They ran miles, shot the lights out and basically proved why they are the No. 1 seed in the Okanagan Valley Senior AA Girls Basketball Championships.
The VSS Panthers, a fast, athletic bunch which plays dynamic defence, ambushed the Valleyview Vikings 95-28 Thursday afternoon.
Coaches Bobby Mitchell and Lonny Mazaruk went to their bench early as the Panthers ran crop circles around the Vikes.
Britney Walton, who drained 19 points to lead the Cats, said it was nice getting lots of floor time for all 11 girls.
The No. 6-provincially ranked Panthers and No. 7 Sa-Hali Sabres are expected to meet in Saturday night’s final at the Panther Pit.
“We’re into trying to measure up ourselves and not worry about what the other team is doing,” said Walton, of the runaway tilt. “Defence and running the floor are the two keys for our success.”
The VSS student-body packed the gym until early in the second half when the 3 p.m. bell went, prompting most of the fans to leave the gym.
Emily Kanester flushed 14 points and counted five steals for the Cats, while Hailey Jellema recorded 14 points and six assists and Michelle Smith rung up five points, eight boards and eight assists.
“We try to judge ourselves against ourselves instead of the other team,” said Kanester, of the Cats’ mind-set in an easy game.
Kanester, just one of a handful of small, but tough and talented leaders on VSS, said the coaches run lots of cardio come practice day.
“We have to be in very great shape,” said Kanester. “We can wear teams down. When it comes to the third or fourth quarter, we seem to have more energy.”
Hustling guard Maggie McLeod played almost the entire game and led the Vikes with 10 points.
“We had never played VSS before, but them and Sa-Hali are both unreal teams,” said McLeod.
VSS will face either the Kalamalka Lakers or Princess Margaret Mustangs of Penticton in the 6:30 semifinal tonight. The other semifinal goes at 8:45. The provincials go March 9-12 in Kamloops.
