Morning Star Staff
The VSS Panthers went 1-2 in the MEI Eagles Senior Girls Basketball Tournament, falling 66-63 to the Sardis Falcons Saturday in consolation play.
The weary Panthers struggled with finishing around the hoop and rebounding against the Falcons, an honourable mention in the top-10 poll.
Jordyn Cullum drained 27 points for VSS, while Anna Rice, Megan Rouault, and Kristy Fugel all chipped in 10 in Clearbrook.
The Panthers earlier Saturday stopped the No. 8 AAA WJ Mouat Hawks of Abbotsford 70-66 behind 19 points and a dozen rebounds from Cullum.
It was a back and forth game where the Panthers trailed by four at the half but gutted out a stellar second half against a very physical Mouat group.
“Our guard play was excellent against the pressure of the Hawks,” said Panther coach Lanny Mazurak.
Rouault led all scorers with 21 points, while Rice and Fugel each produced 10 points.
The No. 5 Cats opened by losing to top-ranked AA Brookswood Bobcats of Langley 104-48.
Two-time defending provincial MVP Aislinn Koenig, who has signed with North Carolina State in the NCAA for next year, was dominant with 36 points. Cullum counted 18 points and Fugel 11.
“This is exactly what our group needed; play teams who could defend well and play with pace,” said Mazurak. “It gave us some things to work on in practice for sure.”
The Panthers open the Sa-Hali Sabres Invitational Friday against No. 6 GW Graham Grizzlies of Chilliwack. They then face No. 8 AA Nechako Valley Viqueens of Vanderhoof and the No. 9 AA Okanagan Mission Huskies of Kelowna.
Meanwhile, the 16th Fulton Maroons Corporate Classic gets going Thurday with Dale Olson’s senior boys meeting Sa-Hali at 3:30 p.m.
The Panthers go up against the Westsyde Whundas Thursday at 5 p.m., followed by a 6:30 tilt between the LV Rogers Bombers of Nelson and College Heights Cougars of Prince George. The South Okanagan Hornets of Oliver battle the Duchess Park Condors of Prince George at 8 p.m.
Play resumes Friday at 9 a.m. with Sa-Hali tangling with LV Rogers, Duchess Park facing VSS at 10:30 and the Hornets squaring off versus the Whundas at noon.
Fulton takes on College Heights in front of the school’s secondary students at 1:30 p.m. and then meet the Bombers at 7:30.
The Panthers battle South Okanagan at 3 p.m., while Westsyde meets Duchess Park at 4:30 and Sa-Hali plas College Heights at 6. South Okanagan is an honourable mention in the AA top-10 rankings. The championship final is scheduled for Saturday, 2:15 p.m.