Bowers honoured by Bedford Road Collegiate during BRIT opening ceremony

The 52nd annual Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT) recognized late organizer and community leader Kelly Bowers during Thursday’s opening ceremony by renaming the collegiate’s gym in his honour.

According to those close to him, Bowers — who passed away suddenly on Sept. 17 — was instrumental in building BRIT to what it has become today. Organizers said they didn’t feel as though Bowers would have wanted the tournament named after him, so they decided to coin the collegiate’s gym the Kelly Bowers Gymnasium.

The collegiate created a panel, now hung on the wall of the gymnasium over top of the scoreclock, that has Bowers’ photo laser-imprinted onto the school’s former centre court. The school ended up keeping the piece of the court after it tore out the old hardwood during recent renovations.

The words “Kelly Bowers Gymnasium” are beside the photo, while a quote from Bowers is hung below on a refurbished piece of the bleachers, also taken out during recent renovations.

The quote reads: ” ‘The first time I walked into Bedford Road’s gymnasium in 1963, I knew I wanted to be part of that kind of athletic life,’ — Kelly Bowers (1949-2019).”

Opening ceremonies at BRIT 2020 begun with an honour song on January 9, 2020. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

The absence of Bowers during opening day of the tournament was felt, according to organizers and coaches from across the country.

“Kelly was this tournament. He was the face of BRIT, he really was. He lived and breathed the tournament, he was so proud of this school, and (BRIT),” said BRIT chair Nicole Poier. “Being able to honour him the way we did tonight, I think, was the perfect way we could do it justice.”

During the presentation, Bowers’ family surrounded Poier as she announced the gymnasium’s new name.

Bowers’ wife, Sandy, said around two weeks before the tournament would begin each year, she just “waved goodbye” to Kelly, knowing that he would “show up when he showed up.” She said he would be at the collegiate working on the tournament consistently leading up to the annual competition.

She said she couldn’t “think of anything more perfect” than the ceremony and the new panel in his honour.

“I’m amazed, and I know he would be, just so humbled that they would even think to do this, because he knows there’s a hundred people like him doing the same,” she said.

“I’m in awe.”

Competition on the court heats up first day of BRIT

The tournament began Thursday with the host Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks taking on North Vancouver, B.C.’s Handsworth Secondary Royals.

The Royals, who have won the championship four out of the five years they’ve entered the tournament (2005-07, 2018), came in boasting a lineup that featured nine seniors. The Redhawks countered with only three, and the experience seemed to play a factor in the final score.

The inaugural game of BRIT 2020 featured the host Bedford Road Redhawks and North Vancouver’s Handsworth Royals on January 9, 2020. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

The Royals sent the host club to the consolation side, winning the opening game by an 80-34 final.

Handsworth scored 30 in the first quarter and 16 in the second and added an additional 34 points in the second half.

The Royals’ player-of-the-game award was given to sophomore centre Mattys Van Bylandt, who scored 11 points in the win. Junior guard Aman Khan took home the honour on the host side, scoring 11 points as well, nine coming from three-pointers.

Handsworth will now play Winnipeg’s Oak Park Raiders on Friday at 2 p.m. after they defeated Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate Chargers 85-54.

Bedford Road’s next matchup will be Friday at 12:30 p.m., when it will play the Seminaire St. Joseph Vert et Or from Trois-Rivieres, Que., who lost their opening game against Saskatoon’s St. Joseph High School Guardians, 66-59.

In the final game of opening day, Regina’s LeBoldus Golden Suns defeated Saskatoon’s Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders 56-54.

Friday’s games at BRIT begin at 12:30 p.m., and end at 9:30 p.m.

The 52nd annual BRIT championship game is set for 9 p.m. Saturday.