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Junior Owls sweep valleys

KSS girls and boys teams both winners of Okanagan basketball titles
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The Kelowna Owls celebrate the Okanagan Valley junior girls basketball title Saturday in Vernon. The Owls are (back left) coach Kim Whelpton

The Kelowna Owls look to be on top of their game heading into the B.C. junior girls basketball championship next week in Langley.

The Owls secured a spot at provincials after going 3-0 at the Okanagan championship last weekend in Vernon.

Dez Day scored 21 points in the championship game to lead the Owls to a 49-40 victory.

After a 69-21 win over Pen Hi in the opener, the Owls downed South Kamloops 54-44 in the semifinal. Kennedy Dickie paced the offence with 21 points, while Day added 15.

KSS will compete at provincials from March 2 to 5, where Owls' coach Kim Whelpton said there will be no clearcut favourite.

"No front runner this year," said Whelpton. " The top 10 to 12 teams can all make a push for the title. We need to put four good games together to win which is very possible for our group."

The Owls, ranked third, will open provincials Wednesday against 14th-ranked Mt. Baker, while OKM (13) will play No. 4 St. Thomas More.

Junior boys…

KSS took care of business at the junior boys valley championship in Oliver with three straight wins.

The top-seeded Okanagan team, the Owls took down the Westsyde Whundas 58-46 in Saturday's final to earn a spot in the B.C. championship beginning Saturday in Langley.

The Owls, seeded seventh in B.C., will meet No. 26 Guildford in their opening game.

The Rutland Voodoos (20th) also earned one of four valley berths into the provincials and will meet No. 13 Magee on Saturday.

The Voodoos defeated the South Kamloops Titans 61-54 in the third place game.

Grade 9 boys

The Okanagan Mission Huskies are the Okanagan's top seed for the provincial Grade 9 boys basketball championship March 3 to 5 in Kelowna.

The Huskies defeated the Dr. Knox Falcons 50-41 on Saturday to win the valley championship.

The Falcons and Rutland Voodoos, who placed third at valleys, also earn spots at provincials to be hosted by Dr. Knox and Rutland.