The New Westminster Hyacks qualified for the B.C. AAA high school girls' basketball championships for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons.
The Hyacks earned the No. 4 Lower Mainland seed following a 65-48 loss to North Shore runner-up Argyle at the Crehan Cup Lower Mainland AAA high school girls' championships at Steveston/London Secondary on Saturday.
"They (Argyle) were so fast. They were unbelievable - the fastest team I've seen in a long time," said Hyack head coach Doug Woodward. "We couldn't keep up with their speed."
Senior guard and tournament all-star Ariana Sider led the Hyacks with 14 points. Meriam Ali and Amanda Zacharuk chipped in with 11 and nine points, respectively.
Senior forward Sharmaine Hayley was also voted to the Lower Mainland all-tournament team.
Hayley had a monster tournament for the Hyacks, leading New West into the backdoor final with a 26-point performance in the consolation semifinal last Friday.
Hayley scored 26 points to lead the Hyacks to a 71-55 win over the host Steveston/London Packers and a guaranteed spot in the team's fourth consecutive B.C. championship tournament.
The first-year transfer also had a solid outing in New West's 67-57 loss to Handsworth in the championship final four matchup on Feb. 23.
Hayley posted a double-double in the game, scoring 12 points and adding 16 rebounds.
Sider led all scorers in the game against Handsworth, netting 29 points, including six long-range treys.
But despite the big numbers by a few players, shots weren't falling for the team in the semifinal, said Woodward.
South Burnaby tournament MVP guard Alisha Roberts led the York House Tigers to its first Crehan Cup title following an 81-65 victory over Handsworth in the championship final.
But Woodward is still satisfied with how his team has favoured.
"We've done well," he said.
Since 2001, a New Westminster team has missed qualifying for the provincials just once in 2008.
The Hyacks currently rank third all-time in total appearances and second overall in top-eight finishes, including three B.C. titles, at the provincial girls' championships since 1948.
Woodward is proud of the girls' basketball program at NWSS.
"There is no other team like us that has the consistency. We seem to get there," Woodward said.
