A five-year run as division champions has ended for the Elgin Park Orcas.
The Panorama Ridge Thunder upended the Orcas 55-47 in the championship game of the Fraser Valley West Senior AAA girls high school basketball playoffs Saturday night at Elgin Park Secondary.
The Orcas finished first in league play, having outscored Panorama Ridge in the two league games that were split by the two Surrey rivals.
The Thunder jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the championship game, and didn’t allow the Orcas to get closer than two points the rest of the way.
Jasmine Sidhu with 20 points led the offensive effort, while Kajal Parmar contributed with three treys in the final three minutes to put the game out of reach. Also contributing were Jasmine Grewal with six steals, 10 points and five rebounds, Anika Constantinescu with eight blocked shots and 18 rebounds, and Tessa Jansen with a double double on 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Thunder coach John Sowerby credited the defensive work of three players in stopping Elgin Park’s top offensive threat.
“We knew we had to shut (Stacey) Graham down, so we told Parmar to play tight on her and make her dribble the ball before she shoots,” he said, noting Graham was held to 10 points. “Parmar spent most of the first half in foul trouble so Tanvir Pannu and Amlique Boprai took turns frustrating her.”
The Thunder defeated the Delta Pacers 60–39 in a semifinal game Friday. Parmar had 28 points Jasmine added 16. Constantinescu was a defensive standout, blocking seven shots and pulling down 16 rebounds.