The Walnut Grove Gators finished the job they came so close to doing last year.
The Gators captured the B.C. AAA high school boys basketball championship with a thrilling 59-53 victory over the White Rock Christian Warriors on Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre.
The Warriors had tied the score at 53 with less than two minutes remaining, likely bringing up a feeling of deja vu for the Gator Nation. In last year’s championship game, Walnut Grove let a late fourth-quarter lead slip as the Terry Fox Ravens scored 11 straight points and finished the game on a 13-2 run to win 75-74.
But on Saturday, Walnut Grove’s Jadon Cohee — the player of the game — scored on a spinning drive to the hoop to put his team up 55-53 and the Gators hit their free throws down the stretch to win 59-53.
It is the first senior boys AAA title in Langley school history.
Cohee finished with 22 points, four rebounds, four steals and four assists.
He was also named a first team all-star and the most valuable player.
Josh Mayorga was also a first team all-star and he finished the final with eight points and eight rebounds.
Brad Hoffman scored 11 points, including a pair of first quarter three-pointers which gave Walnut Grove momentum.
The Warriors took the early lead, but by the end of the first, it was 20-15 Walnut Grove. The Gators pushed the lead to six points, 32-26 at the half.
But in the third quarter, White Rock Christian went on a 8-2 run to tie the game.
The Gators led 42-39 after three quarters.
