The Osoyoos Secondary School senior boys’ Rattlers have qualified for the provincial A basketball championships for the second-consecutive year. Head coach Casey Brouwer (far left) and his players left for Langley on Tuesday morning. They are ranked sixth in the 16-team tournament. Team members (left to right) include Justin Davis, Arshdeep Gill, Subjoit Gill, captain Benson Cheng, assistant captain Gurlal Dhaliwal, assistant captain Gurkirat Toor, Phil Cabanada, Kavneer Dhaliwal, Navraj Brar and Parmveer Chauhan. (Photo supplied)
The dream of becoming provincial champions is over for the Osoyoos Rattlers senior boys basketball team.
After winning their first game at the B.C. Provincial 1A Senior Boys Basketball Championships in Langley, the Rattlers fell 73-48 to St. Ann’s Academy from Kamloops Thursday night.
The Rattlers will now drop down to the consolation side of the tournament and still have a chance to finish fifth if they can win two more games.
A very slow start to the game Thursday night cost the Rattlers dearly as they trailed 14-4 after the first quarter and 35-10 at halftime.
Captain Benson Cheng led the Rattlers with 21 points, while Gurlal Dhaliwal also had a solid game with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The Rattlers will take to the court against West Point Grey Academy Friday evening.
Head coach Casey Brouwer said he was very proud of his players as they battled exceptionally hard after the slow start.
“It was a hard-fought fight,” said Brouwer. “The guys played incredible. We played a solid defense and broke their press. The only thing that was not happening for us was our shots weren’t falling.
“We would get great shooting opportunities but the ball would just not co-operate with us.
Placing fifth in the province would be a fantastic accomplishment and his players are determined to play well tonight, he said.
If the win, they will play in the battle for fifth spot on Saturday afternoon.
“We play West Point Grey and they are the No. 2 seeded team in the province coming in” so his players know they’re going to have to play very well tonight to advance, said Brouwer.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
