Up four points in the third quarter of the gold-medal game, the Walnut Grove Gators top player was forced from the game after taking a knee to the head.
And the loss of point guard Kevin Kao spelled trouble for the Grade 8 boys basketball team as their opponent seized the opportunity to gain momentum.
鈥淭hey smelled blood in the water. He鈥檚 our best ball-handler and they pressed even more,鈥� lamented Gators coach Terry Stead. 鈥淲e just never recovered from that.鈥�
The Gators were playing the Vancouver College Fighting Irish on Saturday afternoon at Semiahmoo Secondary in the championship final of the Grade 8 provincial championships.
Walnut Grove lost just two games all season, and both defeats were at the hands of the Fighting Irish.
The Gators had a slim lead when Kao went down and by the time he re-entered the game, Vancouver College was up by six points.
鈥淓ven when he came back, we had lost that momentum,鈥� Stead said. 鈥淎nd (Vancouver College鈥檚) best player was outstanding.鈥�
The Gators breezed past their first round opponent, defeating Westsyde 81-23. The quarter-finals were much tougher, a 63-54 win over Sir Charles Tupper.
And the semifinal pitted Walnut Grove against Burnaby South 鈥� which had won the previous four Grade 8 boys provincial titles 鈥� with the Gators prevailing 53-48.
Unfortunately, the Gators could not secure the gold medal.
鈥淚t was tough but the boys gave it all they had,鈥� Stead said. 鈥淚t was not from lack of effort.鈥�
Kao and Trevor Duffin were selected first team all-stars while Dylan Senft was a second team all-star.
sports@langleytimes.com
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