For the third time in the past four years, both of Unity Christian’s senior basketball teams will compete at provincials.
Both teams qualified last weekend, with the girls doing it on home court. They hosted Fraser Valleys, and after beating Agassiz by 45 points in a semi-final, they tackled their arch rivals from Credo Christian (Langley).
The Flames won 62-49, earning their second Fraser Valley banner in the team’s 12 year history. They’ll make their ninth trip to provincials, with the high water mark a second place finish in 2009.
Adrianna Brouwer was named most valuable player in the Fraser Valley tournament, with Sarah Haan and Andrea Van Ryk named all-stars.
Provincials are March 5-8 in Vernon.
On the boys side, the Flames fell short of a Fraser Valley title, but secured a spot in provincials with a second place finish. Ranked No. 1 through most of this season, UC fell 88-61 to Port Coquitlam’s BC Christian Academy in the final and will enter provincials as the No. 3 seed.
UC has qualified for the last five provincial tourneys, and six all-time, never finishing higher than seventh.
“The boys have been in the position to win each year, but have had narrow heartbreaking losses in the quarter final in each of the past four seasons,” said UC principal Mike Campbell. “I think this will be the year that the boys get through the quarters and put themselves in a great position to medal.”
Jon Vugteveen and Clay Driesen were named Fraser Valley tournament all-stars.