They are built for 2016 but came-ever-so close to making some serious noise now at the B.C. AAA Girls Basketball Championships.
With a rotation that features almost exclusively Grade 11 and even Grade 9 talent, the McMath Wildcats flirted with a significant upset in their first-ever provincial appearance at the AAA level.
The seventh seeded Wildcats went toe-to-toe with the No. 2 and eventual runner-up WJ Mouat Hawks, falling 67-60 in quarter-final action Thursday night at the Langley Events Centre.
The Abbotsford school needed a 12-4 run in the final three minutes to finally take control.
Back in December, McMath shocked the Hawks on a three-point buzzer beater from Jessica Jones at a tournament hosted by Riverside. This time, the Grade 11 provincial team guard inflicted plenty of damage from start to finish.
She was responsible for 21 of her team’s first 28 points as the Wildcats led for much of the first half and enjoyed an eight point cushion at one point. The Hawks closed the margin to 33-30 at the break and it was a tight battle until the late going.
Jones’ final points of the night at the free throw line gave her a game-high 30 and, more importantly her team a 56-55 advantage. A clear path foul meant the Wildcats maintained possession but they were unable to pad the lead.
The Hawks pulled even then jumped back out in front for good on a deep three from Brittney Wertman. Mouat had at last seized momentum and extended the margin to 63-56 with a minute remaining before the Wildcats would answer again.
Jessica Zawada added 10 points, eight rebounds and was terrific defensively in the paint. Bobbi Jo Colburn chipped in with eight, while Grade 9 guard Lyric Custodio played beyond her years with six points.
The Wildcats rebounded from the tough loss to win a pair of games in consolation play to finish fifth which also happened be their highest placement in the provincial rankings this season.
McMath defeated Coquitlam’s Charles Best 67-48 on Friday, then past the Kelowna Owls 61-54 on Saturday.
Jones was named a Second Team Tournament All-Star.
The Wildcats opened the tournament Wednesday with a 62-46 win over 10th seed Fleetwood Park.
Zawada scored 20 points and added nine rebounds. Jones chipped in with 16 points, while Colburn had 14 .
