the Thompson River University in Kamloops starting March 9 and running until March 12.