The Kalamalka Lakers fell 72-61 to the L.V. Rogers Bombers of Nelson in Saturday’s final of the Bombers Senior Boys Invitational Basketball Classic.
The teams were tied after three quarters before the Lakers got into foul trouble in the fourth.
Kal reached the final by stopping Selkirk Storm of Castlegar 67-59 and brushing back the Mt. Sentinel Wildcats of South Slocan 67-49.
“Our team was lead by veterans Alex Steinley and Patrick Schindler, who picked up an MVP award for the weekend,” said assistant coach Kait Serafin. “Game stars were Kevin Pontious, Nathan Meyer, and Zoro Zhang. Other notables were Max Wilford, Paul Major, Robbie Graydon, Jashan Jhajj. It was a team effort. The boys are really starting to believe in themselves.”
The Lakers take their ever-improving game to North Zone league play tonight when they host the Fulton Maroons (8:15). Fulton is 3-0, Kal 1-3.
The Maroons bowed 68-55 to the Abbotsford Huskies in consolation action Saturday at the Sa-Hali Sabres Classic in Kamloops, placing sixth.
“It was another poor start for us and we looked tired the whole game,” said Fulton manager Riley Mottus. “We went down 14 in the first quarter and then played our best quarter of basketball in the second bringing it to a four-point game. The second half really wasn’t our time.”
Greg Hyde flushed 22 points and a dozen boards, while Ben Olson canned 14 points and Dustin Popoff earned seven rebounds.
Guard Spencer Kaneda of the Maroons made the tournament all-star team.
Earlier Saturday, the Maroons grounded the Duchess Park Condors of Prince George 69-52.
Hyde dialed up 27 points and 20 rebounds, while Olson produced 11 points and 10 boards.