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Lakers caps career with MVP

Lyndzie Caron was shocked, but grateful and proud to be named the OK Valley Championship MVP.
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Lyndzie Caron was shocked, but grateful and proud to be named the Okanagan Valley Championship’s most valuable player.

Caron put up 24 points in a 57-55 loss to the Kelowna Secondary Owls. The loss ended the Lakers season, while the Owls will represent the valley in the B.C. High School Provincials Championships.

“It’s an incredible accomplishment. I don’t think in all the years I have been coaching, that I seen somebody leave it all on the court,” said Lakers coach Dustin Hyde.

Hyde received an email from the Owls coach saying he had never seen somebody just will a game in terms of trying to get a victory.

“She did absolutely everything she possibly could. As the buzzer rang, just the tears started happening,” said Hyde. “She knew, she realized that all the effort, all the energy that we didn’t get the goal.”

Caron, with a shiner still showing on her left eye from an elbow that cut her in the last regular season game against the Owls, said she felt happy after the game was over.

“It was kind of bittersweet. Once I got my award I started crying,” she said. “It was just lots of emotions. It was awesome. I was really happy.

“I think I played pretty well. Not my best game, but overall I think it was a good game,” she continued.

Caron said she made strides this season in her play after playing for Team B.C. over the summer. While with the team she became a leader and worked hard. Caron only played in school provincials in Grade 8, but is looking forward to her next chapter, which begins with the UVic Vikes women’s basketball team in the fall. It’s a dream accomplished with help from Hyde, who she worked out with most mornings and played one-on-one with.

“I always wanted to go there. It just ended up working out,” said Caron, who attended an identification camp last fall. “From the beginning I always wanted to go to UVic. That was in my heart what I wanted to do.”

Hyde has coached Caron since she was in Grade 9 and says there are a lot of things that make her special. Among them is an infectious personality. A positive person who is always willing and demanding her teammates give it their all.

“Her work ethic is unmatched,” said Hyde. “She’s talented. She has a lot of skills. She’s a player that can win you games and hurt the other team in a variety of ways. Rebounding or good defence, diving for a basketball, stroking the three. She’s a very solid player.”

Gritty performance in loss

The senior girls squad season ended with a 57-55 loss to the Kelowna Secondary Owls in the Okanagan Valley championship game.

“I am incredibly proud of the effort and accomplishment of this team,” said Lakers coach Dustin Hyde. “We nearly pulled it off. It’s a tough way to end the season losing such a close one and being denied an opportunity to compete at provincials, but these past few weeks, we have earned the respect of some of the best teams and coaches in the province.”

The Lakers led 23-22 at the half. The Owls made adjustments to the Lakers defence that enabled them to build a 14-point lead early in the final quarter. The Lakers used the Goodis Press, in honour of former Lakers coach Jeff Goodis, to help them get within a point with 40 seconds remaining.

“It was a great way to end I think,” said Caron. “I was super happy the way we played. We showed that Pen High can compete at that level.”

Caron had 18 points with 15 boards, and two steals. Mattie had 13 points and two steals. Despite coming second, Caron was named the MVP. Hannah Clarke was recognized as a first-team team all-star, and Philip was named second team all-star. In the win over the Mt. Boucherie Bears, Caron put up 24 points and 14 boards. Mattie Philip had 20 points, four steals, and Celine Francisco had eight points, six assists and five steals.