Morning Star Staff
Another year, another berth in the B.C. Senior AA Girls Basketball championship.
So it goes for the VSS Panthers, who will attend the provincials for a 13th straight year after a runner-up finish Saturday at the Okanagan Valley playdowns in Kamloops.
The Immaculata Mustangs of Kelowna won the Valley title by grounding the Panthers 69-55 in the final at Westsyde Secondary. There was a field of eight teams.
“We were down five at the half withstanding the heavy pressure exerted by the Mustangs,” said VSS head coach Lonny Mazurak. “We shot 20 percent from the free throw line in the first half which really hurt us.
“They pushed the lead to double digits in the second half but we got the lead down to six halfway through the half but were unable to come all the way back.”
Anna Rice and Brianna Falk each canned 14 points for the Panthers, while Jordyn Cullum counted 10.
The Cats ambushed the Valleyview Vikings of Kamloops 77-32 in their opener with Cullum flushing 21 points.
Megan Rouault pocketed 13 points, while Rice and a red-hot Katie Macgillivray each sank a dozen.
Rouault and Kristy Fugel both produced 16 points as VSS upended the Okanagan Mission Huskies 75-51 in Game 2. Fugel supplied all her points in the fourth quarter.
Cullum collected 14 points as the Panthers fought through the Huskies’ trap and pressure with a strong counter. It was 38-23 Cats at the recess.
Meanwhile, VSS junior girls lost 70-34 to the host South Kam Titans in a backdoor challenge Monday night.
Kelsey Falk compiled 14 points, while Emilia Durfeld had six and Bree Vanderleest five.
VSS, who lost their Valley playoff opener by two points to Westsyde Friday night at the Panther Pit, rebounded with wins over the Princeton Rebels (52-33) and Penticton Lakers (49-21).
The Cats outscored Princeton 13-4 in the 1st quarter with Olivia Sawka sinking five of those points.
Falk scored 13 of her 23 points in the first half and pocketed a dozen rebounds. Durfeld registered 11 points and five steals to take Player of the Game.
“The girls were on a mission to show how they can play as a team and proved it well,” said VSS head coach Howie Falk.
Dynamic defence boosted the Panthers past Penticton in the tilt for fourth. VSS held Penticton to 11 points through three quarters
Bree Vanderleest attacked the rim with vengeance and bagged six points, while Maddy Smith cleaned up the boards and rang up nine points. Falk took Player of the Game with 13 points.
KSS Owls brushed back the Huskies 49-40 in the final.
South Kamloops beat Westyde 36-22 for third place.
