Kavneer Dhaliwal of the Osoyoos Rattlers leaps with the ball in this file photo of a regular season game against Princeton. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The Osoyoos Rattlers senior boys basketball team has secured a spot in provincial playoffs, thanks to a strong performance in Valleys playoffs last week.
The team placed third in the Valleys playoffs in Kelowna from Thursday to Saturday, winning one of four spots in the provincial championships. The Valleys includes the Okanagan and surrounding area.
The Rattlers lost their first game 88-77 to St. Ann’s Academy from Kamloops, but this turned out to be their only loss.
They squeaked out an 86-80 victory over Charles Bloom Secondary School from Lumby in their second game.
In the third game, the Rattlers faced archrivals Keremeos, who beat the Rattlers twice in the regular season. The Rattlers won 87-77.
“The guys were so focused on the game and what they had to do,” said Coach Casey Brouwer. “We came out more united than I have ever seen the guys.”
This win put the Osoyoos team into the final game to determine third and fourth place. Facing them was Immaculata Regional High School from Kelowna, ranked third in the province.
“Not only did we win the game, but we beat them by 20 points and dropped 100 on them,” said a proud Brouwer. “We outscored them 36-15 in the first quarter and after that the boys never looked back.”
The final score was 100-80 for the Rattlers.
Arshdeep Gill scored 37 points for Osoyoos in that game and Gurlal Dhaliwal scored 25.
The provincials will be held March 8 to 12 at the Langley Events Centre.
Brouwer said the Rattlers hope to have a pep rally to send them off on Tuesday, March 8.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
