BC Basketball Rivalries: Tamanawis vs Semiahmoo

Welcome to our rivalry series on BC Sports Hub. Each article will look at one of the top rivalries in the high school basketball scene. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook so you don’t miss a single one!

In recent years the Fraser Valley has been arguably the most competitive and toughest out of all the zones, both on the boys and girls sides. As a result it has created a sort of pressure cooker for many great rivalries. One such is the one between the Tamanawis Wildcats and the Semiahmoo Totems, two of the top high school basketball programs in Surrey.

Separated by just a 15 minute drive, both schools battled it out in the Fraser Valley last year to great fanfare. Tamanawis beat Semaihmoo both in league play and in the league final. However in their two most high profile meetings Semiahmoo defeated Tamanawis in the final of the Surrey RCMP Basketball Classic after being down 19 at the half, and beat them them as well in the semi-finals at Provincials.

The two teams will play at least twice next season in league play, but will have new faces leading the way on both sides. Tamanawis’ Miguel Tomley — the all-time record for scoring

at BC provincials — is graduating, as he is reclassifying and attending a prep school in the United State. Semiahmoo will be missing both Adam Paige and Vlad Mihaila, the former going to the University of Alberta while the latter attending the University of the Fraser Valley.

Tammy’s Jeevan Sidhu will be expected to play a bigger role next season, while Semiahmoo will have to hope that their crop of grade 11 talent can continue past success. No matter what the situation, these games will be appointment viewing for local hoops fans.

Written by: Nick Bondi