In a 40-minute defensive battle where points were hard to come by, it was only fitting that it was a pair of stops in the dying seconds which earned Abbotsford’s M.E.I. Eagles a provincial championship.
The Eagles trailed late before hitting a big 3-pointer and converting a steal in their own end to a lay-up at the other to take the lead before those two decisive stops in a thrilling 50-49 win over Kamloops’ Sa-Hali Sabres in the finals of the BC School Sports 3A Girls Basketball Provincial Tournament.
The teams were the top two seeds of the 16-team tournament with M.E.I. – the No. 1 seed – winning the school’s first provincial girls’ basketball title since 1999.
With points hard to come by for the Eagles – they average more than 67 points in their first three games – Olivia Sidhu finished with 11 points, which included that late 3-pointer to pull her team within one.
Sidhu earned the Championship Player of the Game award.
The Sabres were led by 25 points from Nevena Nogic, who was named Most Valuable Player.
The third-place game saw the Vernon Panthers defeat Prince George’s Duchess Park Condors 68-57.
Awards and Honours
- Most Valuable Player
Nevena Nogic, Sa-Hali - Most Outstanding Defensive Player
KyLia Schellenberg, M.E.I. - Championship Player of the Game
Olivia Sidhu, M.E.I. - Most Sportsmanlike Team
Valleyview Vikes
First Team All-Stars
- Adia Janke, Vernon
- Ella Tatlock, M.E.I.
- Olivia Sidhu, M.E.I.
- Iyin Aina, Sa-Hali
- Lola Reimer, M.E.I.
Second Team All-Stars
- Zahra Ngabo, Duchess Park
- Lorenn Caceres, College Heights
- Paige Leahy, Vernon
- Isabel Phillips, Sa-Hali
- Elana Russell, Mark R. Isfeld
Full results and news can also be found at www.bchighschoolbasketballchampionships.com
