Justin Bennett is a Western Canada Games champion.
The 15-year-old from Prince George scored six points and hauled in 11 rebounds to help Team B.C. sink Manitoba 86-44 in the men's basketball gold-medal game Tuesday night in Kamloops.
Bennett, the six-foot-five starting post for B.C. and the only northern B.C.-based player on the provincial roster, hit for two of eight attempts from the field and sunk both of his free-throw attempts while drawing 12 minutes of playing time. On defence, he blocked two shots and picked up one steal.
Martin Bogajev of Burnaby led all B.C. scorers with 26 points. Nate Haglund of North Vancouver had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Djordje Obradovic of Burnaby picked up 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Silva of Winnipeg picked up a team-high 10 points for Manitoba.
B.C. went undefeated at 4-0 through the tournament. Bennett played 25 minutes in Monday's 96-39 win over Saskatchewan. The Grade 10 student at D.P. Todd secondary school collected six points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
B.C. also won women's basketball gold, hanging on to defeat previously-unbeaten Manitoba 61-60. B.C. was ahead 23-9 after one quarter, but the lead dwindled down to four at halftime, 29-24.
Kyanna Giles of Winnipeg led Manitoba with a game-high 31 points and 13 rebounds. Kiana Lalonde of Kelowna shot 13 points to lead B.C. offensively. Alberta beat Saskatchewan for bronze, 71-62.
Today in Kamloops, four Prince George athletes begin their quests for Western Canada Games medals.
Swimmers Danica Ludlow and Sterling King, with team manager Marilyn King at pool deck at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, begin four days of competition today at 9:30 a.m.
In volleyball, Erika Morris and the Team B.C. women's squad face the Northwest Territories today at 11:15 a.m., then play Saskatchewan at 5 p.m. Nic Balazs and the B.C. men open their tournament tonight at 7 against the Yukon). Dan Drezet of Prince George is an assistant coach for the B.C. men's team.
Team manager Lisa Davison of Prince George will be on the sidelines with the rest of the B.C. coaching staff watching the 10-member squad take on the Yukon today at 9 a.m., followed by a 3 p.m. match against Saskatchewan.
The Games closing ceremonies are set for 3 p.m. Sunday at Interior Savings Centre.
