Fulton Maroons warmed up for their 19th annual Corporate Classic Senior Boys Basketball Tournament this week by defeating crosstown rivals Seaton Sonics 68-64 in North Zone AA League action at Fulton Tuesday.
Van Kozak led Fulton with a double-double, 25 points and 20 rebounds, his fourth 2o-rebound game of the year.
Karan Malhotra had 15 points for the Maroons, Alan Bargaso had 10 and Nathaniel Foster chipped in on the defensive end with eight blocks.
The Maroons open their eight-team Corporate Classic Thursday against the Salmon Arm Golds at 3:30 p.m. Fulton will play the George Elliot Coyotes Friday at 1:30 p.m. and close out the preliminary round with a Battle of Vernon contest against the Vernon Panthers Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers face the Coyotes Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and tangle with the Golds Friday at 3 p.m.
The other pool features the Westsyde Whundas of Kamloops, D.P. Todd Trojans of Prince George, Pen Hi Lakers of Penticton and the South Okanagan Hornets of Oliver.
The top team in each pool will meet in Saturday’s championship game at 2:15 p.m.
The Whundas are the defending champions, having knocked off Fulton 67-58 in last year’s final.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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