GUILDFORD — Holy Cross Crusaders basketball teams didn't have much luck over the weekend when they hosted the B.C. Catholic Basketball Championships, as both the senior boys and senior girls lost in their respective finals on Saturday (Jan. 17).
The senior boys lost 66-53 to Vancouver College despite leading 31-26 at halftime.
The visiting Fighting Irish won the title with dominance down low and took advantage of the Crusaders' turnovers. The away side was able to pick up twice as many offensive rebounds, with a total of 16 more boards.
The eventual champions outscored Holy Cross by 12 points on turnovers.
Keegan Konn led the Crusaders in minutes and scored a game-high 23 points, while Matt Narvaez put up 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals for the Irish.
Vancouver College defeated the Archbishop Carney Stars and Saint Patrick Celtics on the way to the title, while Holy Cross beat St. John Brebeuf Bears and St. Thomas More Knights to qualify for the final game.
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In the girls' division, the Crusaders fell to the Immaculata Mustangs 78-41 on home court.
Holy Cross struggled early in the game, scoring just four points in the opening frame.
Emma Johnson and Ashlyn Day both had monster days for the Mustangs, the former recording 33 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and seven steals while the latter racked up 25 points, three assists and three steals.
Holy Cross superstar Nicole Vander Helm scored a team-high 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Similar to the boys' game, it was turnovers that made the difference, as the Crusaders gave up the ball 43 times while the Mustangs turned the ball over only 21 times. It resulted in 31 more points scored from turnovers for the Kelowna school.
Holy Cross was the defending champions in this tournament in both the boys and girls divisions.