Vernon's Fulton Maroons and the Sa-Hali Sabres of Kamloops have advanced to the final four as the Okanagan Valley Senior Boys AAA basketball finals began Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The host Maroons, seeded fourth in the Okanagan League, took care of the fifth-rated George Elliot Coyotes of Lake Country 84-65, while the third-rated Sabres eliminated their cross-town rivals, the sixth-ranked Valleyview Vikings, 61-42 in the all-Kamloops matchup played at Sa-Hali.
The winners advance to the semifinals, hosted by the top-seeded South Kamloops Titans, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22.
The Titans will face the Maroons Friday at 5:15 p.m., while the second-ranked Vernon Panthers will take on the Sabres at 7 p.m.
The two winners meet in the championship game Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. The victor will advance to the B.C. AAA championships March 5-8 in Langley.
Jeremy Peterson scored 19 of his game-high 30 points in the first half Tuesday to help the Maroons to a 47-29 advantage at the intermission. Three other Maroons finished in double-digits: Carter Moore had 23 points, Joban Panag added 14, and Javi Oretega chipped in 11.
Jonah Clements had 19 for the Coyotes while Chris Davis added 10. George Elliot never led in the game. They were tied twice in the first quarter with Fulton, 3-3 and 10-10.
OKANAGAN VALLEY A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kelowna's Aberdeen Hall Gryphons are the hosts for the eight-team Valley finals starting Thursday, Feb. 20. The top four teams advance to the B.C. finals March 5-8 in Langley.
Game 1 Thursday at 11 a.m. sees Kelowna's Immaculata Mustangs (#4) take on the Eagle River Talons of Sicamous (#5). The host Gryphons (#2) hit the floor at 12:45 p.m. against the Desert Sands Rams of Ashcroft (#7).
The top-ranked Osoyoos Rattlers will face the Barriere Cougars (#8) at 3 p.m., and the St. Ann's Academy Crusaders from Kamloops (#3) will tangle with the Similkameen Sparks of Keremeos (#6) at 6:15 p.m.
Games Friday go at the same times, 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:15 p.m. Games Saturday begin at 10 a.m. The third-fourth place game is set for 3:15 p.m., and the Okanagan championship will be contested at 5 p.m.
OKANAGAN VALLEY AA CHAMPIONSHIPS
The eight-team event that will send two teams to the B.C. finals will be held at Westsyde Secondary in Kamloops.
Opening-day Thursday, Feb. 20, sees the host Westsyde Whundas (#2) take on the A.L. Fortune Falcons of Enderby at 1:45 p.m., followed by the top-ranked Summerland Rockets facing the Merritt Panthers (#8) at 3:30 p.m.
The third-seeded Kalamalka Lakers of Coldstream will meet the Princess Margaret Mustangs of Penticton at 5:15 p.m., and the final game will see the Southern Okanagan Hornets (#4) play the Pleasant Valley Hawks of Armstrong (#5) at 7 p.m.
Game times are the same on Friday, and play starts at 9 a.m. Thursday. The bronze-medal game is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the championship game will go at 7:45 p.m.
According to BC Boys Basketball, if the bronze-medal winner has not played the loser of the championship game in the Valley tournament, they can challenge that team for the second provincial berth.
The B.C. finals are salted for March 5-8 in Langley.
OKANAGAN 4A CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Okanagan Mission Huskies of Kelowna, and Mt. Boucherie Bears of West Kelowna, advanced to the championship final four with quarterfinal wins Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The Huskies (#3) pounded the Penticton Lakers (#6) 75-44 on the OKM home court, while the hometown Bears (#4) eliminated the fifth-seeded Salmon Arm Golds 92-49.
The Huskies advance to play the Rutland Thunder (#2) Friday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m., while the top-seeded hosts, the Kelowna Owls, face Mt. Boucheries at 6:45 p.m.
The two winners meet Saturday at 5:45 p.m. with the victor advancing to the B.C. finals March 5-8 in Langley.
