Up one set and leading in the second, the Langley Christian Lightning lost the momentum and could not recover, losing in four sets to the MEI Eagles.
The teams were playing in the junior boys Fraser Valley championship final on Tuesday (Nov. 19) afternoon at the Langley Events Centre.
“We started pretty strong and played well in the first game and the first two-thirds of game two, and then MEI got the momentum from us,” said Langley Christian coach Eric Van Huizen.
“We battled pretty good with them, but it just wasn’t enough.”
This was the fourth meeting between the two rivals, with the Eagles winning the season series.
“But it has always been a good battle between us,” Van Huizen said.
“We are well-matched teams.”
The coach was also happy with his team’s response following a tough five-set loss to the Langley Fundamental Titans earlier in the month at the Langley district championships.
“That (loss) was a little bit painful but we were able to rally and beat Langley Fundamental and Pacific Academy at the Fraser Valley championships,” he said.
“We were hoping to win it all but it wasn’t to be.”
The Lightning landed a pair on the all-star team with both power hitter Linden Bontkes and setter Brennan Gardner earning the honours.
Both Langley Christian and the Eagles did advance to the B.C. junior boys provincial championships, which run Nov. 21 to Nov. 23 at Abbotsford’s MEI Secondary.
“At the beginning of the year, you never know how your squad is going to respond and react,” Van Huizen said. “(But) our goal was always to make provincials.”
Langley Fundamental also advanced to the provincial championships.
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The Langley Christian junior girls also qualified for their provincial championships thanks to a sixth-place finish at the Fraser Valleys.
The B.C. championships runs Nov. 21 to Nov. 23 at Seaquam Secondary and North Delta Secondary.
