Stirling strikes gold
The fifth-ranked Stirling Lakers capped off a week of 1A/2A Boys and Girls Southern Alberta zone high school basketball tournament action with a gold medal.
The Lakers defeated the thirdranked Nanton J.T. Foster Knights 87-63 for the 1A Boys’ banner Saturday night at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.
They weren’t the only Lakers to come away with a South Zone title as the Lakers 1A girls team defeated the top-ranked Foremost Forettes 85-53 on Saturday night.
In the other championship games, the top-seeded Immanuel Christian Eagles girls captured the 2A title thanks to a 72-58 win over second-seeded Kainai Warriors.
The Eagles earned a second medal, this one silver, as the Claresholm Willow Creek Cobras boys team won the 2A title with an 80-71 win over Immanuel Christian.
In the boys 1A gold medal game, Stirling was led by Orin Smith’s 42point night, while Ty Mazutinec added 14 points and Parker Sillito had 10.
Tyler Jones topped J.T. Foster with 16 points. Brandon Mosher and John Solatorio chipped in with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Foremost won the 1A boys bronze medal thanks to a 60-43 win over Taber St. Marys Celtics.
Leading the bronze medallists was Noah Butterwick with 22 points, while Reece Hollingsworth hit for 15.
Carl Rodrigo drained nine points for St. Mary’s.
In the 1A girls final, Savannah McKee had 46 points for Stirling en route to the gold medal.
Sadie Nelson scored 16 points for the Lakers and Kat Montague had 13.
Rayna Yancie and Morgan Brower each had 14 points for Foremost. Kamryn Yancie also hit double digits with 10.
In the 1A girls bronze medal game the Pincher Creek St. Michael’s Dragons downed the Milk River Erle Rivers Novas 74-69.
The Dragons had five players with 10 or more points, led by Grace Zoratti’s 20 points.
Olivia Citrigno scored 13 points, Natalie Krizan and Mya Citrigno had 11 each and Sydney Bruder had 10.
Mackenzie Murphy had 40 points for the Novas and Taylor Bellew scored 15.
The Cobras got a 23-point night from Jean Pierre Otero Rodriguez on their way to the 2A boys gold medal.
Nic Harder chipped in with 16 points, Nick Andersen had 11 and Ross VanRootselaar scored 10.
Kainai took home the 2A boys bronze medal, defeating the Coaldale Kate Andrews Pride 99-79, led by Jet Day Chief’s 43-point game.
Tazzmaine Good Dagger scored 19 points and Kogen Wells and Draven Goodstriker each had 12.
Parker Kasko scored 18 points for the Pride. Grant Gettman hit for 15 points and Colten Dancoisne and Anthony Klasson had 10 each.
In the 2A girls gold medal game, the Eagles were paced by Britney Vande Munt with 34 points, while Jenna Aleman put up 10.
For Kainai, Jurnee Eagle Plume scored 17 points. Jordan Weasel Head contributed 12 points.
The Pride girls won the 2A girls bronze medal with a 75-53 decision over the Picture Butte Sugar Queens.
Victoria Reed led the Pride with 22 points, while Raegan Abrey scored 18.
Hannah Siebert and Haylee Hilgersom had 13 and 11 points, respectively.