The Abbotsford Senior Panthers showed a great deal of resilience on Saturday, bouncing back from a tough semifinal loss to secure the bronze medal at AAA high school boys basketball provincials.
The top-seeded Panthers, coming off a 73-71 defeat to the eventual champion St. Thomas More Knights the night before, turned in a terrific defensive performance in the second half against the Mark Isfeld Ice of Courtenay, en route to a 71-51 win at the Langley Events Centre.
Abby Senior held a slender 37-36 lead at halftime, but limited the Ice to just 15 points the rest of the way.
The Panthers were led by a trio of senior stars – Jamie Konrad scored 15 points and added six assists, Sirban Gill notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Luke Tompkins had 13 points and nine boards.
Moiez Athaya (10 points) also scored in double figures, while Jordan Goheen (nine points, nine boards) and Chase Claypool (eight points, eight boards, two blocks) chipped in with key baskets and rebounds.
Cole Hutchings, with a game-high 18 points, paced the Ice.