The VSS Panthers readied for the 14th Fulton Maroon Corporate Classic by stopping the previously unbeaten Okanagan Mission Huskies 82-70 in Valley Senior AAA Boys Basketball League play Wednesday night.
The Cats led 27-23 lead at the break, and got 22 points from John Garvie and 14 each from Ty Thomas, Andy Hladik and Chris Inscho.
Shelby Hartwig registered a dozen points and 13 rebounds, while Zac Kronbauer was exceptional on defence all night as he filled in for injured starter Mitchell Pepper.
The Panthers, who faced the Princesss Margaret Mustangs of Penticton Thursday night to open the eight-team Fulton tourney, grounded the AA Seaton Sonics 75-47 in exhibition action Tuesday night.
Hartwig supplied 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Cats, who led 37-14 at the half. Garvie flushed 15 points, while Hladik recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds. Seaton got 21 points from Matt McEachern-Law.
McEachran Law canned a staggering 51 points, including 10 treys, as Seaton outlasted the Charles Bloom Timberwolves 63-58 in North Zone play Thursday night.
The Corporate Classic resumes today with VSS meeting the Westsyde Whundas of Kamloops at 9 a.m., the Kalamalka Lakers meeting the Mustangs at noon and Fulton facing the Golden Golden Eagles at 1:30.
Kal squares off against VSS at 4:30, while the Maroons tangle with the L.V. Rogers Bombers of Nelson at 7:30. The final goes Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
VSS upended the Revelstoke Rams 63-23 in junior girls play Wednesday night at the Panther Pit.
Taryn Kreeft led the Cats with 13 points and three rebounds, while Brianna Falk contributed 12 points and four assists.
Sheyna Camalush added eight points, while Maria Durfeld and Jordynne Tomiak each sank six.
The Cats scored over 20 points in each of the third and fourth quarters for a season-high 63 points.
The Panthers open their eight-team Pit-Stop tournament today with a noon tip-off against the Salmon Arm Jewels. The final goes Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Britttany Skrenek bagged 20 points as Fulton bounced the Charles Bloom Timberwolves 59-39 in exhibition senior girls play Tuesday night.
Lee Richardson canned a dozen points for the Maroons, while AJ Jacura collected 11 and Brittany Aeichele sank seven. It was 27-20 Fulton at the break.
“It was good for our girls to get a win,” said Fulton head coach Mike Scheller. “The Bloom girls played hard and I was impressed with their hustle on defence.
“We played very well in spots and had a great third quarter. However, we also had some lapses that cost us. We need to improve on our turnover ratio and free throw shooting. Once we do that, we will be a much better club.”
