By Howard Tsumura
No. 3 LANGLEY CHRISTIAN 74 No. 2 HOLY CROSS 40
LANGLEY — Sometimes the most valuable win you can have prior to the playoffs is a close one that gets under your skin, gnaws at you unrelentingly and pushes you to a new level of desperation.
That’s what happened to the Langley Christian Lightning last month after suffering a one-point loss to Surrey’s Holy Cross at the Crusaders’ own annual Tessa’s Tournament.
On Final Four Friday here at the Langley Events Centre, the Lightning got a chance to extract a little revenge at a most pivotal part of the season.
And judging simply by the way they started the game, it’s no stretch to say that head coach Dani Gardner’s team was burning with redemptive energy.
As if fired out of a cannon, Langley Christian played the take-away game on defence and then ran the floor with the verve and vigour of the Showtime Lakers, galloping out to a 12-0 lead, and later a 21-4 lead in a statement-making first eight minutes of play.
“They were ready, they had a chip on their shoulder from losing at the Tessa by one point, so we just wanted to come out and get after it, and play and leave it all on the floor,” added Gardner.
No one took that more to heart than LCS senior gaurd Colette Van der Hoven, who seemed to be two or three strides ahead of the entire building in scoring 13 of her career-high 32 points in the opening frame.
“It was definitely our defence and transition that was the key today,” said Van der Hoven who also had seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, “…playing with defensive in intensity and pushing the ball because we love to run.”
Gardner admits that Van der Hoven has grown a lot as a player since her Grade 10 year back in 2022 when the Lightning won the B.C. championship.
“She has matured a lot as a player,” said Gardner of Van Der Hoven. “She puts in a lot of time in her game and is a gym rat which is what you want.”
Van Der Hoven was a second-team B.C. tourney all-star in 2022 and as first-team all-star last season.
The Crusaders were able to steady the ship at points on Friday, yet it took a 10-0 game-closing run just to finish within 30 points.
Isla Ianuzzi led the Crusaders with 13 points while Solene Jackson added 12 more.
Grace Bradshaw added 13 points for the Lightning while Shaylah Black and Gabrielle Vis each added 12 points.
The victory sets up a 4 p.m. Saturday matchup against an old foe, West Vancouver’s Mulgrave Titans.
Back in 2022, Langley Christian beat Mulgrave 70-60 to win its first B.C. senior girls title at Double-A.
If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at howardtsumura@gmail.com.
