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Panthers take South Island 3A hoops final

Coach Roger Pires called the Feb. 19 game against Reynolds the rubber match.
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Nikko Tiemsim

Coach Roger Pires called the Feb. 19 game against Reynolds the rubber match.

This season, the Parkland Secondary’s senior boys basketball team met their nemesis in the Reynolds Roadrunners at the 3A level in the South Island region. Pires said Reynolds won the first, Parkland the second — and their meeting in the South Island final match was the tie-breaker.

Both teams played to a tie in regulation time. Reynolds looked to be in control of the game late in the fourth quarter, 59-51.

A ferocious defensive effort and a 10-2 run by Parkland knotted things up, 61-61 at the buzzer.

“We just didn’t quit,” Pires said.

With the momentum clearly on their side, Parkland continued the onslaught in the five-minute overtime period. Reynolds could not find the net, scoring only three points.

The Panthers poured in 15, including six points from the free throw line, to win the game, 76-64.

Godwin Polares scored 23 points to lead Parkland. Right behind him with 22 was Harrison Archdekin.  Steve Ehrlich and Justine Polares both added nine points.

Reynolds’ Sandy Ye scored 22 points for the Roadrunners, including 18 on six three-pointers.

Parkland reached the final after dispatching Pacific Christian School, 48-33.

Pires said he liked his team’s defense in the final.

“We stopped ‘em,” he said, “and we carried the momentum from the run into the overtime period.”

Still, Pires said his team has to make better decisions on shot selection.

“We are taking too many shots too early in the shot clock,” he said.

Parkland was ranked fourth on Vancouver Island among the 3A level schools entering the finals.

The North Saanich school also hosts this weekend’s Island 3A finals, welcoming teams from the mid-and-north Island Feb. 26 to 28.

Games started today (Feb. 26) at 2:15 p.m. as Pacific  Christian takes on Wellington from Nanaimo. Reynolds plays Mark Isfeld from Courtenay at 4 p.m. and Sooke’s Edward Milne plays Nanaimo District Secondary at 7:30 p.m. Parkland’s first game is 5:45 p.m. against Carihi from Campbell River.

The final is set for Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:15 p.m.