Trafalgar Thunder rock Stanley Humphries to capture WK Grade 8 Basketball Title
Van Kozak, Nathaniel Pan and Matt Erickson combined for 38 points to power the Trafalgar Thunder to a convincing 56-18 decision over Stanley Humphries Rockers in the final of the West Kootenay Grade 8 Boy’s Basketball Championship Tournament Saturday in Castlegar.
The Thunder jumped to a 15-2 first quarter lead, 29-8 at recess, and never looked back.
Kozak led the Thunder with 14 points while Erickson and Pan each added 12.
Matteo Kataoka chipped in five points while Grade 7 Kelton Forte added eight.
Trafalgar entered two teams into the weekend tournament.
Based on regular season standings both teams were granted byes to the semi-finals of the six-team tournament
SHSS defeated JL Crowe for a spot against Trafalgar B in the first semifinal.
Grand Forks defeated Mt Sentinel to advance to play Trafalgar A in the second semifinal.
The Rockers advanced to the final as Trafalgar B squad struggled on the offensive end, scoring a 46-6 victory.
Meanwhile, the other Thunder squad rolled up a 28-13-halftime lead en route to a 41-28 victory over Grand Forks Wolves.
Pan paced Trafalgar with 13 points while Erickson added 12.
Kozak and Quinn Kilpatrick each added six and five points, respectively.