Zone finals all set

By Sean Rooney on March 10, 2018.

Medicine Hat News

As the clock ran down on their season — and for a few, their high school basketball careers —the Crescent Heights Vikings girls stood instead of sitting on the sidelines for their teammates.

It was a tough moment as the team fell 79-48 to Taber’s WR Myers Rebels in a 3A South Zone semifinal at Monsignor McCoy High School Friday. But the ladies in blue exemplified class, cheering all the way to the buzzer in spite of their tears.

Taber moves on to Saturday’s zone final, and they’ve also earned a berth in provincials since the zone gets two girls spots. The host and defending provincial champion Colts got the other spot, beating Eagle Butte 68-51 in the other semi.

The Rebels were led by forward Kitawna Sparks, who had 20 points, and Austen Robbins’ 13 points. Crescent Heights had 10 from senior Kia Kannekens and eight from Mkayla Winslow.

McCoy’s top scorers against the Talons were Annika Gerl and Hannah Stark, each with 14. Lee Anne Arnott’s 11 led Eagle Butte, which trailed by 17 at the half and couldn’t quite narrow the gap despite a solid effort.

Myers and McCoy play in the zone final at 2 p.m., followed by the boys final at 4 p.m. Unlike the girls, only the boys champion will advance to provincials — host McCoy beat Crescent Heights 75-58 in a Friday semifinal and will face either Eagle Butte or WR Myers.

The Colts’ Greg Spencer poured in 14 of his game-high 32 points in a massive 27-5 first quarter. He hit a total of eight three-pointers, while forward Spencer Tudor got 14 points. Blake Barnes and Chris Gilham each had 19 points for the Vikings.

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