Lakers leave it all on the floor at Valleys

Pen-Hi girls upset Mount Boucherie, fall one basket short of taking down Kelowna

The Pen-Hi Lakers saved their best for last and very nearly pulled off the shocker of the season at the Valley senior girls’ 3A basketball championship in Salmon Arm on the weekend.

The third-place Lakers rallied late to upset second-place Mount Boucherie 70-64 in the semifinal before coming up against the firstplace and undefeated Kelowna Owls who had beaten Pen-Hi by 49, 39 and 33 in three prior meetings.

This time, it was completely different.

“KSS had seen us three times, but we had not done anything special or shown them any of our presses or defences,” said Lakers head coach Dustin Hyde.

“We just played them straight up man to man through four quarters.

“We met Saturday morning to revisit our scouting report and game plan. We had a shoot-around prior to the game to walk through some of our specific plans. Then we played the most competitive and fierce game I have ever coached. Blood, sweat and tears.”

When the dust settled, Kelowna hung on for a 57-55 win and the lone berth to the provincial championships.

The Lakers led 23-22 after a strong second quarter, but KSS made another adjustment to go up 14 early in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers went to the infamous “Goodis Press” and got within 56-55 with less than 40 seconds left.

Lakers were forced to foul after an offensive rebound and KSS hit the first of two free throws to make it 57-55, which didn’t allow Pen-Hi to call a timeout.

“We had a good, clean look at a half-court shot to win, but it didn’t fall,” said Hyde.

The coach said he had never seen a group of kids work harder.

“My girls left it all on the floor. Literally, blood, sweat, injuries, and tears. Mattie Philip sprained her knee and had to be lifted off the court. Every player that got in was bruised up.”

Lyndzie Caron had 18 points with 15 boards and two steals. Philip had 13 points and two steals before leaving late in the fourth with the sprained knee.

Despite coming second, Caron was named the Valley MVP. Hannah Clarke was recognized as a first team all-star, and Mattie Philip was named a second-team all-star.

LAKERS 71, BOUCHERIE 64: The Lakers rallied from a sixpoint deficit with 1:45 to go to beat Boucherie for the first time in three meetings.

“The difference in the game was the Goodis Press,” said Hyde. “MBSS struggled every time we showed it. The flashes of the press, in combination with a specific game plan for Boucherie’s big three scorers, helped us to win the game. The final 1:45 was impressive . . . we caused four turnovers that led to layups and fouls shots.”

Philip had 20 points and four steals, Caron had 24 points, 14 boards, eight boards and five assists and Celine Francisco had eight points, six assists and five steals.

Hyde said he is “incredibly” proud of the effort and accomplishment of the team.

“All year long, I have said to my team, other coaches and the media, that we could compete with any team in the province,” Hyde said.

“We nearly pulled it off. It’s a tough way to end the season, losing such a close one and being denied an opportunity to compete at provincials, but these past few weeks we have earned the respect of some of the best teams and coaches in the province. Great run for this group and a great finish to the season.”