Defending champion Wildcats through to quarter-final round

The Little Flower Academy Angels held on for a narrow 49-46 win over Maple Ridge to advance to the quarter-final round. Gary Ahuja LEC photo

Seven of the top eight seeds, including the defending champion R.A. McMath Wildcats are into the final 8 at the BC School Sports 3A Girls Basketball Provincial Championships at Langley Events Centre.

The St. Michaels University School Blue Jags raced out to a 26-3 lead on their way to a convincing 80-36 opening-round win over the W.L. Seaton Sonics in the 1-vs-16 matchup. Makena Anderson paced the top-ranked Blue Jags with 17 points while Evelie Colclough matched that total for the Sonics.

Up next for S.M.U.S. will be a quarter-final contest against the No. 8 Little Flower Academy Angels as the Vancouver school held off the No. 9 Maple Ridge Ramblers 49-46. LFA trailed 46-38 in the fourth quarter before scoring the game’s final 11 points. Isabella Heffring was a scoring machine for the Angels as she put up 31 points. Kayleigh Mark led the Ramblers with 19 points.

The other quarter-final will feature the No. 4 South Kamloops Titans and the fifth seed M.E.I. Eagles, after they each posted double-digit victories. The Titans won 60-46 over the No. 13^th Clayton Heights Nightriders and the Eagles used a stifling defence to defeat the Vernon Panthers 51-31.

Lucy Marchese scored 19 and Francesca Faraone had 13 points to lead South Kamloops while Emma Yarwood had 19 for Clayton Heights. For the Eagles, Bree Neufeld was unstoppable, scoring 33 points, including six 3-pointers. Maddy Hackman’s 11 points led the Panthers.

The defending 3A champion R.A. McMath Wildcats were 82-51 winners over the John Oliver Jokers, advancing the No. 3 seed to face the No. 6 Sa-Hali Sabres, after the Kamloops school defeated No. 11 Robert Bateman Timberwolves 73-45.

Caitlin Kippan was deadly from outside as she sank seven 3-pointers, finishing with 25 points, while Marina Radocaj had 21. Queenie Salazar scored 15 for the Jokers while Rachael Forrester had 14. For the Sabres, Kalie Saari had 25 (including five triples) and Teni Aina had 21. Brie Izbicki (17 points) and Erin Misura (15)  

The Argyle Pipers were the only team outside the top 8 to advance to the quarter-final round as the 10^th-seed knocked off the No. 7 College Heights Cougars 72-55. Reese Tam scored 22 for the Pipers. College Heights’ Rachel Loukes countered with 27 to lead her team.

Argyle’s next opponent will be the No. 2 seed Abbotsford Senior Panthers, who were 81-28 winners over the Mark R. Isfeld Ice. Malia Lenz scored 20 of her 24 points in the first half as the Panthers cruised to the victory.

Day 2 action tips off at 8:30am. For full schedule, scores, game sheets and more information, please visit http://www.bchighschoolbasketballchampionships.com/3agirls/

Single game and tournament passes are available for sale online. Games are also available to stream through pay-per-view at tfsetv.ca.