Tarik Cheng (Grade 10) goes for a layup against W.L. Seaton at Osoyoos Secondary School during the Desert Classic tournament. Cheng is a junior player brought up to play with the senior team for the tournament. Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times
The Osoyoos Secondary School Rattlers have their eyes on Valleys after coming in sixth at the Desert Classic last week.
The sixth place finish for the senior boys basketball team came after a close game against Grand Forks.
“As a team we made the decision to let our bench player finish the game, it was a great game and a fun way to end our tournament,” said coach Casey Brouwer.
Brouwer said the memorable moments from the tournament include Jasmanpreet Sekhon put up an offensive rebound with one second left in the fourth quarter against Fort St. James, and in the next game against W.L. Seaton from Vernon Sekhon again made a last-second play hitting a 26-foot three pointer to tie the game in the final three seconds of the fourth quarter taking his team to overtime. Zach Brouwer had a season high 11 points in the third match up against Pleasant Valley.
The tournament featured a mini all-star game on Feb. 14 and a shooting contest for the players, parents and coaches.
The Desert Classic marks the end of the regular season for the Rattlers, who now have their sights set on Valleys, the playoffs for Okanagan teams, from Feb. 20 to 22. Should the Rattlers nab a top-three spot they earn a shot at provincials.
The Barrier Cougers took first in the Desert Classic with a win over LV Rogers. W.L. Seaton finished third with a win over Keremeos.
“As the coach of the senior boys team, I am so proud of how our guys played and how they worked hard all weekend to make this tournament a huge success,” Brouwer said.
