Minor Lacrosse: Rattlers No. 1 prove they are No. 1

NOVICE

In a game that proved Kamloops teams are the cream of the Interior’s novice lacrosse crop this season, the Rattlers No. 1 triumphed 8-6 over the Rattlers No. 2 to claim the Okanagan title on Sunday at McArthur Island.

The game was a battle of momentum swings. The Rattlers No. 1 led 2-0 after one period and 5-2 after two frames, but the Rattlers No. 2 roared back with four goals to take a 6-5 lead.

The Rattlers No. 1 tied it with 6:20 remaining, scored the game-winner with 4:43 left, and added an insurance marker with 1:50 to go to lay claim to the championship.

Harrison Ewert scored the tying and insurance goals for the Rattlers No. 1, and also won the hardest-working player hardhat.

Noah Bradley also scored twice, including the winner, and Trey Dergousoff collected a pair of markers. Jarrod Semchuk had a goal and two assists, and Maxen Adam tallied to round out the scoring.

Reed Watson came up with some big saves to earn the goaltending victory.

Nolan Virgo led the Rattlers No. 2 with three goals — he kickstarted the team’s third-period comeback. Jax Anderson scored twice and Jackson Steed also singled in support of netminder Brendan Hunchak, who held his team in the game.

The Okanagan victory capped a near-perfect season for the Rattlers No. 1, who lost just once in league play — by default, due to a no-show by the officiating crew. Their only other loss this season was in a semifinal at the North Okanagan Rock The House tournament.

The Rattlers 1 advanced to the Okanagan final with an 8-4 victory over North Okanagan No. 2 in semifinal play Saturday at Memorial Arena.

Ewert led the way with two goals and two assists, with singles coming from Dergousoff, Semchuk, Bradley, Mason Swanton, Landon Kinney and Kaden Giles. Watson was solid to earn the goaltending victory, and Kinney earned the hardhat award.

The Rattlers No. 2 also had a strong season, finishing second in league play and winning the Rock The House tournament.

They advanced to the final with a 7-4 victory over Penticton No. 2 on Saturday, also at Memorial Arena. Cooper Kenzie scored three times to pace the winners, while Virgo, Devin Caldwell, Millan Webster and Caleb Campbell each tallied once in support of winning goaltender Hunchak, who made some key saves to preserve the victory.

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BANTAM

Kamloops No. 2 dropped an 8-7 overtime decision to Kelowna No. 2 in a zone championship game on Saturday.

Josh Bosher, with five, and Ryan Dergousoff, with two, scored for Kamloops, which had Ethan Milobar in goal.

Kelowna actually led by two with two minutes to play, only to have Kamloops tie it. Kelowna then won it in OT, and went on to win the zone championship on Sunday.