Ranked No. 2 for much of the year, there was only one obstacle the Kelowna Owls had yet to clear during the high school basketball season.

On Saturday in Langley, the KSS senior girls crossed that final and triumphant hurdle with a over the favoured and top-ranked Walnut Grove Gators in the B.C. AAA championship game.

KELOWNA WINS! win the Provincial title 67-61 over the Gators. Stay tuned for MVP announcements 馃弳

香蕉视频直播� BC AAA Girls BBall (@BCAAAGirlsBBall)

The Owls, who had lost to the Gators in two previous meetings this season, put on a stifling defensive display香蕉视频直播攃omplimented by a finely-tuned, opportunistic offensive attack香蕉视频直播攖o give KSS, Kelowna and the Okanagan their first ever provincial AAA girls香蕉视频直播� title.

香蕉视频直播淚 am just so proud of our team,香蕉视频直播� said Owls香蕉视频直播� senior Taya Hanson. 香蕉视频直播淎ll the work we put into it, just all being together and playing as one, it was an unreal experience.

香蕉视频直播淚t really felt like the work all paid off,香蕉视频直播� she added. 香蕉视频直播淭o represent Kelowna and the Okanagan and win that championship, will definitely go down in history for us.香蕉视频直播�

Hanson, who returned from a year of basketball in Ontario to play out her Grade 12 season in Kelowna, sealed her high school career in style with 18 points, 11 rebounds and MVP honours for the provincial tournament.

Your Tournament MVP: Taya Hanson of the . In the final game she had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists 馃帠

香蕉视频直播� BC AAA Girls BBall (@BCAAAGirlsBBall)

Grade 11 post Kennedy Dickie delivered one of her best efforts of the season, leading the Owls with 21 points in the final, while Grade 12 guard Dez Day tossed in 11 points, including three conversions from beyond the arc.

Dickie and Jaeli Ibbetson both earned tournament all-star recognition, while Darren Semeniuk was named the top coach.

The Owls, coached by the son and mom team of Darren and Heather Semeniuk, and Quentin Thiessen, made a commitment to a full-court, pressure defense approach after Christmas. It turned out to be the perfect solution against the talent-laden Gators, featuring the likes of Tavia Rowell, Nathalie Rathler and Jessica Wisotzki.

香蕉视频直播淲ith Darren香蕉视频直播檚 leadership and Quintin香蕉视频直播檚 work on defense, we always believed defense was where the answer was,香蕉视频直播� said Heather. 香蕉视频直播淎 credit to the girls, they responded, followed the plan and believed in it, too. That was a really good team we beat.香蕉视频直播�

For seniors Hanson, Day, Rachel Hare and Kasey Patchell, it was their final games at KSS. With most players on the Owls coming up through the club system together, Semeniuk said it was among the tightest-knit, committed group she香蕉视频直播檚 had the pleasure of working with in all her years on the hardwood.

香蕉视频直播淭his is a very special and unique group, these girls are all really dialed into the sport, they香蕉视频直播檙e all really invested in it,香蕉视频直播� Semeniuk said. 香蕉视频直播淭o get to that stage, to that big game and see how they competed, and then come through with the win was really special to see.香蕉视频直播�

For Hanson, who played at a prep school last year in Brantford, ON, it was the ideal conclusion to her high school career.

Next season, she香蕉视频直播檒l join the Arizona State University Sun Devils program in Tempe, AZ.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 so happy I came back, what an amazing way to finish it off with just a lovely group of girls and people,香蕉视频直播� Hanson added. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to embrace this and make it last. We wanted to win this for each other. It香蕉视频直播檚 something I香蕉视频直播檓 sure we香蕉视频直播檒l never forget.香蕉视频直播�

In reaching Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 B.C. final against Walnut Grove, the Owls posted convincing wins at provincials over Heritage Woods, Argyle and Semiamhoo.

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