Fraser Valley (Zone 3) eked out a 9-7 win over Thompson-Okanagan (Zone 2) in round-robin box lacrosse play at the B.C. Summer Games Friday in Surrey.
Lots of back-and-forth play with multiple lead changes had the teams tied 7-7 with less than five minutes to play in regulation. Jeremy Bosher, a Kamloops product with the Zone 4 crew, took a late slashing penalty that proved costly. After appearing to be upset with a non-call, Bosher was given two minutes for a slash, followed by an unsportsmanlike penalty. Fraser Valley capitalized twice on the man advantage to secure the win.
Bosher was still a little confused about the call after the game.
“I got taken down and got up and slipped a little and it looked like a bad slash, I guess,” he said. “Then, I asked about it and got another penalty.”
Thompson-Okanagan, featuring Vernon’s Liam Drabiuk, Jonathan Grant, netminder Tyler Landry and Jake Thomson, and Enderby’s Justin Backus, faced the Kootenays (Zone 1) Saturday to wrap up the round-robin.
The Thompson-Okanagan field lacrosse squad, with Vernon’s Kyle Cuzzetto and Mykl Drabiuk, and Coldstream’s Thomas Landels, bowed 7-5 to Vancouver-Squamish (Zone 5) to start their Games.
In athletics, Vernon’s Joey Kohut, a first-year runner, ranked 16th in the boys 1,200-metre distance race, finishing in three minutes, 48.55 seconds. Lumby’s Jared Sexsmith, a high jump specialist, placed 11th in javelin with 32.61m.
In boys baseball, Vernon’s Dylan Emmons, Parker Friesen and Charles Law helped Thompson-Okanagan earn a 4-4 draw with Fraser River Delta (Zone 4). They then fell 7-2 to Fraser Valley (Zone 3).
In girls basketball action, Thompson-Okanagan, featuring Vernon’s Kristy Fugel, Anna Rice and Meghan Rouault, opened the Games with a 55-11 drubbing of North West (Zone 7).
In boys soccer preliminary play, Fraser River Delta bounced Thompson-Okanagan 4-0. The Zone 4 boys, with Vernon’s Owen Miller and Armstrong’s Ben Purvis, rebounded with a 5-0 stuffing of the Kootenays.
On the girls soccer pitch, Mason Christenson helped Zone 4 open with a 3-0 win over the Kootenays.
In boys volleyball, Vernon’s Nick Prystupa boosted Thompson-Okanagan to a 3-0 start in preliminary play. They swept the Kootenays 2-0 and then shaded Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island-Central Coast (Zone 6) 2-1.
On the girls court, Thompson-Okanagan, featuring Vernon players Mckenzie Kreeft and Stephanie Mintz, and Coldstream’s Julia Kemper, dropped a pair of 2-0 decisions to Fraser Valley and Vancouver-Squamish.
As of the Morning Star’s press time Saturday, Vancouver Island-Central Coast, with five gold, three silver and four bronze, and Vancouver-Squamish, with 4-3-5, were tied atop the standings with a dozen medals each. Thompson-Okanagan was fourth with 3-2-1.
More than 2,300 athletes are competing in 20 sports at venues throughout Surrey. They are supported by more than 3,000 community volunteers.
With files from Scott Austin/B.C. Summer Games.
