The Elphi Cougars are still alive in the Lower Mainland playoffs.
Heading into play Thursday, the senior girls were down to their last life in the double knockout playoff.
Elphi was set to play either York House or Little Flower (past deadline). An Elphi win would advance them to play today (Friday) in the third/fourth place game.
The Cougars started the week with a come-from-behind 71-56 win over St. Pats from Vancouver.
Elphi trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but cut the lead to 10 at 37-27 at halftime.
"I told the team it was only 10 points, five hoops," said coach Lynn Moran. "We had 20 minutes to do it or face going home. The girls really responded in the second half."
Elphi tightened up their defence and found their shooting range outscoring St. Pats 45-19 in the second half.
The win advanced Elphi into the double knockout portion of the draw where they faced top ranked Sutherland Sabres Tuesday.
Like the previous two contests, Sutherland won handily 86-38.
"It was a really tough game. Our top players weren't our top players and it showed," said Moran. "We shot so badly. In the second quarter, we were two for 13, scoring four points, and we scored only five points in the fourth. It was 27-19 after the first, but it all just fell apart in the second quarter. We played hard; we just couldn't sink the baskets."
On Wednesday night, Elphi played a solid game, beating McMath 61-39.
The game was tied 20-20 at the half, but Elphi turned it up in the second half, outscoring McMath 41-19.
"Our defence was awesome," said Moran. "Every-one played very well. I think it was our best game of the season."
In senior boys, the Chat Eagles' season came to an end last Friday in North Vancouver.
Chat had to survive several wildcard games to get into the main playoff draw, which was played this week.
Chat edged Elphi 61-56 last Wednesday to advance to play Howe Sound last Thursday.
Chat smoked Howe Sound 91-66 to next play Sentinel last Friday. But that's where the Eagles' luck ran out, as Sentinel won 98-72.
"Considering we practised for just over two months, I'm quite happy," said coach Bruce Haynes.
"We played three games in three days and we only have eight players. When you play that kind of schedule it takes a lot out of you."
Haynes has five returning players next year and three from the junior team.
"Our biggest problem is bench strength," he said. "We need to pick up a few more players. Sentinel had 14 players on their bench. In order to compete at a high level, you need bench strength to complement your starters."
In junior girls' hoops, a former standout with Chat is now helping another Eagles squad to greatness.
Tanya Devries is playing for the number one ranked junior girls team, Carson Graham Eagles. The Eagles recently won the fourth annual North Shore Top 10 Tournament and are in the North Shore playoffs this week. The North Shore final is slated for today (Feb. 17). Barring anything unforeseen, the Eagles will win the North Shore title and will be ranked in the top five when the provincials get underway later this month.- With a file from Jan-Christian Sorensen, NS News
