Edmonton St Francis Xavier Rams claims second BRIT championship

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The Holy Cross Crusaders had been hoping to complete a unique run to the top at the 55th Bedford Road Invitational Tournament, but instead found themselves as runners-up for the second-straight year.

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Edmonton’s St. Francis Xavier Rams defeated the Crusaders 62-53 in a tightly-fought defensive championship final Saturday night in a packed Kelly Bowers Gymnasium at Bedford Road Collegiate.

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“We’re looking at history on the board there,” said Rams head coach and BRIT coach of the tournament Brad Farish, pointing to the BRIT banner of champions on the gym wall.

“It means a lot to us to put our name up there for a second time as a school from out of province.”

The Rams — who also won BRIT in 2017 — clinched this year’s championship for their head coach, who had appeared at BRIT as a player himself, finishing third with the Ottawa Sacred Heart Huskies in 2011.

The Crusaders, for their part, had been trying to win after finishing third two years ago and second last year. The early 1970s Regina Sheldon Williams Spartans (1971-73) are the only team in BRIT history to finish third, second and then first in consecutive years.

Kian Tyson was the lone member for Cross to have played in all three BRIT tournaments during their current top-three run, dating back to 2023.

“Obviously, you never wish on anyone to finish second, but it’s always good to be in the finals and be in that atmosphere and environment,” said Tyson, a star shooting guard for the Crusaders.

“Just being there is a great experience, but it’s always hard to lose. (This) gives us a taste of what we can be as a team. We can go out here and compete with the best teams in the province and in Western Canada.”

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The Crusaders took an early 13-4 first-quarter lead. However, they could only muster nine points in the second quarter and trailed 26-22 at the half. Tyson, along with teammate Moe Osman, were named BRIT tournament all-stars for the second straight year, but Tyson found himself in early foul trouble, picking up his third with 6:47 to play in the first half. He was protected on the bench until halftime.

Even with Tyson back in action again in the second half, the Crusaders found themselves in tough against the Rams’ tenacious defence. Cross had a chance to tie it, trailing 37-35, but missed on a slam-dunk attempt. After regaining possession, Tyson missed a three-point attempt that would have given Cross the lead. They trailed by nine points after three quarters. A 10-4 Cross run to start the fourth got them to within two again at 49-47, but the Rams sealed the game by scoring 12 of the next 15 points, pleasing a large boisterous segment of the crowd from Edmonton on hand to cheer their team.

“Obviously (it was) a super-slow start for us,” said Farish. “Their little zone defence bothered us more than I would like. The cool thing, defensively we did a good job. We were able to stay in it defensively while we figured out our offence, so that was good. And then we just kind of carried that through to the end.”

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Tournament MVP Aleksandar Popovic played a key role in the Rams victory. The 6-foot-6 forward was an intimidating presence at both ends of the floor. He was a constant and dangerous threat, especially inside on the paint, leading all scorers with 29 points, including 17 in the second half. His teammate Nathan Yambayamba scored 11 and was named a tournament all-star. Tyson led Holy Cross with 21 points, with Osman adding 12.

“Their team played a heck of a game for them and they just hit more shots than us,” said Holy Cross head coach Josh Rutten.

“I didn’t think it was our best offensive game. While we competed defensively we couldn’t really match some of their scoring at times, and a couple of runs.

“Every time you come to BRIT, you know you’re going to face the top teams in Western Canada so it’s a good measuring stick. (To) play St. FX like this — they’re ranked No. 2 in Alberta, a really competitive basketball team — it shows us we’re right there with some of those teams in Western Canada as well. We just need to build on this performance this weekend.”

Holy Cross has the most BRIT championships among Saskatoon teams in tournament history with three (1997, 2003, 2004). They also have the most second-place finishes among all BRIT teams with seven, twice losing back-to-back finals (1985-86, 1992, 2006, 2015, 2024-25).

After winning the tournament last year, the Walter Murray Marauders lost the third place game, 75-68, to the West Vancouver Highlanders.

Other tournament all-stars named were Calvin Kuzyk of the Highlanders and Zach Hawley for the Marauders. The Alberta Magrath Zeniths won the consolation final.

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