Considered the ninth best team in the province at the opening tip-off, coach Lisa Nevoral couldn’t have asked much more of her team when all was said and done at the 2015 B.C. AAA girls basketball championship.
In addition to placing a solid sixth at the provincial tournament in Langley, the Kelowna Owls were also named the most sportsmanlike team.
It was the highest finish at the B.C. finals for an Owls team since 2006.
KSS posted a 2-2 record during the week, closing out the championship with a 61-54 loss to McMath in the 5th/6th place game.
“The girls had a great week at the tournament,” said Nevoral. “(The Owls) had two goals: win their first game to get to the winner side, and to place in the top six. They achieved both of these goals.”
The Owls opened the week with a 47-36 win over No. 8 Maple Ridge.
In Game 2, KSS faced the province’s top-ranked team and eventual champs, the Brookswood Bobcats, and came up short 75-51.
In their third game, the Owls downed the fifth-ranked MEI Eagles 73-55.
Hannah Friesen set the pace offensively for the Owls during the tourney with 53 points— including 20 against McMath—and 39 rebounds.
Grade 10 guard Courtney Donaldson scored 51 points over four games and earned honourable mention as a tournament all-star.
The provincials marked the official farewell for five Grade 12 players with the Owls—Hannah Friesen, Selma Kusturica, Lexi Percival, Avery Watson and Paige Briscoe, as well as team trainer Maggy Corrado.
