The sixth-ranked Maple Ridge Ramblers senior girls won the MEI Invitational Basketball Tournament over the weekend.
In the semi-final, Ridge defeated the host Eagles 57-54 after trailing by 12 points at the half.
The energetic Eagles dominated the first half with a trapping zone defence and good inside offence. With some offensive adjustments at halftime and switching to zone defence, Ridge cut the deficit to 43-42 after the third quarter.
Kolbie Orum scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. She had 18 points, 16 rebounds and eight blocks overall.
The final was a matchup with the tall and athletic Vernon Panthers. Ridge led the entire game, but could never pull away from a speedy Panthers team that kept pace with lay-ups off the fast break. The Ramblers won 63-57.
Senior point guard Kirby Marchand was player of the game with 17 points. Grade 10 forward Gabby Cousins was a selected to the all-star team and Orum was tourney MVP.
Ramblers boys host tourney
The Maple Ridge Ramblers senior boys basketball squad hosted a small weekend tournament, playing their first game against the North Shore’s Handsworth – an honourable mention in the provincial rankings.
The Royals started quick, winning the first quarter 25-8. The Ramblers played Handsworth even for the second and third quarters, but lost 91-58. The leading Ridge scorer was Pavel Niemirski, with 31, and grade 10 Ethan Coumont had 10 recoveries and nine rebounds.
On Friday, Ridge played St. Thomas More – a Burnaby school ranked fifth in double A. The Ramblers had a solid defensive game, giving up just 58 points, but could only manage to score 43 against a tough Knights defence. Amit Rakhra led Ridge in scoring with 16 points.
Saturday, the Ramblers played the Fleetwood Park Dragons, falling 56-49. That was a significant improvement from the Rams first meeting, with Fleetwood in mid-December, when they were defeated by 22. This game also marked the first time that two of the team’s most experienced players, Tyler Pipke and Josh Fitz-Morris, have been able to play this year. Counmont led the Ramblers with nine rebounds and 16 points. Rakhra scored 11.
Tough competition at Legal Beagle
The Pitt Meadows Marauders went 1-2 at the Legal Beagle Tournament at Terry Fox secondary in Coquitlam.
Their first game was an 88-65 loss to the White Rock Christian Academy, followed by a close 69-59 loss to Kitsilano. Kits is the top-ranked team in B.C., while White Rock is fourth.
On Saturday, Pitt beat Vancouver College 80-51. The Fighting Irish are ranked 10th.
The Marauders host their annual Air Show senior boys tournament, tipping off Thursday at 7 p.m. against Mt. Boucherie of Kelowna. A win there would set up a noon Friday game against the winner of Cowichan and North Delta.
