Sports
Kojima powers McMath to Richmond title
Sure it’s a tired old axiom, but in this case
obviously true: practice does make perfect.
After working on his shooting for a couple
hours prior to the city high school senior boys’ basketball final Thursday,
McMath guard Jordin Kojima proceeded to put the rehearsal to good use. In what
was clearly a career performance, the Grade 12 poured in 41 points (which
included eight three-pointers) to power the Wildcats past the McNair Marlins 103-79
in the Richmond final.
“(McMath) hasn’t won the city title in 13
years, so it feels good,” Kojima said, noting the last Wildcats team to top the
senior boys’ league was in 2005. At that time, McMath was wrapping up its
fourth title in as many seasons.
Kojima said having to claw their way to an
80-70 victory over Steveston-London Sharks in the opening round of the playoffs
Tuesday was a good wake up call.
“It shows Richmond isn’t a joke. There are
good teams and good players,” he said.
McMath coach Tony Wong Hen said it was
obvious the Wildcats shot better against McNair, and played with more intensity
throughout.
“We didn’t just rest on our laurels. We kept
the momentum going,” said Wong Hen of a McMath team that won the regular-season
title with a 10-0 record.
“We know how well-coached McNair is (Ranj
Sangra and Jessy Dhillon) and that they were going to be prepared and up for
the game,” he added. “It was important that we elevate our game to match their
intensity. I think we accomplished that.”
So on, in fact, were the Wildcats that their
press produced many uncharacteristic McNair turnovers. That also led to many
uncontested baskets.
“We’ve working on our zones and building
through various games we’ve played in tournaments,” Wong Hen explained. “Tonight,
everybody showed they knew their positions and when to pinch or relax. It’s an
ongoing process, but we’re hoping it will lead to us peaking at the right time.”
Wong Hen said it was satisfying to finally
win the city title, after the Wildcats were runners-up each of the previous
three years.
“To bring the title back to McMath,
especially with this group of kids, is so satisfying. They work so hard, and
the parent support is awesome. Tonight (with the stands packed to rafters at
Richmond High) was like old-time basketball in the ‘80s when we played.”
Wong Hen said while expectations at the start
of the season were high, this season hasn’t all been smooth sailing. He noted
that the team entered many high-level tournaments (all except one were quad-A) throughout
the year and took their lumps, causing the players to get down on themselves a
bit.
But the process has helped the Wildcats get
to where they are now, and to where they can hopefully continue to build
momentum toward the provincial championships in March.
McMath (sixth in the provincial AAA
rankings), McNair, Richmond High and Steveston-London will all play in the
Lower Mainland AAA championships Feb. 13 to 16 (at various sites) and Feb. 22
to 24 at the Richmond Olympic Oval. Palmer, Cambie, McRoberts and Boyd will
play in the Mainland AA championships Feb. 15 at Palmer and Feb. 20 to 23 at
the Richmond Olympic Oval.