Staff
The Rainy River Owls’ junior boys’ basketball team proved it would be the one to fly highest.
Morgan Desserre had 15 points while Nick Vogan added 14 as the Owls beat the Atikokan Voyageurs 56-47 in the NorWOSSA ‘A’ final in Kenora on Feb. 15.
Atikokan led early but the Owls took over in the second quarter and never lost the lead again.
Owls’ coach Rebecca Tolen credited tough man-to-man defence and determination going to the net as the keys to victory.
“Jackson Arpin was able to run a strong offence, scoring several baskets himself, but also making some amazing passes in order to get the ball in the hoop,” she lauded.
“Zak Quran’s ability to draw fouls under the net came into play, drawing five shooting fouls and putting those baskets on the board,” Tolen added.
“It was hard work and strong defence that held Atikokan to only 46 points.”
The Owls had earned a bye to the final after finishing in first place during the regular season.
“It was a high-stress game buzzer to buzzer,” Tolen admitted.
“Both teams pushed themselves as hard as possible to trying to win this game,” she noted.
“In the end, it came down to conditioning and foul trouble.”
Meanwhile, the Owls’ senior girls’ volleyball team wound up fourth with an 8-4 record while the senior boys’ basketball team was fifth at 5-5
The junior girls’ volleyball team landed in seventh with a 3-11 mark.
