Cardston advances to 4A provincial final
The bracket-busting Cardston Cougars have clawed their way to the Alberta Schools Athletic Association 4A Boys Basketball gold medal game.
The Cougars — ranked 10th heading into provincials — downed Calgary Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs 85-72 in the semifinals Friday night at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
The Cougars will face the fourthseeded Calgary Bishop McNally Timberwolves in tonight’s 8 p.m. final. McNally knocked off firstranked Edmonton St. Francis Xavier Rams 62-57 in the other semifinal.
Max Russell led the way for the Cougars in Friday’s win with 23 points as Cardston trailed much of the game, but outscored Winston Churchill 3013 in the fourth quarter.
Kaysen Shaw added 21 points on seven three-pointers and Austin Merrill hit for 16.
Matt Fullerton led Winston Churchill with 17 points.
Leading the Timberwolves in the other semi was Magai Magai with 27 points. Diew Moses had 16.
For the Rams, Geoffrey James scored 15 points, Liam Harrison had 14, William Monga added 12 and Elfas Johannes put up 11.
Earlier Friday, the Cougars knocked off No. 2 Edmonton Harry Ainlay Titans 103-96 in Raymond.
Leading Cardston in the win was Russell with 39 points, while Merrill had 28.
For the Titans, Brandon Meiklejohn led with 23 points and Ariel Mutware added 19.
Magrath Zeniths will play for fifth place today following an 86-58 win over the Medicine Hat Mohawks on Friday.
Paycen Blackmore led the Zeniths with 26 points and Taylor Cook added 23. Darin Parker led Medicine Hat with 17 points.
Magrath will face Ainlay in the fifth-place game at 2 p.m. today at Chinook.
In earlier afternoon boys games:
Bishop McNally Timberwolves 81, Magrath Zeniths 72
Parker Clifton led Magrath with 20 points. Blackmore and Sam Payne scored 11 points each and Josh Jensen had 10.
For the Timberwolves, Magai Magai led the way with 17 points, Aaron Fernandes added 16 points and Jean Camille Kamba had 12.
On the consolation side it was: Archbishop O’Leary Spartans 94, Okotoks Foothills Composite Falcons 88; Calgary Bishop O’Byrne Bobcats 109, Lloydminster Composite Barons 53; and Edmonton Jasper Place Rebels 82, Grande Prairie Charles Spencer Mavericks 38.
4A GIRLS
The LCI Clippers will play for the provincial bronze medal.
The second-ranked Clippers were edged 90-89 by the Calgary Western Canada Redhawks during semifinal action Friday at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
With the loss, the Clippers will take on the Calgary Centennial Coyotes, who were defeated by the Edmonton Jasper Place Rebels 79-39 in the other semifinal Friday, at 2 p.m. today at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
In the Clippers semifinal loss, Hannah Gibb had 22 points, Catriona Smith had 21 and Jessica Zarowny had 20. Berkley Heggie and Jocelyn Neilson each had 10.
For the Redhawks, Claire Feasby led the way with 22 points, while Jordan Blaskin had 20.
In the other girls semifinal, Morgan Mudge and Sydney Fedick led Jasper Place with 15 points. Olivia Huang and Mackenna Ledgister had 12 and 11 points, respectively.
For the Coyotes, Cameron Engen led with 14 points.
In the afternoon draw, the Clippers downed the Medicine Hat Kwahommies 77-64 as Zarowny scored 23 points and Neilson had 21. Gibb added 15 points.
Leading the Kwahommies was Rhiannon Ware with 17 points, while Makayla Schultz scored 13.
In the 5 p.m. draw, the Kwahommies topped the Raymond Comets 79-73 and will play for fifth place against the Edmonton Strathcona High School Lords today at 2 p.m. at Catholic Central West.
Emma Greep had 11 points for Raymond and Haylee-Jo Heggie hit for 10.
For the Kwahommies, Ware led the way with 20 points and Kaesha Milne drained 14.
Earlier Friday afternoon, the Redhawks beat the Raymond Comets 99-74 to advance to the semifinal against LCI.