The MEI Eagles senior boys basketball team has advanced to the 3A’s final four after a thrilling 67-66 overtime win over the North Delta Huskies on Thursday (March 7).
One of the critical plays of the game came with the Eagles trailing 59-57 in the fourth quarter with 0.5 seconds left.
MEI’s Isaiah Lee inbounded the ball and tossed up a prayer of a pass to Spencer Tatlock near the hoop. Tatlock leapt, perfectly grabbed the pass and sent the game to the extra frame.
The Eagles carried that momentum in the overtime period to score the win and keep their championship hopes alive.
MEI trailed 34-27 at halftime but kept clawing away in the second half. Mercer Thiessen led the team with 18 points, Lee and Nathan Laspa both added 12.
The Eagles next take on the first-seeded St. Patrick Celtics in the 3A semifinal tonight (Friday) at 5:15 at the Langley Events Centre. A win and they play for the provincial title on Saturday (March 9). A loss and they will battle for bronze on Saturday.
Meanwhile it was the end of the title hopes for the Yale Lions after an 89-56 loss to the first-seeded Oak Bay Bays in the 4A quarter-final on Thursday.
The Lions fell behind 24-9 after the first quarter and were unable to get back into the game. Nylan Roberts scored 24 points to lead all Lions players, while Aaron Adams added 12.
Yale now enters the consolation bracket and can still finish as high as fifth.
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