The Shuswap Midget Outlaws redeemed themselves on the provincial level this year after finishing in fifth place at last year’s tournament.
This year in Coquitlam, the Outlaws went the distance to lift the midget B division provincial box lacrosse championship.
The competition was fierce, but the Outlaws held their own and went undefeated in the tournament.
Shuswap opened the provincials with a nervy start on Friday morning against the Abbotsford Warriors.
The Outlaws saw through the early tournament nerves and outlasted Abbotsford to win 5-4. With confidence from their win over the Warriors, the Outlaws easily outclassed the New Westminster Salmonbellies in a 9-2 win. Saturday morning saw the Outlaws play another entertaining and close affair against the Comox Valley Wild.
Again the Outlaws were able to see off their opposition winning 4-3. Their third win of the tournament propelled them into the semifinal as the second seed behind Nicola Valley, on goal difference.
In the semifinal they faced the Port Coquitlam Saints, winning 5-4.
The win set up an all-Interior final as they would face their rivals from Merritt, the Nicola Valley Thunder.
The play was open and back-and-forth as the Thunder took a 4-3 lead into the third period. In the dying minutes of the third, the Outlaws shifted into a higher gear and pulled off two quick goals to take their first lead of the game.
The Outlaws held on in the final seconds to take the title in a 5-4 victory.
