The GP Vanier senior boys fell just short of winning their Towhee Basketball Tournament over the weekend.

The Towhees fell to Nanaimo鈥檚 John Barsby Bulldogs 77-62 in the championship match.

The Towhees opened the tournament with a 98-57 victory over Campbell River鈥檚 Timberline Wolves, despite being shorthanded.

鈥淣ot having three key players was worrisome but the bench came through with some fine play,鈥� said Vanier head coach Larry Street.

Kai Canning had 17 points to lead the Towhees, who had a total of six players hit double digits.

Marcus Davidson had 13, Thomas Flynn 11, Marley Humphreys 11, and Walter Bulman-Fleming had 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

Friday morning the hosts took on a game squad from Sechelt - the Chatelech Eagles.

鈥淭he young team from the mainland (all Grade 10s and 11s) played very well in the first half,鈥� said Street.

The Towhees held a two-point lead at the break, before overpowering the young Eagles team in the second half, outscoring them 48-18 for an 80-55 final.

Towhee Jace McDowell led all scorers with 25 points.

Vanier advanced to Saturday鈥檚 semifinal and a match against the Chilliwack Storm, featuring 6鈥�9鈥� centre Miller Davies.

鈥淭he game went back and forth with at 19-17 lead for (us) at quarter time, and a tie game at the half at 34-34,鈥� said Street. 鈥淚n the second half the Chilliwack Storm got into foul trouble due to Vanier attacking the hoop and when Miller had to sit with four fouls the Towhees went on a big run, mostly inside.鈥�

Vanier won 75-61. McDowell was the top-scoring Towhee, with 24 points - including 9-for-12 from the foul line 鈥� while Davies came scored 26 to lead all players.

鈥淲alter Bulman-Fleming pitched in 17 points for the Towhees and did an admirable job containing thee tall Miller,鈥� said Street.

Meanwhile, Barsby advanced to the championship match with a 91-80 victory over Archbishop Carney from Port Coquitlam.

The Bulldogs showed in the first half why they are ranked No. 5 in the province among 2A schools, jumping out to a big lead.

鈥淰ery talented, fast and seasoned veterans,鈥� said Street, of the Bulldogs. 鈥�(We) had loads of problems in the first half and were down at the end of the half 43-28. Not鈥�

The Towhees switched defences to begin the second half and the response was immediate. The hosts went on a 17-2 run to tie the game 45-45, before the Bulldogs responded in kind.

鈥淯nfortunately the Barsby boys stepped up their defence, and fast break and pulled away again, ending up with a 77-62 Victory,鈥� said Street. 鈥淪till, the Towhees, being shorthanded with key players out with injury and sickness, were worthy foes. The likes of Marley Humphreys, Marcus Davidson, Oban Moore and Thomas Flynn came up big all weekend, and their extra playing time only helped in their development.鈥�

McDowell led the Towhees in the final, with 18 points, while Bulman-Fleming pitched in 14 points, and 12 rebounds.

The Towhees head to Victoria for the St. Michael鈥檚 Tournament this weekend.