Kelowna Owls Make School History With HS Provincial Win

On March 3, 2018 the Kelowna Owls defeated the Walnut Grove Gators by a score of 67-61 to win the British Columbia triple A championship which took place at the Langley Events Centre.

The Owls, who were the top ranked team going into the Championship event, and were led in by Finals MVP Taya Hanson, who score 18 points while collecting 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

Things were not all roses for the Kelowna, as Walnut Grove jumped out of the gate with a 20-11 lead after the first quarter. Starters Natalie Rathier and Tavia Rowell each scoring 6 in the opening quarter, to get their team off on a good note.

The Owls responded with a 24-10 second quarter. Dez Day connected on two of the four triples her team scored in the quarter, as the Owls turned the tables on the Gators to take the lead into halftime.

The game’s leading scorer, Kennedy Dickie, had a quarter to remember coming out of the break. She helped the Owl’s cause with 16 points in the third quarter alone, extending the Kelowna lead to 56-43.

The Gators did make a dent into the lead during their fourth quarter push. But, out scoring the Owls 18-10 in the final frame was too little, too late as Kelowna held on for the 67-61 Championship final scoreline.

The win was the first ever triple-A Girls title for the Kelowna Owls.

Game leading scorers:
Kelowna Owls
Kennedy Dickie – 25 points
Taya Hanson – 18 points
Dez Day – 11 points

Walnut Grove Gators
Tavia Rowell – 18 points
Natalie Rathier – 14 points