The Gray Academy of Jewish Education junior varsity boys "AAA" basketball team has won the provincial championship for the second year in a row. The Gray Academy Raiders defeated the St. James Jimmies to claim the title. The tournament took place in Stonewall at Stonewall Collegiate Institute on March 8, 9, and 10.
The team went undefeated all season and entered the tournament as the number one seeded team in the province. "We played well as a team and were able to come out on top," says Jamie Kagan, coach and teacher at Gray Academy. "It's pretty amazing that these boys had a perfect season. I'm proud of everything they've accomplished."
The team gained a berth into the provincial tournament by first winning the Zone 12 Championship on March 1. At the provincials, the Raiders beat the Stonewall Collegiate Institute Rams in the first round and the College Louis Riel Voyageurs in the second round to meet the Jimmies in the championship game. There were eight teams from around the province who participated in the provincial tournament.
Grade 10 student Aaron Thomas was named tournament MVP for the second year in a row and Mitchell Margolis was named to the all-star team. "It is an honour to be named the MVP of the tournament, but I couldn't have done it without the help of my teammates," says Thomas. "They were with me every step of the way, and without them, I wouldn't be standing here today."
This is the second time that the Raiders have won back-to-back provincial titles. The then Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate Raiders won in 1994 and 1995.