NLL Insider

Last week we noted that the B.C. Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League (BCJALL) title was open for the taking with Coquitlam and Victoria both losing games. But the real battle may be to just make the 2009 BCJALL playoffs.

Delta (6-7-1), Nanaimo (6-9), Burnaby (6-9) and Poco (4-10-1) are all within four points of each other in the standings as we enter the last third of the season. One of those teams will likely miss the post-season along with last-placed Langley (1-13-1).

New West (8-4-1) is not that far ahead. But if they capture three wins in any of their eight remaining games, the ‘Bellies will secure a spot in the playoffs.

Coquitlam (13-1) and Victoria (12-3) have guaranteed themselves playoff action with a combined five victories last weekend. The A’s and Shamrocks will battle for first-place in Victoria this Saturday night and then meet again on July 5 to close out the ‘09 regular season.

Watch for Coquitlam’s Robert Church (29g, 67points, 12gp) and Trevor Moore, plus Victoria’s Karsen Leung (29g, 57points, 13gp) and Joel Henry (22g, 38points, 9gp).

The Playoff Hunt

NEW WEST (8-4-1) sits in third-place, but not comfortably. They will play two rising programs in Burnaby and Delta this weekend, before having to face the Shamrocks on Sunday. This week could be a huge swing week for the ‘Bellies who dropped two spots to seventh in the latest National Jr. ‘A’ Top 10 Rankings. This week: Tuesday versus Burnaby, Saturday at Delta, Sunday versus Victoria. Watch: Kevin Crowley (26g, 52points, 9gp) and Eric Lewthwaite (26g, 43points, 13gp)

DELTA (6-7-1) made noise recently with a convincing victory over top-ranked Coquitlam, and continued to climb the standings last week with easy wins over Langley, 17-7, and Nanaimo, 16-5. Up-coming they have a tough schedule, including a big rematch versus the A’s. This week: Wednesday at Coquitlam, Saturday versus New West, Sunday at Nanaimo. Watch: Logan Schuss (20g, 37points, 6gp) and Jason Jones (35g, 57points, 14gp)

NANAIMO (6-9) responded from their loss to Delta with a 10-5 win over PoCo at home on Sunday. The T-men also beat PoCo two weeks prior with a crucial 13-12 victory. Those two recent wins over Poco has helped provide Nanaimo with a three-point lead in the standings over the Saints. This week: Saturday at Langley, Sunday versus Delta. Watch: Jon Diplock (19g, 47points, 14gp) and Cody Bremner (18g, 28points, 10gp)

BURNABY (6-9) fell to the league’s top two teams last weekend losing in Victoria, 7-4, and to Coquitlam, 11-9. But they are a program that’s back in business, previously on a five game win-streak that included victories over Victoria and New West. They will kick off this week’s BCJALL action. This week: Tuesday at New West, Sunday versus Poco. Watch: Loewen Riley (39g, 58points, 15gp) and Jackson Decker (9g, 18points, 6gp)

POCO (4-10-1) appears to be the the team in trouble but their schedule last week included a 15-15 tie against New Westminster. And two weekends ago, they only lost their two games by a combined three goals including a 10-8 loss to Burnaby. They are close. This week: Friday versus Langley, then Sunday at Burnaby in what is the BCJALL Game of the Week. Watch: Scott Jones (34g, 65points, 15gp) and Matt Wiebe (21g, 49points, 13gp)

With so much competition in the BCJALL, this week’s outcomes will definitely impact where teams sit come the end of the regular season. One of the aforementioned teams will not be in the ‘09 BCJALL playoffs.

LANGLEY (1-13-1) would need to do a complete 180 if it also hopes to join the chase pack. Not helping matters this season is the fact Langley just traded away a bunch of their players for future draft picks. This week: Friday at Poco, Saturday versus Nanaimo.

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