After a heart-breaking defeat to last Thursday to Mount Boucherie, the senior Golds basketball team settled for the bronze medal game in the Okanagan zone championships.
“This was the best high school boys basketball game I’ve ever seen,” said head coach Rhys Waters of the game against Mount Boucherie.
Throughout the game the Golds’ defence was strong, and their offence was scoring. As the game came down to the wire, Dawson Mayes hit a clutch three pointer with 3.4 seconds left to put the Golds up by one.
The fans went “nuts” said Waters.
With the clock expiring, Boucherie hit a fade away corner three-pointer to go up 73-71 with .7 seconds left and again, the fans erupted.
“He was their shooter, and he made the shot of his lifetime. We had coverage on that corner shot, but it was just a miracle shot, it was no fault of our guys,” Waters said.
On Friday the Golds rebounded in the consolation game defeating Penticton 68-65, led by Dillan Olson’s 18 points and six rebounds.
Norman Ambauen added 12 points and Brandon Sanford scored seven, including the game-winning shot.
The Golds finished the season with a 19-13 record.
Despite a very difficult schedule including three trips to the Lower Mainland, playing the provincial favourites twice, playing in AAAA league, Waters is adamant it was a good season.
“Our group of guys were terrific. We never had anyone lose sight of the team goal, and that can be difficult for players who aren’t seeing their personal goals come to fruition,” Waters said.
The Golds won two of the seven tournaments and finished in the top half in all but one. Eight Golds will graduate this year including Olson, Josh Kujat, Ambauen, Aaron Hicks, Sanford, Colby Thiessen, Jared Sharp and Tyson Chamberlain.
“They have put in a ton of time over their Golds careers, and the coaching staff and school would like to thank them for representing the school and the community so well,” said Waters.