Vying for the top spots to make it to Provincials, eight teams from across the Okanagan began the battle for placement on Friday, February 18.
This past weekend, the Junior Girls Okanagan Valley Championship Basketball Tournament was held right here in Princeton at Princeton Secondary School.
Day One began with the Kelowna Owls winning 43 to 35 against the Clarence Fulton Maroons (Vernon). South Kamloops Titans took their win 59 to 26 vs the Similkameen Sparks. (Keremeos) Vernon Panthers won 57 to 33 vs the Rutland Voodoos, and Princeton Rebels won 44 vs the St. Anne' s Crusaders (Kamloops) with 31.
Day Two continued beginning at 10 a.m. with playoffs for the top spot. Championship hosts, the Princeton Rebels, took third place in the tournament.
It was a grueling weekend for the Rebels, as most players on the team fell ill to the nasty cold and flu that hit many locals this past week.
Mayor Randy McLean, who is quite proud of the Rebels said, "They have had such an amazing season, it's too bad most of the team is ill."
The Rebels have been ranked 5th in the province this past year, only having had three losses.
Although, it was obviously tough on the girls to play this past weekend, they put their game faces on and played hard. The Rebels lost to the Vernon Panthers in the afternoon game, but won their final game against the Kelowna Owls, 47 - 39.
"The girls have worked very hard," stated Coach Rob Marshall, "Colleen and I are very proud of them." Marshall and Assistant Coach Colleen Stevens extend their thanks to everyone for the terrific support given to the team this season and are most definitely looking forward to the next season.
After the Rebels final game, the battle for first began at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night between the Vernon Panthers and the South Kamloops Titans. The Titans took the win 55 - 43 and are the Junior Girls Okanagan Valley Champions for 2011.
Both the Titans and the Panthers will compete at Provincials in March.