The Abbotsford Panthers and Yale Lions were the big winners at the annual Abbotsford Police City Basketball Tournament, with both schools earning two banners apiece.
The Panthers took home the senior boys division title, ending Championship Saturday (Dec. 10) with an 88-78 win over the W.J. Mouat Hawks in front of a packed house at Columbia Bible College’s Columbia Place.
Final game of the @AbbyPoliceDept city basketball tournament - the senior boys final as Abby Senior battles WJ Mouat. Jam packed at @ColumbiaBibleCo #Abbotsford 🏀 pic.twitter.com/tFA3F1zYDU
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 11, 2022
Ethan Sena was the Panthers player of the game in the final and collected 18 points in the win. Mouat’s Armaan Sandhu was the Hawks player of the game and the sharpshooter poured in 21 points.
Abbotsford led 25-17 after one quarter and 47-36 at halftime, but the Hawks came alive in the third quarter and led for some portions of the third. However, the Panthers eventually were up 67-58 heading into the fourth. The final quarter saw Mouat again cut the lead to as low as five, but Abbotsford earned the 88-78 win.
Friendly bounce puts the Panthers up 82-74 with 1:43 left pic.twitter.com/iMXJBBW9N3
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 11, 2022
The win marks the Panthers first senior boys tournament title since 2019.
Abbotsford Senior also took home a banner in the Grade 9 boys division. The Panthers defeated the Abbotsford Christian School Knights 71-58 in the final. The Panthers also won the Grade 9 boys title in 2021.
The Yale Lions cleaned up the girls side of the tournament, with wins in both the senior and junior girls divisons.
The senior girls final saw the Lions play a tremendous second half and come back to beat the Abbotsford Panthers 61-50.
Tip-off at the @AbbyPoliceDept city basketball tournament senior girls final. Yale vs Abby Senior for #Abbotsford bragging rights pic.twitter.com/0lnKi3cGdY
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 11, 2022
Abbotsford’s size and rebounding controlled play in the first and second quarters and the Panthers led 29-18 at halftime. However, Yale came out roaring in the third quarter and were up 40-37 heading into the fourth. The Lions continued the strong play in the fourth quarter to earn the win.
Yale’s Ava Heppner was the Lions player of the game and she scored 18 points. All six of Heppner’s field goals were from beyond the arc and she hit a trio of three pointers to seal the win in the fourth quarter. Abbotsford’s player of the game was Malia Lenz who scored 20 points and was a constant threat on offence. Her younger sister Sorel Lenz was unable to play after suffering a lower body injury early into the game.
Yale completes the impressive comeback and win 61-50 pic.twitter.com/gCX4jhwt7A
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 11, 2022
The Lions had made it to the finals of the senior girls division in both 2021 and 2019, but had not won the crown since 2018.
Yale also won the junior girls banner with a 45-41 win over the MEI Eagles. The Lions have dominated the junior girls division in recent years and have captured it every year since 2017.
The Rick Hansen Hurricanes took home the junior boys banner with a 55-45 win over the Abbotsford Panthers. It’s believed to be the first time ever that Hansen has won the junior boys title.
The ACS Knights won the Grade 9 girls banner with a decisive 75-46 win over Hansen. The Knights also won the Grade 9 girls banner in 2021.
The Grade 8 boys final saw the Abbotsford Traditional Middle School Sabres defeat the Abbotsford Middle School Huskies 46-27. ATMS also won the Grade 8 boys title in 2019.
The Grade 8 girls final saw MEI beat the W.A. Fraser Falcons 57-26. It was a revenge win for the Eagles, who lost to the Falcons in 2021.
For full results, visit abbypdbasketball.com.
