Quarter-final matchups set at Girls 1A Basketball Championships

Credo Christian Kodiaks’ Alexa Leyenhorst goes up for the lay-up during her team’s opening-round win over the École Jules-Verne Albatros. Gary Ahuja photo

Seven of the top eight seeds advanced on the opening day of the BC School Sports Girls 1A Basketball Championships with the lone upset coming as the 11th seed Immaculata Mustangs crashed their way into the top 8.

The quarter-final round gets underway on Feb. 29 at 1:45pm with the top-seed Pacific Christian Pacers (Victoria) facing Prince George’s Cedars Christian Eagles, the No. 8 seed. The other matchups feature No. 4 St. Ann’s Academy (Kamloops) against No. 5 Sir Alexander Mackenzie Grizzlies (Hagensborg), the No. 2 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) and the No. 7 Kelowna Christian Knights (Kelowna) and the defending champion and No. 3 seed Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) vs. the No. 11 Immaculata Mustangs (Kelowna).

#1 Pacific Christian 64 #16 Bulkley Valley Christian 16

A balanced attack from the Pacific Christian Pacers saw all 11 players make at least one field as the No. 1 seed from Victoria was a 64-16 winner over the Bulkley Valley Christian Royals.

Abi Ellison (11 points) and Eden Greene (10) points were the top scorers for Pacific Christian while Grade 11 forward Keji Jada finished with nine points for a young Royals squad which only dresses one Grade 12.

#8 Cedars Christian Eagles 60 #9 Charles Bloom 46

The Cedars Christian Eagles were deadly from beyond the arc, hitting 10 triples for half their points as they defeated the Charles Bloom Timberwolves 60-46 in the 8-9 matchup.

The teams were tied after a quarter with Cedars Christian using a 14-3 run bridging the second and third quarters to take control of the contest. Amy Larson (19) and Mila Johnson (13) did the bulk of the damage for the Eagles with Larson sinking four triples from beyond the arc.

#4 St. Ann’s Academy Crusaders 70 #13 Grand Forks Wolves 15

Morgan Eichenberger scored 18 of her 26 points in the first quarter as Kamloops’ St. Ann’s Crusaders were too much for the Grand Forks Wolves, winning 70-15. Callie Perrot’s five points led Grand Forks.

#5 Sir Alexander Mackenzie Grizzlies 69 #12 White Rock Christian Academy 36

It was the Parr show in Wednesday’s opening round game as Annika Parr scored 32 while Ayanna Parr added 20 to lead a young Sir Alexander Mackenzie Grizzlies squad to a 69-36 win over the White Rock Christian Academy Warriors. Madeline Slofstra’s 10 points were tops for White Rock Christian.

#3 Credo Christian Kodiaks 70 #14 École Jules-Verne Albatros 41

The defending tournament champion came out hot in the first quarter, scoring 27 points in that 10-minute stretch as they won 70-41 over the École Jules-Verne Albatros. Alexa Leyenhorst scored 16 while Demi Timmerman added 15 for the Kodiaks. The Albatros’ Jessica Williams had 26 for her team.

#11 Immaculata Mustangs 44 #6 Nanaimo Christian Trail Blazers 39

The lone upset on the 1A side came with the Immaculata Mustangs outscoring the Nanaimo Christian Trail Blazers 19-8 down the stretch for the 44-39 win. Iyra Puno’s 20 points led the Mustangs with Nicole Hobbs scoring 21 for Nanaimo Christian.

#7 Kelowna Christian Knights 56 #10 St. Margaret’s School 33

A 16-2 run to start the game set the tone as the Kelowna Christian was a 56-33 winner over St. Margaret’s School. Mia Klassen’s 22 points and Claire Pasenau 19 led the Knights while Abby Nicholson (15 points) and Syna Mangat (12) were the leading scorers for St. Margaret’s School.

#2 Unity Christian Flames 73 #15 Meadowridge Gryphons 27

Miah Schuurman led the Unity Christian Flames with 23 points in a tournament-opening 73-27 victory over the Meadowridge Gryphons. Aneet Dhillon was Meadowridge’s leading scorer with 12 points.

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