Scoring 24 points in each of the final two quarters, the host Kelowna Owls outlasted a stubborn South Kamloops Titans team 80-68 in their first game at the 44th annual Interior Savings Western Canada Basketball Tournament on Thursday.
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The Owls, the No. 2-ranked quad-A team in B.C., trailed by two points (34-32) at the half, but took a 47-43 lead into what turned out to be a dominating fourth quarter in front of capacity crowd at Kelowna Secondary School.
Mason Bourcier scored 22 points to lead the two-time defending-champion Owls, who regularly utilized their non-starters, two of whom (Grade 10 Parker Johnstone and Grade 12 Justin Peleshytyk) enjoyed 20 minutes of floor time. Grade 11 Matt Williamson added 14 points for the winners while Owen Keyes contributed 13 to go along with 11 points by David Wieczorek.
With the win, the Owls earned a semifinal berth against B.C.s No. 7-ranked Semiahmoo Totems of Surrey, who outscored the Raymond, Alta. Comets 95-89 on Thursday. The Owls and Totems will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
The other semifinal, beginning at 5:15 p.m., will see No. 1-ranked Walnut Grove Gators of Langley taking on the No. 3 Oak Bay Bays.
An 89-57 win over the Campbell Collegiate Tartans of Regina earned Walnut Grove its spot in semifinal play while Oak Bay defeated the Oak Park Raiders of Winnipeg 52-41 to advance to the semis.
Winners of the two games on Friday evening will meet in the championship game at Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. at KSS.
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