Alberta squads sweep titles at 66th annual LIT
There was Panda-monium at the Luther Invitational Tournament.
Alberta’s Magrath Pandas won the first senior girls title at an expanded LIT Saturday, defeating the Campbell Tartans 68-52 in the evening ’s first championship game.
The 66th LIT was the first in which the draw included eight senior girls and eight senior boys teams. The previous six LITs had included two or four female representatives.
“This tournament was a great experience,” said Magrath’s Adi Strong, who was named LIT’s senior girls MVP. “We’ve never been to anything this big and it was super fun.”
Jenna Taylor had 18 points for Magrath, which got 17 from Strong. Campbell’s Shae McCusker scored 26 points.
In the senior boys final, Alberta’s Cardston Cougars defeated the Winnipeg Sisler Spartans 84-68. Cardston’s Taylor Barfuss was the senior boys MVP.
The Saskatoon Marion Graham Falcons’ Alexander Dewar finished his second LIT with 197 all-time points — 50 of which were scored against the host Luther Lions in a consolation semifinal Friday.
Dewar established a record for most points by a player in two LITs. He finished with 20 more points than Campbell stars Matt Campbell and Tyrese Potoma.
The all-time points record of 207 is owned by the LeBoldus Golden Suns’ Carter Millar, who played in three LITs.
Dewar was named a senior boys all-star, along with Eriyeza Buwembo (Campbell), Taylor Cook (Magrath Zeniths), Andrew Vanderhooft (Luther) and Malachi Alexander (Sisler).
The senior girls all-stars were Kennedy Hollinger (Riffel Royals), Jade Belmore (LeBoldus), Gabriela Kukura (Campbell) and Courtney Primeau (Saskatoon Centennial Chargers) and Madison Leishman (Cardston).
HIGH NOTE: The Regina High Schools Athletic Association curling championships were held Saturday. Gold-medal-winning skips were Stephanie Bukurak of Campbell (senior girls), James Hom of LeBoldus (senior boys), Hannah Klassen of Thom (mixed) and Michael Hom of LeBoldus ( junior).