Vancouver-Squamish A team defeats Vancouver-Squamish B for boys' 3X3 bronze

The Vancouver-Squamish 3X3 boys’ basketball team defeated itself in a sense en route to the bronze medal at the BC Summer Games.

Vancouver-Squamish A (Zone 5) won 13-10 against Vancouver-Squamish B and according to Willie Galick, sport chairman, approximately nine teams had to withdraw due to a teachers’ strike currently taking place across the province. Teachers were coaches and the tournament had to adapt, he said.

Nanaimo teachers, for their part, did not picket any school venues during the games, citing a number of their members were participating and volunteering at the Games.

The A team had a 6-3 lead entering the second half and finished regulation on top.

Garrett Ling-Lee, Vancouver Squamish A coach, said the teams were one big unit but had to enter two teams into the tournament and made it two, even teams. Even though they didn’t get gold, they were happy to take a medal.

“They (the team) played great from start to finish,” Ling-Lee said. “I think they played really well. They played hard and ran their offense and played great [defence].”

He said he was happy his team was able to play the B team for bronze.