LANGLEY — The Telus 2017 B.C. Single-A boys basketball championship will have at least one very familiar finalist when the championship final tips off on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) at the Langley Events Centre.
That’s one half of the journey to determine the province’s top small-school program, a journey that continues on Friday with the Final Four semifinals.
The 2015 champs from Kelowna Christian and defending champ Ron Pettigrew set themselves on a collision course via victories on Thursday in the quarterfinal round.
Meanwhile, Kelowna’s Heritage Christian and B.C. Christian of Port Coquitlam did likewise with victories on the other side of the bracket.
Here’s a look at Thursday’s action in bracket format.
TOP HALF DRAW
RON PETTIGREW CHRISTIAN 92 KHALSA 58
LANGLEY — They are Cinderella no more.
The defending champion Lions from Dawson Creek, wire-to-wire at No. 1 atop the provincial rankings, Ron Pettigrew rolled out to a 32-10 lead after the first quarter and were never threatened en route to a decisive win over a Khalsa Lions team make a groundbreaking first-ever appearance in the provincial tournament.
Garrett Tower poured home 32 points, Lance Gavino added 28, Francis Obeta scored 19 points and grabbed 24 rebounds (12 offensive) while Mej Fernandez scored nine points.
For Khalsa, Jaskirat Sandhu had 19 points, Harkerat Bhangu 11 and Anmol Johal nine points, 11 rebounds
KELOWNA CHRISTIAN 58 CREDO CHRISTIAN 56
LANGLEY — Langley’s Kodiaks pulled to within 57-56 in the late stages before the Knights’ Jackson Katler hit a free throw to make the narrow two-point win complete.
Credo had led by as many as 10 points (18-8) but the game remained within a possession or two the entire rest of the way.
Carter Martens poured home 32 points to lead all scorers while Cruz Anderson and Tyler Jardine each scored 11 points.
Levi Leyenhorst led the Kodiaks with 16 points, Reuben Sikma added 15 and Joshua Allinson 13.
The Lions and Knights tip off in a 5:15 p.m. semifinal Friday.
BOTTOM HALF DRAW
B.C. CHRISTIAN 78 BULKEY VALLEY 54
LANGLEY — A 21-9 run to start the second half was the key for the Panthers who got 26 points from Quentin Onyemordi, 20 from Zack Kuzyk, 15 from Cody Dowell and 13 from Harry Oghomienor.
Nathan Steenhof scored 25 for the Northwest champs from Smithers while Saymon Loki added 11.
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 108 SPARWOOD 84
LANGLEY — Sam Bell led six players in double-figure scoring as Kelowna’s Saints opened on a 24-8 run, creating a cushion they would build on at they topped the Spartans by 24 points.
Bell scored 23 of his game-high 32 points in the first half. Isaac Opuama scored 16, Joshua Weekes and Ben Robideau 15 apiece, Raymond Barrett 13 and Jordan Nenasheff 11 as part of the balanced attack.
Wyatt Wykld led Sparwood with a game-high 34 points, 22 coming in the opening half. Tyler Bruce scored 19 and Tyler MacDonald 14.
The Panthers and Saints tip-off in a 3:30 p.m. semifinal Friday.
