For the first time in school history, the Bateman Timberwolves can raise a basketball banner.
The Timberwolves Grade 9 girls basketball team earned provincial glory in Kelowna on Sunday, beating the St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints 46-44.
Bateman opened the tournament with a 50-23 win over the Kelowna Christian Knights on Feb. 25, and wins over the Dr. Knox Falcons (59-53) and the Kelowna Lake Okanagan Cougars (43-40) on Saturday.
Head coach Dan Village said it was a long process to build this team into champion calibre.
“They were very successful in Grade 8 and we put together a spring and summer league team playing against girls from the year ahead,” he said. “Honestly, we got creamed some of the games but kept many competitive and the girls just got better and better. That experience against older girls paid off for us.”
Bateman posted six wins and one loss in the regular season, and then went undefeated in nine playoff games in the Abbotsford city tournament, the Fraser Valley tournament and provincials. The Timberwolves also won the Abbotsford Police Department tournament in December.
Village said players Kayla Wilford and Jayden Gill helped lead the team to success. Wilford earned most valuable player honours at the Fraser Valley’s, while Gill won several player of the game honours during the provincials and was a key defender for the team.
“It’s awesome for the girls,” he said. “They’ve been together since Grade 6 and are all friends so it’s pretty special. They are a very coachable group. Many of these girls have other commitments like soccer or musical theatre, so for them to keep coming to practice shows their dedication.”
Over in Langley, a trio of local teams finished in the top 10 for the junior boys provincial tournament.
The Yale Lions (eighth), MEI Eagles (ninth) and W.J. Mouat Hawks (10th) all capped off successful years on Tuesday.
Yale’s Bradley Braich was on fire during the four-day tournament, setting a new five-game tournament record with 170 points. The Lions opened with a 68-42 win over Belmont on Saturday, and then beat Vancouver College 64-51 later that day. The Lions fell 63-54 to Handsworth on Sunday, and then lost 72-58 to St. George’s on Monday. The Lions ended the season on Tuesday with a 70-57 win over Argyle to place eighth.
Braich was selected to the tournament first team all-star team, while Yale’s Isiah Reimer was named to the third team all-star squad.
MEI defeated Mouat 67-43 on Tuesday to earn ninth place overall.
Grade 8 boys and girls provincials conclude this weekend in Pitt Meadows, with a number of Abbotsford teams participating.
The AAA senior girls basketball tournament opened on Wednesday, and the Abbotsford Senior Panthers beat New Westminster 71-61. They take on R.A. McMath in round two on Thursday night.
Draws for the senior boys tournaments are expected to be released on Sunday, with games running from March 9 to 12 at the Langley Events Centre.
