It was all about the three in the first half of Saturday night’s game versus the York Lions as the Varsity Blues defeated their cross-town rivals 78-66 in front of a boisterous hometown crowd at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

The Blues shot an incredible 56% (9-16) from beyond the arc in the first half, including four consecutive three-pointers at the end of the second quarter.

Toronto guard Anthony DeGiorgio hit the fourth as the buzzer sounded to end, extending the Blues lead to 21 (47-26) at halftime.

Rob Paris (St. Catharines, Ont.) led five Blues in double figures with a game-high 18 points. London native Pat Sewell added 14 points and pulled 10 rebounds, while Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) and Drazen Glisic (Sarajevo, BIH) each had 10. Andrew Wasik (Burnaby, B.C.) had the team’s second double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Lions outscored the Blues in the second half 40-31, however, it was too little too late as the Blues hung on for the win.

6-foot-10 Stefan Haynes (North York, Ont.) led York’s attack with 17 points and seven rebounds. Fifth-year guard Tut Rauch had 15, while Mississauga native David Tyndale had 10 points in a losing cause.

The Varsity Blues are back in action next weekend as they travel to Kingston to take on the RMC Paladins and Queen’s Gaels, January 30th and 31st. Game times are scheduled for 8 p.m.