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Lakers advance to Okanagan League final

The Pen High Lakers defeated Salmon Arm to advance to Okanagan Valley 3A final against Kelowna
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Pen High Laker Braden Innes, carrying the ball, gets support from Dixon Bertrand, right, as he tried to explode past the Salmon Arm Gold during semifinal action at McNicoll Park Oval for the Okanagan Valley 3A League playoffs. The Lakers won 59-14 after trailing 15-7 to punch their ticket to the league final against Kelowna in Kelowna on Thursday. Emanuel Sequeira/Western News

The Pen High Lakers have punched their ticket to the Okanagan Valley 3A Rugby League final.

They did so by exploding for eight tries in the final 20 minutes at McNicoll Park Oval Tuesday to rout the Salmon Arm Gold 59-15. The Lakers trailed 10-7 entering the final half, then gave up another score early to make it 15-7.

“It’s a habit with our team. We didn’t play badly, but not well,” said Lakers coach Ken Sommerfeldt. “In the last 20 minutes we exploded with scoring.”

It’s a trend that is unlikely to stop as they head to Kelowna Thursday to take on the Owls.

“I always pray they do,” joked Sommerfeldt of the trend breaking. “Keep close within a score.”

When it comes to taking on the Owls, who beat the Lakers recently 40-33 after leading 40-5, Sommerfeldt said the players feels good about that matchup.

“They are not in awe of Kelowna,” said Sommerfeldt. “The guys are looking forward to getting revenge.”