Owls open tourney on winning note

Pre-tournament favourites KSS Owls outscored Holy Cross Crusaders 24-17 in the decisive third quarter in winning the opener of the Western Canada Boys Basketball Tournament 88-77 at KSS Thursday.

Charlie Lewthwaite and Braxton Bunce each connected for 21 points in pacing the Owls to the victory.

Lewthwaite was hot from downtown going 7-14 from three-point range accounting for all 21 of his points.

Bunce meantime went 7-14 from the floor and also grabbed down a game high 15 boards.

Mitch Goodwin and DoBoe Truss each chipped in with 14 for the Owls while Tanner Leimert checked in with a double-double, hitting for 12 points and 12 boards.

The Owls, ranked fourth in the province led by three 45-42 at the half before breaking the game open in the third.

Michael Farion had a game high 35 for the Saskatoon squad.

The Owls will take on number 1 ranked RC Palmer in Friday's semi-final.

The Griffins got 20 points each from Vijay Dhillon, Billy Cheng and Moziar Arjmandi in an 85-64 win over Bishop Grandin Ghosts from Calgary.

In other games, number two ranked Burnaby South Rebels beat Kelvin Clippers from Winnipeg 79-70. Ater Degal had 23 for the winners.

The Raymond Comets, ranked number one in Alberta got 33 points from Jimmy Ralph in an 84-76 victory over number three rated Vancouver College Fighting Irish.

Raymond and Burnaby South will tip off in Friday's other semi-final.