Owls reach tourney final

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Matt Lafontaine gets set to hit one of his six free throws down the stretch in the Owls semi-final win Friday.

The KSS Owls get another chance to win their own tournament for the first time since 1982.

For the fourth time in five years the Owls are in the final of the Interior Savings Western Canada Basketball Tournament following a thrilling 80-71 win over Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs in Friday's semi-final.

Matt Lafontaine drained six key free throws over the final 25 seconds to seal the victory.

The game was tight until the latter stages of the third quarter when the Owls rallied from a 55-53 deficit with five straight points to end the period and seven straight to start the fourth to open a 10 point bulge.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Rashaun Roulhac

The Bulldogs were able to creep to within four with 1:40 left but could get no closer.

"I don't think it was our A game but we found a way to win," says an exhausted head coach Harry Parmar.

"We struggled a bit on the offensive end but defensively we are getting to where we want to. If we can get that tighter we'll be tough somewhere along the way."

Parmar thought the offensive was a little out of sync.

"We weren't playing together as a team. I thought guys were trying to go too much one-on-one then it looses what we are trying to do."

Colin McGrath led the Owls with 19 points off the bench including a pair of clutch three pointers.

Team leader Parker Simson had 17 points six rebounds and six assists.

Harry Lui had 24 in a losing cause while Lambert Pajayon, who hit for 44 the night before, was held to just 21.

The key defensively for the Owls was containing the Bulldogs outside shooting game. The night before Churchill torched Regina for 18 three-pointers.

The Owls held them to just eighty Friday and only one in the opening quarter.

"We wanted to play man and get into them and make them work."

The Owls will face the Oak Park Raiders out of Winnipeg in Saturday's final.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Jermaine Haley Jr.

Oak Park upended Burnaby South Rebels 90-77 in Friday's other semi.

The Raiders opened up on an 18-3 run and led by 17 after the opening quarter.

Burnaby South clawed their way back and cut the deficit to four late in the game but missed a few key shots down the stretch as Oak Park won going away.

The Rebels, winners of this tournament in 2011, sat three starters for the first eight minutes for disciplinary reasons which led, in part, to the team's poor start.

The Raiders also used their two 6'9" forwards to clog the middle, forcing several early turnovers.

"They work really hard and they defend really hard," said Oak Park coach Jon Lundgren.

"That's their job and they did their job today which is nice."

As the lead started to slip Lundgren admitted he was getting a little tight on the bench.

"As a coach you're always concerned...no lead you're really happy with. You expect good teams to make runs on you so it wasn't unexpected but it was nice we kept our composure and kept playing."

William Sesay had 22 points and nine boards to lead Oak Park.

Jermaine Haley Jr. had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a losing cause.

The final is set for 7:45 Saturday evening. The bronze medal game between Burnaby South and Sir Winston Churchill is slated for 6 p.m.