The Pen High Lakers senior basketball teams returned from Rutland with their first wins of the season Tuesday.
The senior boys team bounced back after being crushed by the Kelowna Secondary Owls at Pen High Monday 110-24 to edge Rutland 67-64. Trailing by nine points in the third quarter, Lakers coach Colin Cook watched as his team was sparked by Matt Brodt draining three shots from three-point land as well as Jake Stokker’s strong play in the final quarter, which included him finishing with 14 points.
Also contributing to the attack, led by Brodt with 17, were Taulbee Jack with 11, Kieran Loewen and Colin Eden with 10 points each.
“It was nice to see the boys bounce back after a humbling defeat from the KSS Owls,” said Cook.
Last weekend, the Lakers finished fourth in Chilliwack. Loewen’s 31-point effort pushed the Lakers past LA Matheson. In the semifinal, the Lakers lost to Rick Hansen and lost to the Owls B team for third place.
Robertson leads Lakers
The senior girls squad, led by Haylee Robertson, won 74-52 over the Rutland. Robertson piled up 24 points and collected nine rebounds. Having another monster performance on the boards was Natasha Reimer with 23. She added 17 points, while Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu netted 14 points and had seven assists. Also chipping in were Ali Vandermey with seven points and Chantelle Mozart with six.
The Voodoos impressed Lakers coach Lesley Lacroix with their outside shooting.
“We failed to contest some shots (like we did against KSS) and they converted,” she said. “It was a very close contest until half-time and then we pulled ahead by 20 and didn’t look back.”
Lacroix said her group finished well inside the key, but more work is needed to develop better perimeter shooting. The Lakers head to Nelson this weekend with the focus on developing as a team and bonding, building strong relationships. Their next league match is Dec. 16 in West Kelowna against the Mt. Boucherie Bears.
Junior cruise past Keremeos
The junior Lakers girls basketball team opened its season Dec. 4 with a 63-25 win against Similkameen Elementary Secondary School. Lyndzie Caron led with with 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals, Jollee Perrier had 14 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Callie Anderson led guards with nine points and five assists.