The Lake City Falcons senior girls’ basketball team flew away from the North Central zone championships in Prince George with a bronze medal.
“We hadn’t played any of the teams attending playoffs this season with the exception of Correlieu [Quesnel], who we beat earlier in the season,” said Falcons’ coach Brigette Peel.
Matched up against the North Peace Ookapiks of Fort St. John in their tournament opener last Friday morning the Falcons stored to a 57-45 victory.
Erika Weber led the team in points, dropping 14, while Montana Reid chipped in 12. Player of the game went to Weber and Kaylee Dueck.
“That led us to face the winner of the Prince George Polars and the Correlieu Clansmen,” Peel said.
After the Polars disposed of the Clansemen, despite giving it their best effort, the Falcons fell 57-48. Falcons’ player of the game went to Annie Blois, who scored 11 points, while Reid was the team’s high-scorer with 12.
“‘AAA’ zones are always set up as a double knock out, so we met the Ookapiks again Saturday morning and lost in a hard-fought battle,” she said. “Knowing the losing team would go home, both teams gave their all.”
Down 20-16 at the half, points went back and forth in the third quarter with the Ookapiks leading 33-26 heading into the fourth frame.
“We gradually started to come back, initiating a full-court press for the remaining four minutes of the game,” she said, noting the Falcons tied the game at 52-52 as the Ookapiks attempted a buzzer-beater shot. “Regretfully, she was fouled at the end of the game as the horn went off. She was awarded two free throws and scored on both to take a spot in the final game against PGSS.”
High scorers for the Falcons were Inderroop Randhawa with 10 and Reid with nine, with Randhawa claiming the player of the game honours.
PGSS won later in the day to defeat the Ookapiks for a spot at the ‘AAA’ provincials in Langley this year.
Reid, for her efforts in the tournament, was awarded a first-team all-star.
“Montana was the lone [former] WL player among the ‘Columneetza-heavy’ 10-player roster this season,” Peel said. “She stepped up early, not only to show that she was a dominant player for our team but as a leader on and off the court. This is her Grade 12 year and she will be missed dearly by her teammates and coaches.”
Reid was approached at the tournament to consider a potential basketball scholarship, Peel said.
“She has great work ethic and a very high level of commitment to the team,” Peel said. “If she decides to continue to play at the next level I’m sure she will be a definite asset to that team, as well.”
The Falcons also say goodbye to five other players to graduation: Blois, Nisha Khakh, Shaelyn Wintjes, Dueck, and Weber, who all made large contributions to the team.
“We do, however, bring back starting guards Ariel Zacharias and Carly Magnuson, and two strong post players in Randhawa and Kaylee Billyboy,” she said. “Our junior girls dominated at regionals this season and will make great additions to next year’s senior team. We wish all our Grade 12s five years of great basketball memories.”
