KSS Westerns: Owls settle for second place in tournament’s 600th game

It was not the ending the Kelowna Secondary School (KSS) Owls wanted as they fell 78-64 in the championship game of the 50th Western Canada Basketball Tournament on Saturday.

The title match marked the 600th game in the tournament’s history and featured the Owls taking on the Spectrum Thunder.

Coming off a big win against Oak Bay the night before, the Owls came out of the gate strong and stayed close to the Thunder throughout the first quarter.

With a minute left in the opening frame, the Owls got a basket and Dominic Sodaro then stole the ball to regain possession.

The ball eventually found its way back to Sodaro and he nailed a three-pointer to tie the game 18-18.

Spectrum took a 22-20 lead into the second quarter and stayed ahead of the Owls for most of the frame.

Logan Parker brought the Owls within one point of the Thunder with a falling layup before the second quarter expired.

The Spectrum Thunder lead the KSS Owls 39-38 at halftime of the Western Canada Basketball Tournament title game. pic.twitter.com/ITSvGrsSu7

— KelownaNow (@KelownaNow) February 9, 2025

Down 39-38 to open the third quarter, Parker had momentum and scored the Owls' opening bucket to start the second half.

The Thunder immediately responded and went on a 10-0 run to take a 50-40 lead with more than seven minutes left in the third quarter.

The Owls eventually disrupted the Thunder’s run, but the damage was done and Spectrum held on to take the 78-64 win.

The Crazy Owls were loud to the very end as KSS fell 78-64 to the Spectrum Thunder in the Western Canada Basketball Tournament final. pic.twitter.com/g3PdtCEEEB

— KelownaNow (@KelownaNow) February 9, 2025

Tarun Saroya was named the best Owl of the tournament while Logan Parker was named the best KSS defender.

Spectrum’s Tyler Felt was named the best player of the event after helping his school win the tournament for the first time.