Keremeos basketball is back in the spotlight on the provincial stage.
The Similkameen Elementary Secondary School senior boys’ basketball team was at the Single-A Championships in Langley from March 6 to 9 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Local athletes led the Keremeos-based school to a tournament-opening win on March 6, as the team defeated Cedars Christian in overtime 68-66. Darion Eustache-Peone took home player of the game honours after leading the team with 19 points.
SESS fell short in its next game on March 7, dropping 87-68 to Maple Ridge Christian in the quarterfinals. Keremeos’ Ethan Potash and Rain Marsden dropped 20 and 21 points, respectively.
The senior boys’ team wrapped up their time on the Lower Mainland with two games against St. Johns School and Golden. While the local squad was on the losing end against the former, Keremeos topped the latter 79-57 to claim seventh place in the provincial tournament.
Games were played at the Langley Events Centre Fieldhouse.
The senior boys’ team started 2024 by reigning atop a Nicola Valley-hosted tournament, after victories against the host Merritt, Vernon Christian and Pleasant Valley Secondary.
That tournament win marked the second time in as many months the Keremeos team had returned to the Similkameen with a first-place finish.
On Dec. 9, SESS captured first at the annual Barriere Cougar Classic.