In 1931 this team proved to be the best basketball team in the nation defeating Canada's top Senior "A" and University teams. By defeating the Eastern Canadian champions in the National final, this team became the first UBC student team to bring a National championship to UBC.
Harry "Pi" Campbell, Laurie Nicholson, Bob Osborne, Ed Armstrong, Randy Tervo, Cy Lee, Arnold Henderson, Rob Chapman, Frank Alpen, Garnet Montgomery (coach), Lorne Falconer (manager).
In the fall of 1930 an air of optimism prevailed as the UBC men's basketball team turned out for practice under coach Dr. Montgomery. "Men's Basketball Club Ready for Record Year" was the Ubyssey's prophetic headline.
The team was captained by an experienced veteran, Arnold Henderson, who, along with several members of the previous year's team, formed the nucleus of this 1930/31 team. The Blue and Gold was also blessed with promising rookies, including the highly touted Bob Osborne from Vancouver's Magee High School. The team started off on the right note with a 19-11 victory over the Grad team.
UBC prepared for tough opposition this season in the form of the New Westminster Adanacs who were defending Canadian champions and were led by former UBC star Wally Mayers. UBC moved quickly and "flitting up and down the polished floor of the campus gym" boasted a 7-1 record after eight games, just ahead of the Adanacs. Arnold Henderson was the "main cog in UBC's zone defense" while Randy Tervo, Harry "Pi" Campbell and Laurie Nicholson took care of the bulk of the scoring.
UBC finished the season in first place with a 16-2 record, 442 points for, 295 points against and 4 points better than their archrival, the defending champion Adanacs. UBC's Harry "Pi" Campbell led the league in scoring with a 5.6 points per game average while Arnold Henderson was the league MVP.
The stage was set for the league final, a best of five, UBC versus New Westminster. The students were sharp the first game, recording a 17-11 victory. UBC used its superb zone defense to take game two, 13-12. "To get past the outstretched arms of the elongated Henderson and the equally gigantic Osborne is a feat which the Adanacs have yet to accomplish ". (Ubyssey) "Unbeatable defense", "airtight system" described UBC's play. However, the tenacious Adanacs came back to win games three and four to force a fifth and deciding game.
"There was a basketball game Saturday" exclaimed the Ubyssey as UBC defeated the Adanacs 21-16 to win the Lower Mainland championship. UBC "delivered the goods" and "held the lead in spite of the best the Canadian champions had to offer". Bob Osborne led UBC scorers in the game with seven points.
UBC next faced and defeated a strong Victoria team led by the Patrick brothers of hockey fame, to win the BC Championship.
The Blue and Gold then advanced to the Western Canadian Senior 'A' championship final against the Winnipeg Toilers. UBC outscored Winnipeg 50-36 in a two game total point series. Not only were they now Western Senior ‘A' champions but UBC also captured the Western Intercollegiate title with a two game total point series win over the prairie champions, University of Alberta.
The students were poised for the Canadian championship. They had defeated the best competition the west had to offer - New Westminster (defending Canadian champions), Victoria, Winnipeg and the Alberta Golden Bears. They were now to face the eastern champion, St. Catharines Collegiate Grads, in a two game total point series to be played April 1931 in Vancouver's vast Denman Arena.
This would be UBC's and its captain Arnold Henderson's third trip to the National final, Varsity falling just short the previous two, in 1925 and '28. The eastern champions arrived in Vancouver to a luncheon, a key to the city and in between games to some yachting and a friendly game of softball.
Before a crowd of 3,200, St. Catharines took game one 18-17, playing a strong possession game. UBC's "Pi" Campbell led all scorers with eight points.
"Varsity Wins Canadian Basketball Crown," rang the Province headline as UBC before 5,000 enthusiastic fans came back to win game two 28-20 capturing the championship by seven points. Bob Osborne's 13 points and Arnold Henderson's leadership paced UBC who turned on the heat during the game's second half.
With excitement abound, the players were hoisted and carried to the dressing room by joyful students - the Varsity hoopsters now newly-crowned champions. Likely lost in the excitement was the fact history was being made. Not only was UBC the number one team in the country but this was the first student team to bring a Canadian championship to UBC.
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
