The Chatelech junior boys' hopes for a North Shore title ended Monday night.
Chat was overmatched defensively and never really got on track, losing 72-40 to Carson Graham. Chat played for third place Wednesday night. A result was not available at press time.
Last week Chat accomplished two firsts: they defeated the West Vancouver Highlanders, and won a quarterfinal playoff game for the first time at the Grade 8, 9 or 10 level. Despite having two players with the flu, two injured, and only eight who were healthy enough to make the game, Chat was down by only four points both at halftime and the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, sensing the panic setting in their triple A opponents, Chat sunk the dagger into the Highlanders by outscoring them 18-11 and going ahead for the first time in the game with just over one minute remaining. Avery Payne sunk the second of four consecutive foul shots to clinch the 47-43 win.
In other junior boys action, Elphinstone lost its quarterfinal 67-30 to Carson Graham last Wednesday.
In juvenile girls, Argyle ended the season for Elphi with a 46-16 win on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The senior boys' playoffs ended all too early for the Cougars as well, as they were handed a 80-69 defeat by St. Thomas Aquinas last Friday.
The Elphi senior girls ended their season on a high note, winning a tournament in Pemberton last weekend. The Cougars went undefeated, winning three round-robin games and narrowly hanging on to defeat the host squad in the final. The Cougars had only eight players available for the tournament.
In game one, Elphi dominated Howe Sound, winning 55-25. Tanis Borley led the way with 18 points, while Kendra Pomfret added 12.
The Pemberton junior squad was up next, with Elphi winning 32-19. Tanis had 12 points to lead the Cougars.
Elphi played the Pemberton senior team in game three in what proved to be the toughest game of the tournament and a prelude to the championship final.
Elphi scored the first two baskets, but after that, they trailed until late in the third quarter. The Cougars battled back in the final quarter, pulling out a 39-34 win.
Addy Fearnley and Tanis led the scoring attack with 12 points each. The win was the first in three years for the Cougars over Pemberton.
The final was equally close and provided another exciting finish.
"Every time we got more than a two-point lead, Pemberton would close the gap," said Elphi coach Lynn Moran. "In the final minute, Pemberton was within a point. With the home crowd cheering them on, Tonya Poole sunk a clutch basket to put us up by three with only seconds remaining. Pemberton did manage to score once more, but fell just short, losing 33-32."
Kendra was the leading scorer with 10 points, followed by Tonya with nine in her best game of the season. Taja Rivera and Rachael Maedel played strong aggressive defence, posting season highs in rebounds and steals throughout the tournament. Tanis was selected as a tournament all-star.
"The girls have worked so hard and improved so much over the past three years, they deserve to be champions. To be victorious in our last tournament was a fitting way to cap off a great season," Moran said.
