The third time wasn't a charm for Port Coquitlam’s Riverside Rapids.
The defending senior girls AAAA provincial high school basketball champions fell short in its quest to win a third straight Tsumura Invitational tournament. losing 74-68 to the Seaquam Seahawks in Saturday’s final at the Langley Events Centre.
Riverside held leads of 19-16 at the end of the first quarter and 36-32 at halftime, but couldn’t hold off a strong second half by the Seahawks, with a lineup built around young and hungry juniors and sophomores. The teams were tied 52 at the end of the third quarter and Seaquam outscored the Rapids 22-16 in the final quarter.
Senior guard Avery Sussex led Riverside scorers with 22 points, while Jorga Hart had 13 and Maliyah Mendoza added 11.
Earlier in the tournament, Riverside defeated G.W. Graham 92-38, St. Michaels University School 72-50 and Burnaby Central 86-81.
The Rapids and Seaquam will both play in Riverside’s own Tournament for Emily that begins Wednesday and concludes on Friday with games being played at both Riverside Secondary School and the Port Coquitlam Community Centre.
The annual pre-season tournament is named for Emily Inglis, a Port Coquitlam girl who died of cancer in 2002 when she was just 12 years-old. Proceeds go to Children’s Hospital.
Port Moody’s Heritage Woods Kodiaks is also participating in the tournament.
