The host NorKam Saints had no trouble winning the West Zone junior boys volleyball championship on Wednesday.
The Saints swept through the semifinals, beating the South Kamloops Titans 25-18, 25-11, before sweeping the Sa-Hali Sabres 25-10, 25-11 in the championship final. The Saints will be the West Zone’s No. 1 seed at Okanagans — the Sabres also will go to the Okanagan championship, which is scheduled for Nov. 16-17 at the home of the North Zone champion.
Taylor Labonte led the way for NorKam, hitting 63 per cent and ending with 17 kills, three blocks and two service aces. Evan Cave also had an excellent evening, notching 14 kills, four blocks and 12 digs.
Connor McKenzie had 41 set assists.
The Sabres had beaten the Valleyview Vikings 25-19, 25-17 in a semifinal. Valleyview beat South Kam 25-20, 23-25, 15-7 in the bronze-medal match.
* * *
The Sa-Hali Sabres won the West Zone senior girls volleyball championship on Wednesday, and will play host to the Okanagan championship on Nov. 16-17.
Sa-Hali beat the Merritt Panthers in three sets (25-12, 25-16, 25-10) in a semifinal. The Sabres went on to beat the Valleyview Vikings 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-10) in the zone final.
Valleyview had beaten the Westsyde Whundas in four sets (25-14, 24-26, 27-25, 25-23) in their semifinal. Westsyde went on to defeat the Panthers in four sets (25-15, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18) in the third-place match.
That victory over Merritt was an important one for the Whundas — the top three teams from the West Zone will qualify for Okanagans, so Valleyview and Westsyde will join the Sabres.
The Panthers still have a chance — they will play a wild-card game Tuesday, with the winner going to Okanagans.
* * *
Team B.C. is 1-1 at the National Under-18 Women’s Hockey Championship in Dawson Creek after losing 3-1 to Ontario Red on Thursday.
B.C., featuring Kamloops forwards Chanelle Petrie and Emily Gervais, will wrap up its round-robin today against Atlantic Canada (0-2). A victory will move B.C. into Saturday’s semifinals. The championship final is scheduled for Sunday.
Ontario is fielding two teams at this tournament, and its Red squad (2-0) took a first-period lead and never looked back. It got goals from Nicole Martindale, Emma Woods and Sydney McKibbon.
Sarah Potomak of Aldergrove scored her third goal of the tournament, and Lauren Spring of Kelowna picked up her fourth straight assist — she has helped out on all of B.C.’s goals.
* * *
The Kamloops Long Blades are set to play host to the November Chill short track speed skating competition at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre on Saturday.
Around 100 skaters from B.C. will be racing in the competition. Skaters of all ages will be competing, the youngest being six, the oldest 79.
Spectators are encouraged to watch — the action will start at 9:30 a.m., and run until 5 p.m.
* * *
Kala Stone of Kamloops has qualified to compete for B.C. at the Canadian Cross Country Running Championships in Vancouver on Nov. 24.
Stone, a member of the Kamloops Track and Field Club, is one of six junior women named to Team B.C. Her coach, Bruno Mazzotta, also will attend the championships.
Joining Stone on the junior women’s team is Emilyn Sim of Canoe. She also is coached by Mazzotta, but isn’t affiliated with a club.
