The Salmon Arm Golds stuffed the host VSS Panthers 59-35 in Saturday’s Subway Junior Boys Basketball Tournament final.
Jordan Isaac rung up 19 points and took tournament MVP honours for the Golds, while Dillan Olson sank 13 points and made the all-star team.
Ben Hladik, with 11 points, and Jakob Marshall, with 10, paced the Panthers while being named to the all-star squad.
“It was a great tournament for us in that we won two games in overtime and made the final which should go a long ways in our team’s confidence going forward,” said VSS coach Mike Sawka.
The Cats are in the South Okanagan Hornets tournament starting Friday in Oliver.
Cats bow to Mustangs
Meanwhile, the Panthers senior girls lost 52-38 to the host Immaculata Mustangs in their tournament final in Kelowna.
The Mustangs forced the play with a very aggressive style and for the first time this year, the Panthers found themselves outhustled and outscored at the half trailing by 18. The Cats worked valiantly but could not draw closer than 11.
Jordan Korol drained 10 points and Megan Prentice added eight. Defensive player of the game was Anna Rice, with game MVP going to Jordan Cullum.
“This was a good weekend for us as we had three tough games and managed to win two of them,” said head coach Lonny Mazurak. “It’s the tough games that make us better, and while we lacked a little spark and could not finish in the final, we are proud of the girls’ effort and know that they will be working hard in practice this week to improve so that we are better down the road.”
The Panthers are in Kamloops for the Sa-Hali Sabres tourney which opens Friday.
Lakers lock up bronze
In senior boys action, the Kalamalka Lakers brushed back Salmon Arm 48-42 for third place in the Valleyview Vikings Invitational in Kamloops.
Forward Nick Stanhope pocketed an all-star award with another strong effort in the paint, earning 14 points and eight rebounds. Ajay Jhajj contributed 10 points, four assists and seven rebounds.
The AA Lakers suffered their only loss in four games when they bowed 76-63 to the Vikings in a run-and-gun Saturday tilt.
Stanhope drained 14 points for Kal, while Lucas Ross pulled down five rebounds and supplied five points and five assists.
“The entire team is showing real signs of progress since the start of the season as they gel as a team,” said assistant coach Justin Vanderham. “They are hopeful for a solid rest of the season as they head home to prepare for their next league game.”
Kal opens the 14th Fulton Maroons Corporate Classic Friday, 5 p.m., against the Westsyde Whundas of Kamloops.
Panthers find consolation
The AAA VSS Panthers defeated Carson Graham Eagles of North Vancouver 63-54 to win the consolation side of the St. Thomas More Knights Tournament in Burnaby.
John Garvie collected 24 points and was selected to the first all-star team. It was 47-29 VSS after three quarters as the Cats played dynamic defence and outworked the much bigger Eagles.
“The game got closer than it should have due to foul trouble and a short bench in the fourth but the boys hung on for victory,” said VSS coach Glenn Garvie.
Chris Inscho fired a dozen points and made the second all-star team, while Shelby Hartwig sank 12 points and provided 15 rebounds to earn an all-star honourable mention.
The Panthers open the Corporate Classic Friday, 6:30 p.m., versus the Princess Margaret Mustangs of Penticton.
Fulton takes on Sa-Hali in their Friday 3:30 p.m. opener of the eight-team Classic.
Timberwolves strike silver
The Charles Bloom Timberwolves senior boys lost a 50-41 tourney final Saturday to the host Hope Mustangs.
Bloom had very balanced scoring with seven of eight players hitting the scoresheet. Peter Ufimzeff led all scorers with 13 points.
The lone Grade 12 on the roster for the weekend, Mathew Grahn, dropped in eight.
“We came off an assertive and tone-setting semifinal on Friday night, where we established and executed our game-plan throughout, and just plain struggled to get going in the final on Saturday,” said Bloom coach Nathan Lee.
“Hope forced us to shoot the ball and we were hesitant. We didn’t create many scoring opportunities.
“Very proud of the boys – we are a young team and were playing shorthanded. Our Grade 10s really stepped up their play and our starters were very solid for us.”
