The South Okanagan Flames junior B lacrosse team will have another crack at topping the Vernon Tigers at Kal Tire Place on Wednesday.
On June 18, the Flames lost 12-11 and outscored the home side 8-6 in the final two periods.
“We had a great game tonight. We got in a hole (down 6-3 after the first) and fought back which is a sign of a good team,” said Flames coach Kevin Thompson, to the Vernon Morning Star. “I think Wednesday will be a similar game.
“We love playing against Vernon. They’re a class act, a good talented team, always a tough hard fought battle,” Thompson continued. “We bring the best out in them and they bring the best out in us. It’s quality lacrosse that everybody should get to see. Wish there were more games like this around the league for people to see.”
Scoring for the Flames were Kaid Macleod with four goals, Louis Shortreed and Jake Macleod with two, Tanner Thompson, Chase Moog and Isaiah Kozak with one each. For the Tigers, Steele Pelletier led with four goals, Jordy Barr potted a hat trick, while Jake Pelletier scored two with singles by Ethan Anderson, Liam Macphee and Thomas Landels.
The Flames started minor league call-up Connor Ramage in goal as regular starter Charles Nicholas found out an hour before boarding the bus that his cousin had died. Nicholas played the last half and allowed four goals on 38 shots (Vernon outshot the Flames 67-57).
“I talked to the team about situations like this,” said Thompson. “Sports is an excellent opportunity to leave your personal problems in the change room and go out and do your best on the floor, then come back and pick your personal problems up after the game. He came in, he wanted to get in the game, he stood strong in the second and third.”
The Tigers sit first in the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League with 23 points with 11 wins, a loss and a tie. The Flames, with one game remaining, are in third with 19 points and have nine wins, five losses and a tie.
Kaid Macleod leads the Flames with 38 goals in 10 games and has racked up 79 points.
