AAA, AA and A provincial basketball story
The South Kamloops Titans are again provincial champions.
Graduating seniors Emma Wolfram and Maya Olynyk led South Kam to a 59-49 victory over the Brookswood Bobcats in the championship final of the senior girls B.C. AAA basketball championships at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, March 9.
“That was our goal — to end our high-school careers on a win,” Wolfram said.
“Knowing that it was a provincial championship made it even better.”
The twin towers might have paced South Kam, but they had plenty of help from their teammates.
“It was a great team effort,” Titans’ head coach Sean Lamoureux said.
“Emma and Maya led us, but we had everyone contribute for us.
“When Brookswood cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter, Ashley Lamoureux nailed a three-pointer to push the lead back to nine points.
“We had so many kids make big plays in the final.”
Wolfram’s stat line — 16 points, 18 rebounds and eight blocked shots — was impressive.
Olynyk, with 15 points and 12 rebounds, also recorded a double-double.
With 34 blocks in total at the tournament, Wolfram — a 6-foot-4 centre who will play next season for the Gonzaga Bulldogs of the NCAA Division One ranks — set a new championship record.
The Saskatchewan Huskies of the Canadian Interuniversity Sports ranks will welcome Olynyk to the fold this fall.
Wolfram won most valuable player honours and was named defensive player of the tournament, while Olynyk was named a first-team all star.
Anna Frenkel contributed 13 rebounds and seven points for South Kam, with Emma Piggin adding 13 points and seven rebounds.
The win marked the second consecutive provincial title for the Titans.
Wolfram told KTW the reception back at school on Monday, March 11, was a warm one.
She also said it’s hard to believe her high-school career has come to an end.
“We’ve spent so many hours with the team in the gym. To know that I’m done with that now is kind of weird.”
Remember the Titans
The 2012-2013 provincial champion South Kamloops Titans: Ashley Lamoureux, Daylynne Agar, Kanesha Reeves, Becca Peters, Emma Piggin, Maya Olynyk, Elizabeth Anderson, Christine Clyde, Anna Frenkel, Mieke Dumont, Emily Vilac and Emma Wolfram.
The Titans’ coaches are Jane Wolfram, Corey Yamaoka, Sean Lamoureux and Ken Olynyk.
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Kamloops bids adieu to AA championship
For the 15th and final time, Kamloops hosted the provincial AA high school basketball championships.
Winning on the boys’ side were the Kelowna Christian Knights, who knocked off Brentwood College of Mill Bay 58-47 in the championship final at the Tournament Capital Centre on Saturday, March 9.
The Holy Cross Crusaders of Surrey won gold on the girls’ side, beating the Vernon Panthers 69-37 in the championship game.
The host Sa-Hali Sabres placed seventh on the girls’ side and 14th on the boys’ side.
Next year’s AA championships will likely be played on the Coast.
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St. Ann’s sixth
Michael Mayhew scored 31 points and led the St. Ann’s Crusaders to a 72-69 win over the Bulkley Valley Christian Royals at the senior boys B.C. A provincial championship in Abbotsford on Saturday, March 9.
The Crusaders, who entered the tournament ranked ninth, finished in sixth place.
Jeremy Laquindanum was named player of the game.
St. Ann’s found itself down 30-29 at halftime, but a strong third quarter left the Crusaders with a nine-point lead heading into the final frame.
Immaculata of Kelowna beat St. Patrick’s of Vancouver 67-51 to win gold.
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