Marauders off to LIT after upset victory
The pre-LIT opener was a thriller for Miller.
The Miller Marauders defeated the LeBoldus Golden Suns 63-54 in Tuesday’s first of two qualifiers for the 66th annual Luther Invitational Tournament.
LeBoldus has a 5-0 record in Regina Intercollegiate Basketball League senior boys action but nonetheless bowed to the 3-2 Marauders at Luther College High School’s Semple Gymnasium.
“It’s really exciting,” Josh Linner said after scoring 15 points for Miller. “Our school hasn’t been in this tournament in quite a few years.”
Even so, Linner does not need any introduction to LIT. A Grade 11 student, he has attended a handful of LITs as a spectator.
“I always thought it would be a lot of fun to play in it,” Linner said, “and now we are playing in it.”
Dillon Kiefer (12 points) and Noah Graff (10) also scored in double figures for the Marauders, who are believed to have qualified for LIT for the first time since the early 1980s.
The Golden Suns’ leading scorers were Jamon Campbell (15), Kenny Wakaluk (13) and Ben Camplin (12).
“This gives us a lot of confidence because LeBoldus has always been one of the teams to beat,” Linner said. “It’s also good for our school and for all the younger kids coming up to high school.”
Miller earned one of the two RIBL senior boys berths in LIT, which takes place Feb. 8-10.
In the other pre-LIT qualifier on Tuesday, the Campbell Tartans defeated the Winston Knoll Wolverines 80-45. Campbell’s Eriyeza Buwembo scored a game-high 22 points. Josh Wambalulu led Winston Knoll with 13 points.
For the first time, LIT is including eight-team senior boys and senior girls draws. The senior girls draw is expanded from four teams.
There is not a qualifying format for the senior girls component. All teams are invitees.