Celtics cap off dominant season with banner

The St. Patrick Celtics won the 2026 BC School Sports 3A Boys Basketball Provincial Tournament banner. Garrett James photo

It was a fitting finish to a dominant season.

The St. Patrick Celtics’ high-powered offence was on full display throughout the four days of the BC School Sports 3A Boys Basketball Provincial Tournament, averaging nearly 106 points per game. They capped it off by capturing the championship banner with a convincing 94–67 victory over Surrey’s L.A. Matheson Mustangs on Ken Winslade Court inside the Arena Bowl at Langley Events Centre.

The win completed a remarkable 34–1 season for the Vancouver school and secured its third 3A provincial title in the past five years, following back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.

Top-seeded St. Patrick faced the No. 2-ranked Mustangs, who were making their first appearance at the tournament. Matheson pushed the favourites early, leading for nearly nine minutes across the first and second quarters before the Celtics began to pull away.

The duo of Riley Santa Juana and Dhyne Cotin powered St. Patrick’s offence. Santa Juana finished with 29 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals, while Cotin added 27 points and eight rebounds. Santa Juana was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for his performance over the four days.

Joven Sanghera led the Mustangs with 23 points and eight rebounds.

In the bronze medal game, Victoria’s Lambrick Park Lions edged Surrey’s Enver Creek Cougars 95–90 behind a 39-point performance from Blake Pye. Avi Khanni paced the Cougars with 21 points.

Tournament Awards & Honours
• MVP: Riley Santa Juana, St. Patrick
• Best Defensive Player: Dhyne Cotin, St. Patrick
• Championship Players of the Game: Jaiden Quan, St. Patrick; Joven Sanghera, L.A. Matheson
• Inspiring Bandit Scholarship: Riley Santa Juana, St. Patrick
• Most Sportsmanlike Team: Mount Baker Wild
• School Spirit Award: L.A. Matheson Mustangs
• Most Inspirational Team: College Heights Cougars
• Most Inspirational Player: Sameer Sandhar, Enver Creek

All-Stars
• First Team: Avi Khanna (Enver Creek), Damien Onokpite (L.A. Matheson), Jemuel Castro (St. Patrick), Dhyne Cotin (St. Patrick), Blake Pye (Lambrick Park)
• Second Team: Sahaj Hans (Enver Creek), Illia Maydan (Argyle), Jaxen Lust (Brentwood College), Joven Sanghera (L.A. Matheson), Mercer Thiessen (M.E.I.)