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South fourth at Western Canada hoop tourney

Fourth-ranked Burnaby South Rebels lose to sixth-ranked Sir Winston Churchill in consolation final in Kelowna

There was no consolation prize for the Burnaby South Rebels at last weekend’s Western Canada basketball tournament in Kelowna.

The host and ninth-ranked Owls came away with the top prize, defeating Oak Park of Winnipeg 70-58 in the championship final on Saturday.

Defending B.C. high school quad A champion and sixth-ranked Sir Winston Churchill defeated the fourth-ranked Rebels 86-72 in the consolation final.

Nicolas Trninic led South with a game-high 24-point, 13-rebound double-double, including eight off the offensive boards. Roshan Bhatti added 21 points for the Rebels.

Churchill outscored South 30-8 in the second quarter.

Jermaine Haley and Tyus Batiste were not on the South roster in the final game against Oak Park.

The Rebels opened with a 75-55 romp over Bishop O’Byrne of Calgary on Feb. 6.

Batiste led all scorers with a game-best 24 points. Haley potted 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Trninic also put up a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards.

South started the tournament strong, outscoring the Calgary school 22-11 in the first quarter and building a 25-point lead to start the second half of play.

In the semifinal, South trailed from the outset, dropping a 90-75 decision to Oak Park.

Haley led all scorers with 25 points. Batiste, who was stone-cold from beyond the arc with just one of 14 three-point attempts, finished with 22 points.

Trninic added a third tournament double-double with 14 points and a dozen rebounds.

The Winnipeg school jumped out to a 29-12 first-quarter lead and led by as many of 20 points throughout the rest of the game.

Oak Park had six of its eight players in double figures, while making good on 10 of 24 three-pointers. South was just three of 31 from beyond the arc.