Winning the Okanagan championship was much like an appetizer for the Kelowna Owls.
Now the No. 1-ranked team in B.C. boys' AAAA basektball is ready for the main course.
The Owls will be the favourites next week when the provincial championship tips off Wednesday, March 9 at the Langley Events Centre.
"Four more steps," Owls head coach Harry Parmar said of his team reaching its ultimate goal. "It's been a goal of ours for a long time now, to win the B.C. championship, and now we're four wins from achieving it."
A less-than-healthy KSS squad wrapped up the valley title Friday night in its home gym with 99-71 victory over the Mt. Boucherie Bears.
The Owls, who have been battling sickness, were without both Mason Bourcier and Owen Keyes, but had more than enough ammunition to run their record against B.C. opponents this season to a perfect 22-0.
Big man Grant Shephard led a balanced KSS attack in the valley final with 27 points.
Davide Ciancio added 15, while fellow seniors Colin McGrath, Parker Simson and Matt Lafontaine contributed 14, 13 and 10 points respectively.
The Bears, who also succumbed to the Owls in last year's final, were led by Treyton Waardenberg and Sterling Peterson, with 13 points each, while Logan Jacobs had 12.
The Owls, who earned the lone Okanagan berth into provincials, are vying to become the first valley team ever to win the B.C. title.
KSS was a contender at last year's championship but reluctantly settled for a bronze medal—a slice of added motivation for Parmar's team.
"A lot of our guys know what it's like and they didn't feel too well after falling short last year," Parmar said. "The boys know what they need to do, now it's matter of getting it done. It's going to be the little things that makes us successful, taking pride in everything we do."
After the top-ranked Owls, Sir Winston Churchill is the No. 2 seed for provincials, while Walnut Grove is third, Oak Bay, fourth, and Tamanawis, fifth.
The B.C. final is set for Saturday, March 12.
B.C. AAA girls…
The Kelowna Owls are in Langley this week for the B.C. AAA girls' championship.
The Owls, ranked No. 4 in the province, will take on 13th ranked Panorama Ridge at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
The championship final and bronze medal games are set for Saturday.
B.C. AA girls…
The Immaculata Mustangs are the defending champs at the B.C. AA finals which tip off Wednesday.
The No. 2 Mustangs will face 15th ranked Little Flower Academy in their opener at 8:45 p.m.
The valley's other rep, the OKM Huskies, will play St. Thomas More at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday.