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Owls eye tourney 2-peat

The KSS Owls are looking to accomplish something they have never done at the Interior Savings Western Canada Boys Basketball Tournament - win it two years in a row.

The Owls snapped a 33-year drought when they captured the 2015 title.

KSS was ranked number nine in the province when they won the tournament last year.

They may have been able to sneak up on a few teams then, but now ranked number one in the province and the odds on favourite to win both their own tournament and the B.C. championship, they won' be able to fly under the radar this time around.

"I don't think they understand that sometimes they have that bull's-eye," said Owls head coach Harry Parmar.

"They're going to get everybody's best game. It's difficult to get fired up every day to play but we have to be on our toes and be ready every game we play."

The Owls come into the tournament losers of just four games all season - all four coming against U.S. competition.

They have yet to lose to a Canadian team.

Parmar said those games against American schools were invaluable to get his team ready for what he expects to be a tough road ahead.

"The teams we've lost to ... I wanted to play those teams and see where we were and what we can do better. We're not far away from those teams.

"The difference in the games we lost was our composure."

They've been in those tight situations now, said Parmar.

"Hopefully by the end of the year, if that happens, we can stay composed and do what we need to do."

And, for a team described by some as the best team to come out of the interior and one of the best ever in the province, it was humbling.

But Parmar says they've done well in handling the pressure of being the number one team in the province.

"I think they've done a great job. We go into games, hopefully prepared.

"We've had different issues where maybe we're not 100 per cent ready but overall I think they've handled themselves very well. That speaks of their character as individuals."

The Owls will face unranked Handsworth Royals in their opening game Thursday following the slam dunk competition slated to begin at 7:30.

Sir Winston Churchill and Walnut Grove, numbers two and three in B.C. respectively, will be playing, as well as number eight Kitsilano and Prince George, ranked 10th among AAA schools.

Harry Ainley, the number one team from Alberta returns along with John Taylor Collegiate out of Winnipeg, the number one team in Manitoba.

The final is set for Saturday at 7:30.

All games will be played at the KSS gym.



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