Anchored by an outstanding performance of their two goaltenders, the Kelowna-based Central Zone Rockets won two games, tied one and lost one at their own midget tier 2 hockey tournament on the weekend at the Rutland Arena.
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Goalie Alex Jansen earned most valuable player honours in the Rockets’ opening game of the eight-team event to lead his team to a 1-1 draw with the North Okanagan Zone tier 1 squad.
The second game saw the Central Zone’ Justin Bradley make 57 saves to keep the Rockets close in a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Royals, while Jansen shut out the Saanich Braves 4-0 in a third round-robin matchup. Ethan Wong was the hosts’ MVP.
Finishing in a two-way tie for second in their pool, the Rockets missed out on playing in the semifinals because of goal differential.
In their final (consolation) game, the Central Okanagan representatives doubled the South Okanagan Zone tier 1 team 4-2, with defenceman Sam Bishop earning the team’s MVP award.
The tournament’s championship game saw the Vernon Vipers score three unanswered goals in the third period on the way to a 6-3 win over the North Zone.
The Rockets enter the Christmas break atop the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association league standings, one point up on Vernon.
In preparation for a run at the B.C. Hockey midget tier 2 provincial championship tournament in Port Coquitlam March 19-23, the Rockets will play their final invitational tournament in Summerland Jan. 21-23. The OMAHA playoffs begin shortly afterward.
Rounding out the Rockets’ roster, coached by Marc Leger and Scott Porritt, are Ty Marchant, Kyle Trerice, Sean Steinwandt, Kyle Porritt, Tyler Worthing, Wyatt Kelly, Dylan Simpson, Tyson Ludba, Gauge Brown, Eli Cronquist, Evan Mills, Colby Elmer, Scott Freeman and Will Cannan.
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The Kelowna Owls couldn’t recover from a slow start in the championship game and had to settle for silver at the prestigious REB Invitational Basketball Tournament on the weekend.
Up against St. Benedict Catholic Saints of Cambridge, Ont. in the final, the Owls gave up the first nine points and trailed 27-6 by the end of the first quarter. The lone B.C. entry in the 12-team event played the Saints even the rest of way and even got to within 13 points at one stage.
Mason Bourcier, a tournament all-star, and David Wieczorek each scored 14 points for the Owls, with Grade 10 Parker Johnstone contributing 12.
The Owls, ranked No. 2 among quad-A teams in the province, reached the final by defeating Bishop O’Byrne of Calgary 86-78 in semifinal play a day earlier.
Bourcier netted 31 points on Alberta’s No 5-ranked team while Wieczorek had 15 points to go along with 13 points and 13 rebounds from Owen Keyes.
Their opening game against Notre Dame College Irish saw the Kelowna Secondary School representatives score a tournament-high 128 points and hold the Welland, Ont. team to 71.
Another 28 points from Bourcier topped the scoresheet for the Owls, who received a 22-point effort from Grade 11 Wieczorek and 18 points from Matt Williamson, another first-year senior. Also posting double digits were Dale Castro and Johnstone, both of whom had 11. Keyes pulled down 13 rebounds.
KSS assistant coach, Brad Heuser, said the team continues to improve and is gaining valuable experience.
“They're learning how to compete and what it takes to win,” he added.
The Owls are back in action Dec. 27 in their first game of the Bothell High School tournament in Seattle.
Missing two key players for the entire weekend, the Kelowna Owls managed just one win in four games at the annual senior girls Tsumura Basketball Invitational Tournament in Langley.
With Courtney Donaldson (injury) and Kennedy Dickie (Basketball Canada identification camp) out of the lineup, the provincially No. 5 (AAA)-ranked Owls were upset 78-70 by No. 10 Argyle Pipers of North Vancouver in their opening game at the Langley Events Centre.
Rachel Hare and Dez Day (player of the game) both scored 16 points while Alley Corrado added 11 points in a losing cause.
The Kelowna Secondary School representatives also lost their second game — 67-60 to Little Flower Academy Angels of Vancouver (No. 8 - AA). Day again led the Owls with 18 points, with Grade 11 Kasey Patchell (POG) stepping up to contribute 14 points. Corrado and Chelsea Espenberg netted eight points apiece with Rene Watson adding seven.
A bounce-back game saw KSS breeze by the Holy Cross Crusaders of Surrey 71-29 with the help of a 14-point effort by Espenberg and 12 points from Maddie Dickie.
In their final encounter, the Owls fell 64-56 to the triple -A (honourable mention) W.J. Mouat Hawks of Abbotsford. Hare’s 20 points led the Black and Gold, with Day adding 13 to the cause. Corrado contributed seven steals and seven assists.
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