Pen-Hi senior girls win second tourney of season
Pen-Hi scores 3 straight wins to capture title
The Pen-Hi Lakers breezed to three straight wins to capture their second senior girls’ high basketball tournament title of the year at the Eric Hamber Midtown Showdown this past weekend.
International student Monica Nieves Cabrera from the Canary Islands was named most valuable player of the tourney and Kali Loewen and Cassie Hannon were named to the tournament all-star team.
In the final, Jaden Yamamoto was player of the game with 19 points, six rebounds and six steals as the Lakers thumped Point Grey 61-31.
Loewen notched 14 points to go with eight rebounds, and Hannon added 11 points and three steals.
Loewen had 11 points, six boards and three assists and player of the game Jennifer Hayman had 10 points, six rebounds and six steals as the Lakers buried Richmond 73-28 in the opener.
Nieves Cabrera, Hannon and Emma Terris each had nine points, with Nieves Cabrera also carding seven rebounds and six assists.
In the semifinal, Hannon was player of the game with 13 points and three assists as the Lakers downed Seaquam 66-47.
Loewen has 12 points and 11 rebounds, Nieves Cabrera 12 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Hayman eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
“The girls had a great weekend,” said cocoach Chris Terris.
“We shared the ball well offensively and were really active defensively,” he added. “When they’re aggressive and active, girls like Monica, Cassie, Kalli Doell and Maria Iannone are tough to play against at the top of our defence.”
Two international students have played significant roles on the team this year — Nieves Cabrera and Lea Breusing from Germany.
“They have been such nice additions to the team this year,” said Terris. “Monica had a great tournament and the girls were just thrilled to see her recognized as the most valuable player. It’s a great story.”
The Lakers also won the Kelowna Christian tourney this season and are 14-6 overall.
Their Valley 3A league record dropped to 4-4 on Tuesday with a 100-37 loss to the powerful Kelowna Owls, ranked No. 4 in 3A in the province.
“KSS is a tough matchup,” said Terris. “Kennedy Dickie, who is headed to Eastern Washington (University), is a tremendously difficult matchup for anyone. She scored their first 11 points, hitting three 3-pointers and a tough layup.
“We came out on our heels, which is not the way you want to against such a talented and confident team.”
Yamamoto and Nieves Cabrera each had 11 points, Hannon tallied seven points and three steals, and Loewen recorded six points and seven rebounds.
The Lakers’ only losses this season have been to ranked teams — twice to KSS and Okanagan Mission (No. 9 in 3A), once to Vernon (No. 8 in 2A) and to Duchess Park (No. 5 in 2A).
The Lakers will compete in the Rutland Voodoos’ Pre-Playoff Tournament on the weekend.