Mallard's Team of the Week — L.V. Rogers Jr. Bombers BC Basketball Champs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
At this time of year, high school basketball teams in the Kootenay/Boundaery are gearing up after qualifying during zone tournaments for a trip to showcase their skills at respective provincial tournaments throughout the province.
As Mallard’s Source for sports continues to take a look back into the archives due to COVID-19 putting a halt to most activities, including sports, the 2000 L.V. Rogers Junior Bombers Basketball Team captures center stage.
The 2000 L.V. Rogers Junior Boy’s Basketball squad remains the only undefeated team to play in the Hangar as the Junior Bombers, under the guidance of head coach Blair D’Andrea, defeated the New Westminster Hyacks 72-57 to capture the 2000 BC Junior Boy’s Basketball Championships in Nanaimo.
The victory on Vancouver Island capped an impressive undefeated season for the Bombers — winners of more than 35 games — as LVR traveled the province to test their skills against BC’s best junior basketball teams.
During the season, the Junior Bombers won tournaments in Penticton, Armstrong, Salmon Arm and Nelson before going 4-0 at the provincial tournament, knocking off teams, including Fleetwood Park in Surrey, Ballenas in Parksville and New Westminster en route to the impressive season.
The team includes coaches Blair D’Andrea and Bruce Fuhr and players Andrew Galewitz, Aaron Champlin, Colin Prentice, Ira Achsen, Josh Sampson, Jordan McLaren, Brody Blair, Matthew Fuhr, Jeremy Phelan, Dimitro Kirsh and Sean Denison.
Many of these same players powered Trafalgar Totems to the BC Juvenile Boy’s Basketball Championship in 1999.
The team was coached by Lorne Wuori.
