The Holy Cross Crusaders are just one win away from a BC Senior AA girls high school basketball championship.
But for the Crusaders boys team, the championship run ended a game shy of the final.
The girls from the Surrey school has been the dominant team through the first three days of the 16-team tournament in Kamloops, winning three games to get to tonight’s (Saturday) championship game against the Vernon Panthers.
A 62-40 victory over the Wellington Wildcats in Friday night’s semifinal game was the closest of the three played by Holy Cross. Michelle Bos netted 20 points to lead a Crusaders’ attack that also included a 16-point, 16-rebound effort from Rachel Beauchamp.
Holy Cross led 28-23 at half-time, but built the lead to 13 points at 44-31 at three-quarter time.
The Crusaders topped the Duchess Park Conders 72-37 in a quarterfinal game Thursday. Amy Sprangers of Holy Cross had the double double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Beauchamp also tallied 21 points with Nicole Vanderhelm adding 12 points and Bos scoring 11.
The game was never in doubt, as the Crusaders led 24-5 after one quarter and 46-13 at half time.
The Crusaders boys team had their championship run stopped in Friday’s semifinal round when they fell 67-54 to the Kelowna Christian Knights. Down by seven points at half-time, Holy Cross was within four at 57-53 with three minutes to play, but were outscored 10-1 the rest of the way.
Henry Maduabueke was the main offensive weapon for Holy Cross, scoring 29 points and grabbing a dozen rebounds. Taylor Browne added 11 points for the Crusaders, who will play in the bronze medal game tonight.
The Crusaders defeated the St. Michaels’ University Jaguars of Victoria Thursday night, getting 22 points from Browne and 17 points and 11 rebounds from Maduabueke.