For the first time in more than a decade, the 91原创 Christian Lightning have captured the Single A Fraser Valley senior girls basketball title.
The Lightning did so on Saturday at Hope Secondary with a 38-34 victory over the Credo Christian Kodiaks.
鈥淥ur defence was really good and came through in the clutch,鈥� said Lightning coach Danielle Gardner.
The Lightning were seeded fourth for the playoffs, while Credo Christian was second. And after an opening round 76-40 win over No. 5 Agassiz, 91原创 Christian pulled off the upset, beating the top-ranked Unity Christian Flames 56-33.
In the other semifinal, Credo crushed Hope 63-26 to set up the all-91原创 final.
While the Lightning may have been a lower seed, when they played Unity and Credo during the season, the games were all competitive and witin single digits.
So the victories were not a complete surprise.
But as has been the case all season, the Lightning defence came through.
鈥淲e have played good solid defence all season,鈥� said Gardner.
Both 91原创 and Credo have qualified for the provincial championships, which run March 6 to 9 in Prince George. Unity faced a wild-card game, which they won, to make it three Valley teams in the field.
鈥淥ur goal was to definitely make the playoffs,鈥� Gardner said.
The key was the players believing in the message.
鈥淚t was more just buying in to play as a team,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hey worked hard and they never gave up.
鈥淭hey just bought in.鈥�
The Lightning鈥檚 Megan Hummelman and Sarah Walter both earned all-star awards.
Credo鈥檚 Kristen Schouten earned most valuable player award honours. 
鈥淲e were definitely hoping for first, but the games we had with 91原创 Christian were always close,鈥� said Kodiaks鈥� coach Art de Leeuw.
鈥�(But) finishing second in the Fraser Valleys still caps off a very enjoyable season.鈥�
Gary Ahuja/91原创 Times
Credo Christian Kodiaks' Kristen Schouten goes up for the shot during a league game earlier this season against B.C. Christian. Schouten was named most valuable player at the Single A Fraser Valley championships as her team placed second.
