The Abbotsford Panthers and MEI Eagles were both successful on day one of the BC boys basketball provincial championships at the Langley Events Centre.
The Panthers took on Port Moody’s Heritage Woods Kodiaks in 4A tournament action on Wednesday (March 8) night and earned an 85-76 win.
Abbotsford led 36-31 at halftime and then built up a 10 point lead after three quarters to post the victory. The Kodiaks came within four points several times, but Abbotsford swatted them back.
Dilveer Randhawa led Abbotsford with 38 points, while Hayden Sansalone added 24.
Abbotsford now battles second ranked Oak Bay Secondary in the quarterfinal. Oak Bay defeated Prince George 102-54 on Wednesday. That game is set for 5:15 p.m. tonight (Thursday).
Over in the 3A tournament, the Eagles downed Richmond’s Steveston-London Sharks 93-88 on Wednesday night.
MEI led 42-41 at halftime, but then outscored the Sharks 24-14 in the third. Steveston-London made a late push but MEI held them off.
The Eagles were led by guard Gabe Vig, who scored 37 points. Centre Spencer Tatlock added 18.
MEI takes on the second ranked Dover Bay Dolphins in the quarterfinal round tonight at 5:15 p.m. The Dolphins beat Caledonia 81-34 on Wednesday.
Wednesday marked the end of title hopes for the W.J. Mouat Hawks in the 4A tournament, as they lost 75-47 to the Fleetwood Park Dragons on Wednesday. The Hawks trailed 36-29 at halftime, but struggled to make shots in the second half and were outscored 39-18.
Alvin Swarup scored a team-high 16 points for the Hawks in the loss. Mouat now enters the consolation bracket and takes on the Tamanawis Wildcats today at noon.
Continue visiting abbynews.com for ongoing coverage from the event.