The seeding for the 24th annual Surrey RCMP Classic have proven to be very accurate.
All eight teams which began play in the second round were winners Tuesday, advancing to today’s quarterfinal round. The eight losers were teams which reached Tuesday’s round-of-16 by winning a qualifying round contest Sunday.
All four teams listed in the provincial rankings reached the RCMP Classic quarterfinal stage. The defending tournament champion Tamanawis Wildcats topped the L.A. Matheson Mustangs 85-61, led by Player of the Game (POG) Mantej Sandhu. Tamanawis is ranked 10th in the Senior 4A category.
The North Surrey Spartans, given honorable mention in the 4A rankings, advanced with an 86-57 victory over the Johnston Heights Eagles. Micky Bhangu of the Spartans was the Player of the Game.
The Fleetwood Park Dragons are ranked fourth in the Senior 3A group, and were led by POG Armaan Khangura in a 50-39 win over the Kwantlen Park Timberwolves.
The Southridge Storm are the top-ranked Senior 2A team in B.C. They defeated the Sullivan Heights Stars 88-58 with Hunter Hughes earning POG honours.
Other winners from Tuesday games were the Semiahmoo Totems (82-36 over the Princess Margaret Lions), Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers (76-49 over the Queen Elizabeth Royals), Panorama Ridge Thunder (68-47 over the Guildford Park Sabres) and the Enver Creek Cougars (66-41 over the Ear Marriott Mariners).
Today’s quarterfinal winners will play in Friday night’s semifinal round, with games scheduled for 5:45 and 7:45 p.m. at Enver Creek Secondary. The championship is at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, also at Enver Creek.