For the first time ever, the Rick Hansen Hurricanes senior boys basketball team is bringing home a medal.
The Hurricanes downed the St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights 74-68 in the 3A conference's third place game to earn the schools first-ever bronze medal, and the highest placing for a senior boys team in school history.
Bronze medal player of the game and graduating senior Joban Pandher scored 14 points in the win, and said the bronze medal has set a new standard for the team.
"It's the best the school has ever done and it leaves a legacy," he said, following the game.
The Hurricanes built up a 12 point lead in the first quarter, and avoided a third quarter surge from the Knights to post the win. it comes off the heels of a heartbreaking 84-82 to Steveston-Londonon Friday.
"It wasn't easy to come back after a loss like that," Pandher said. "But we finished this off together. This is for sure my best memory as a part of this team."
Pandher said he hopes to continue his hoops career in college next year, and said he has high expectations for next year's Hurricanes squad.
In the 4A conference, it was another last minute loss for the W.J. Mouat Hawks senior boys team.
The Hawks led for most of their third place game against the Walnut Grove Gators on Saturday, but fell apart in the final minute to lose 96-94. The fourth place showing is one of the best in school history, and the team was led by sharpshooter Jass Singh, who had 33 points. Jordyn Sekhon had 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Kenan Hadzovic added 22 points and eight rebounds.
Mouat also fell in the final minute on Friday in the semi-final game to Tamanawis, losing 82-81. The Yale Lions, the other Abbotsford team in the 4A, lost 80-77 to North Surrey on Saturday to place 12th overall.
Also in the 3A conference, the Robert Bateman Timberwolves defeated the Abbotsford Senior Panthers 98-87 in the seventh place game.
Over in the 2A conference, the Abbotsford Christian Knights closed the tournament with a 93-78 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas to place eighth.
For more details on the tournaments, read Wednesday's print edition of the Abbotsford News.