Saints Hold Court: St. George’s Finishes Day One with a Hard-Fought Victory in No Regrets Opener

St. George’s Sr. Boys vs Mt. Boucherie

(photo credit: Blair Shier)

After being forced to wait an extra week into December, caused by none other than Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour taking over Vancouver, basketball fans were more than ready to trade "Love Story" for hardwood glory. The No Regrets Basketball Tournament ultimate opening day match-up got underway on December 12th, with the St. George’s Saints and Mount Boucherie Bears delivering a thrilling opening-round battle at Carson Graham Secondary.

The game tipped off with the Saints’ Aryan Sablok (#13) wasting no time, scoring the opening basket and setting the tone with a full-court zone press that tested the Bears’ composure. The early minutes were characterized by hard-nosed defense and scrappy play, but Mount Boucherie’s Bennett Messer (#9) shook off an awkward missed dunk to convert a layup and began gobbling up offensive boards like they were Thanksgiving leftovers.

Kosuke Matsubara (#2) caught fire for the Bears, splashing three triples in the opening quarter. His third—a nasty step-back that left his defender bamboozled—had the crowd erupting and gave Mount Boucherie a hard-earned 23-18 lead after the 1st quarter.

The second quarter, though, belonged to Dorian Glogovac (#1). After being issued a tech warning by the ref, Glogovac (#1) shook it off like a veteran, knocking down two free throws and a deep three-pointer to retake the lead for the Saints. The Saints’ defense, meanwhile, turned into a bear trap. Their relentless full-court pressure smothered the Bears, leading to turnovers galore and missed layups that had Mount Boucherie looking winded. By the 3:22 mark, the Saints had ripped off a 17-5 run, capped by Glogovac (#1) slicing through the defense like a hot knife through butter. The Saints swaggered into halftime up 45-31.

In the second quarter, the Saints found their rhythm, led by the calming presence of Dorian Glogovac (#1). After a tech warning early on, Glogovac (#1) responded with a string of clutch plays, including two free throws and a deep three-pointer to reclaim the lead. He continued to dazzle, pacing the Saints on both ends of the floor and orchestrating a 17-5 run that left the Bears scrambling. St. George’s suffocating full-court press began to wear down the Bears, leading to turnovers and missed layups. By halftime, the Saints had flipped the script, heading into the break up 45-31.

Coming out of the break, the Saints continued to press, forcing the Bears into unforced errors. Mount Boucherie’s habit of inbounding into the corners played right into St. George’s hands. But Matsubara (#2) wasn’t done, dropping his fourth three-pointer with pure confidence. Not to be outdone, Glogovac (#1) returned to the court and immediately drained another long ball, reminding everyone why he’s the Saints’ floor general and turning the Bears’ defense into Swiss cheese.

Heading into the final frame, the Saints led 67-43, but the Bears weren’t going to roll over. Gabe Katona (#5) kicked off the fourth with a silky three-pointer from the wing, and Messer (#9) kept grinding in the paint, cleaning the glass with putbacks and extra possessions. Then came the dagger: Willem Urban (#12) drilled a three from deep, turned to the crowd, and broke out his best Steph Curry “good night” celebration. His three buddies in the stands lost their minds as the Saints stretched their lead to 20. 

Even as the game slipped away, the Bears showed their heart. Messer (#9) capped off his monster night by diving into the stands for a loose ball, earning a high-five from a young fan before hustling back onto the court. You could say he truly bared it all for his team. Moments like that reminded everyone why high school basketball is a special kind of magic.

When the final buzzer echoed through the gym, the Saints had secured a commanding 76-61 win. Glogovac (#1) was unstoppable, leading all scorers with 26 points, while Messer (#9) carried the Bears with 18 points and countless hustle plays.

For St. George’s, the victory means a ticket to the winning side of the bracket for the second round. For the Bears, it’s proof they can hang with one of the province's top teams. And for the No Regrets Tournament, this opening-round barnburner was the perfect way to tip off a week of can’t-miss basketball. With plays that had fans roaring and effort that left nothing on the floor, both teams embodied the No Regrets spirit, delivering a game to remember. In the words of Swift herself, they “left it all on the hardwood, no blank spaces here.”