Peter Skene Ogden's senior basketball team defeated the Lake City Falcons 57-35 in their first game of the year in 100 Mile House on Feb. 8.
The match started rocky for the 100 Mile boys. Despite back-and-forth play, the Eagles struggled to make their shots. The Williams Lake team took an early lead and kept it, restricting the Eagles to 16 points during the first half to their 22.
PSO found their rhythm to start the second half, however, using their speed to their advantage. After a run of points scored in quick succession, a break away tied the game halfway through the third quarter. A foul shot soon after saw 100 Mile take their first lead during the game, 26-25. The 100 Mile boys wouldn't look back for the rest of the game.
In contrast, the Falcons attempted a more measured style of play to throw off the quick 100 Mile team, but PSO was up to the challenge. Despite quick passing on the part of the Falcons, the Eagles' defence kept the Williams Lake team outside the key, limiting them to jump shots and three-pointers.
Continuing to outpace the Williams Lake team, PSO started the fourth quarter with a lead of 8 points. Using a give-and-go strategy that suited the quick team, 100 Mile House increased their lead.
Despite an attempt to throw off PSO's zone defense through quick ball movement, the Falcons just couldn't catch up to the Eagles.
A buzzer-beating three-pointer by Williams Lake ended the game, seeing the PSO Eagles rise to victory against the Lake City Falcons, 57-35.
"The boys have been practicing hard, and they were a little nervous at the beginning of the game," says coach Josh Dickerson. "The first half was a little tough, a lot of our shots weren't going in, but definitely in the second half things started to get a little calmer for the boys. They really stepped it up and played a good second half."
PSO's junior boys basketball team played against Lake City's team to follow the senior boys, in a match that almost saw a reversal of 100 Mile House's fortunes. Lake City Secondary came back from 12 points in the second half to win 44-38 against PSO.
"It was tough, a tough loss — especially when you are ahead by that much," says Dickerson, who also coaches the junior team.
"I was quite proud of the junior boys. They played really well," he says. "Even though we lost we didn't lose by much and Williams Lake is a pretty good junior team, so I was very happy with their performance."
The Eagles will travel to Ashcroft and Kamloops to face some more competition the weekend of Feb. 17.