Grade 9 Provs

[Grade 9 Coach]

Is there going to be a Grade 9 Boys provs this year?    I have yet to hear anything and the website hasn't been updated since the end of last years tournament. 

[sct27]

I was wondering the same thing. I just did some digging on the website and it seems like they didn’t get berthing and scheduling done until early to mid February for last years gr 9 provincials. I guess we just sit and wait until then

[Pinetree]

It's being hosted at Centennial in Coquitlam from February 29 - March 3.

[sct27]

That’s interesting because Vancouvers regular season doesn’t end until February 26th. Unless playoffs are held the day after the regular season ends and they cram playoffs into a 2 day event, I would imagine there’s gonna be some scheduling conflict.

[Guest_Coach]

Jan 15, 2024 9:08:40 GMT -8 sct27 said:

That’s interesting because Vancouvers regular season doesn’t end until February 26th. Unless playoffs are held the day after the regular season ends on the 27th and they cram playoffs into a 2 day event, I would imagine there’s gonna be some scheduling conflict.

They had this same problem last year and the organizers went out of their way to accommodate the Vancouver schools in the wildcard tournament by which Kits, Van Tech, and Killarney all qualified for provincials. They also asked them to have earlier playoffs this year - it's a shame that the VSB can't get their act together for the sake of the teams involved.

The Vancouver public schools are supposed to compete in the Vancouver Sea to Sky Zone Championships alongside Vancouver Independent schools and North Shore schools for grade 9 in mid-February, by which these teams can qualify for provincials. As the Vancouver public school league will again not finish their playoffs in time, it seems the VS2S Zone Championships for grade 9 may not be able to take place for the 2nd year in a row and the provincial organizers will have to decide whether to adjust to the VSB's poor scheduling again.

[onevancouvercoach]

I’m being told the VSSAA league playoffs will be held Feb 27-29
If the grade 9 provincials, is Feb 29-March 2nd, there’s going to be a conflict between the opening round of provincials and the VSSAA City Finals.

Really unsure how Vancouver Public School teams are going to be included in the provincials, especially with it being one of the better zones in juvenile, consisting of Churchill, Killarney, Tupper & Kits all being very competitive teams in this age group.

Hope we here answers soon, and if anyone knows any additional information please share.

[Grade 9 Coach]

bcgr9boysbasketball.com/ Website got updated today, although no information present at this time its seems as though it is coming shortly.....

[guest coach]

Feel bad for the Vancouver Teams, 11 teams total - gets only one berth, one wild card.

Versus Independent Teams, 3 teams total - gets one berth, one wild card.

Surely, this is not fair in terms of overall population. Hope they can do something about this.

[Grade 9 Coach]

On the website it states this,

NOTICE:
The Grade 9 Tournament, effective 2024, now follows the Annual Junior Boys Basketball Invitational Tournament Sea to Sky Zone Berthing


However, the grade 9 tourney only gives Vancouver one berth, while the junior tournament gives 2 berths. Therefore its not following the junior format.

[Gr. 9 Coach]

Response to this:

"On the website it states this,


NOTICE:


The Grade 9 Tournament, effective 2024, now follows the Annual Junior Boys Basketball Invitational Tournament Sea to Sky Zone Berthing


However, the grade 9 tourney only gives Vancouver one berth, while the junior tournament gives 2 berths. Therefore its not following the junior format."

Instead of complaining, step up and say, "I will organize this event and make it even better and more equitable than it is now."  Or be quiet and sit down.

[guest]

Junior tournament has 32 teams, thus the extra berth. Might want to try harder and just be #1 in Vancouver. Not saying much for your provincial hopes if you can't even finish first in your zone. Especially when the best grade 9s are playing junior.

[Van coach]

We just got the word this morning, that ALL Vancouver public schools will NOT even be in this years tournament. Supposedly The tournament organizers did not want to make another exception for the late VSSAA cities and the VSSAA did not want to change the cities or an earlier date.

Absolutely Terrible news to those poor kids who lose the experience and have been looking forward to getting the chance to participate.These kids value these things and have been working super hard and looking forward to the end of season tournaments. Cutting participation altogether takes a tole on their mental health to a degree.

Sucks when adults/ organizers from both parties can’t make adjustments for the KIDS sake.

[foxdoc]

Organizers of Vancouver grade 9 boys public city championships were notified last year that they had to move their play0ffs to an earlier date. They have not done so after ample warning. The grade 9 boys BC dates have, in recent memory, been on the same weekend every year. If there is to be any blame, unfortunately it lies with the Vancouver organizers of the grade 9's.

[swc]

Agreed, its really a shame. Wonder if theres anything they can do.

[foxdoc]

There is still time to finish their league games, maybe play 2 per week. Finish league play by Feb 16. Have brief city championship Feb 19 - 21
then ready for wildcard games at Abbotsford Feb 23-24 to get more vancouver teams a chance to qualify. Almost all grade 9 leagues finish this week.
District play-offs next week and zone championships Feb 12-16. All these dates should have been determined last fall by simply determining first when BC championships dates are, then work back to determine when leagues should end and add in district and zone championships where necessary. That is how all league co-ordinators determine the dates.