Andrew Murphy was a one-man wrecking crew as the Tri-City Bandits steamrolled over the Valley Rebels in three straight games to capture their fifth straight West Coast Senior 'B' lacrosse league playoff championship.
Murphy pumped in a playoff-high 18 goals and 20 assists, including four markers and six helpers in Sunday's best-of-five final series-clinching 8-5 overtime win over at PoCo Rec Centre, to scoop playoff MVP honours and help advance the Bandits to the President's Cup national tournament starting Aug. 27 in Spruce Grove, Alta.
Jordan Flaman added three goals and three assists for the Bandits, with Ryan Mosdell netting two tallies. Single marksmen for Tri-City were Garrett Chan, Justin Hawksbee, Cam Appels, Jordan Wong and Kevin Miotto.
Andrew Leyshon blocked 42 shots in the Bandits' cage.
On Saturday in PoCo, the Saints Junior 'A' call-up Richard Lachlan notched a goal and three assists as the Bandits doubled the Rebels 8-4, again in overtime.
Kevin Miotto scored twice for the winners, who got singles from Darren McEwen, Chan, Hawksbee, Mosdell, Murphy and Lachlan, with what proved the winner. Miller stopped 41 shots.
The Bandits opened the series Thursday with a 10-8 triumph at Queen's Park Arena.
Appels led the Tri-City triggermen with four goals, while Murphy added a pair and three assists. Jarrett Neigum, McEwen, Lachlana and Chan also scored for the Bandits, who got a 35-save effort from Leyshon.
