Magrath wins showdown with LCI to open 4A boys season

Magrath Zeniths took round 1 in a battle of two of the early favourites as the Southern Alberta 4A Boys Basketball League season tipped off on Wednesday.

The host Zeniths held off the LCI Rams 68-64 behind a 20-point performance by Paycen Blackmore while Taylor Cook and Mason Stock added 15 and 14 points respectively. Sam Payne chipped in with 10 for the winners.

John Evans scored a game-high 23 points in a losing cause while Lucas Knitel-Althen and Isaiah Bagnah added 12 and 10 respectively.

In junior varsity play, LCI defeated Magrath 83-58 as Tyler Oliver tossed in 20 points and Garrett Procee added 17. Brady Van Bruggen and Carter Johnson scored 10 apiece.

Levi Gruninger replied with 20 points for Magrath and Jaxon Gruninger added 13.

In other action, Cardston Cougars opened with a road victory, topping the host Winston Churchill Bulldogs 109-83.

Ty Lewis led a balanced scoring attack for the Cougars with 22 points while Ben Atwood added 18. Also hitting double digits were Taylor Barfuss (12), Bryn Nelson (11) and Jayce Nelson (10). Every Cougar player hit the scoresheet.

Ali Azimi replied with 18 points for the Bulldogs, followed by Isaac Greenwood and Connor Hellofs with 15 apiece and Sean Adams with 14. Caleb Kadijk chipped in with 11 points.

In JV play, Cardston rolled to a 112-48 win over Churchill as Mike Olsen tossed in 25 points while Mitch Olsen and Dennon Jensen added 21 apiece.

Tyreese Russell replied with 11 for Churchill while Eric Delauw and Colton Hemsley added 10 apiece.

At Catholic Central, the visiting Raymond Comets outlasted the Cougars 96-91 as Drake Still dropped in 25 points, followed by Jeter Heggie with 22, Parker Graves with 18 and Garrett Hasegawa with 17.

CJ Hirsche replied with a game-high 29 points for the Cougars while Shae Gibb added 27. Ben Hoveling chipped in with 15 points and Nate Moreila had 12.

In JV, Raymond downed CCH 80-57 as Ryker Davidson scored 18 points while Liam Davison and Tanner Salmon added 14 and 13 respectively.

Daniel Marcic replied with 16 for CCH and Inigo Castro added 14.