The Prince George Polars knew they would have their hands full playing the third-ranked Kelowna Owls in their opening game at the quad-A boys basketball provincial championship in Langley.
The 14th-ranked Polars captured the North Central zone title and won the Prince George City League playoffs but as they found out Wednesday, the Owls are a legitimate threat to claim bragging rights as the top team in the province.
Kelowna hammered the Polars 109-68.
PGSS will try for its first win in the consolation bracket today at noon against Walnut Grove, which lost its opener to Burnaby South 83-76.
Meanwhile, at the double-A boys championships, which also started Wednesday in Langley, the Nechako Valley Vikings of Vanderhoof lost 88-69 to the No. 2 ranked Southridge Storm of Surrey.
Hunter Hughes pumped up the Storm offence with 31 points and Sam Chan hit for 19 points. Jonathan Mueller led the Vikings with 22 points, five assists and seven turnovers, while Braedon Bray sunk 19 points.
Nechako Valley faces the fifth-ranked Lambrick Park Lions of Victoria today at 8:30 a.m.
