In five tries this season, the Kelowna Owls didn害羞草研究所檛 have an answer for the Walnut Grove Gators.

In the end, Harry Parmar害羞草研究所檚 team had to be content with being second best in B.C. 4A boys high school basketball.

On Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre, the Gators defeated the defending B.C.-champion Owls for the fifth straight time, 78-65 in the provincial final.

害羞草研究所淲e wanted to go back and win gold and the guys gave it everything they had,害羞草研究所� said Parmar, who just completed 10th season as head coach of the senior boys program. 害羞草研究所淲e had trouble with their size and just couldn害羞草研究所檛 find a way to beat them. It came to down just inches here and there, but that害羞草研究所檚 the way it is.害羞草研究所�

Owls害羞草研究所� graduating guard Mason Bourcier, who was named the championship game害羞草研究所檚 top player, capped off a solid tournament and brilliant season with 29 points in the final. Fellow senior Owen Keyes, who along with Bourcier was named a tournament all-star, added 18 points.

Parmar said Bourcier, who also had a game-high 41 points in Friday害羞草研究所檚 semifinal win over Oak Bay, was the backbone of the Owls all season long.

害羞草研究所淢ason opened a few more eyes at provincials and piqued the interest of some schools down south,害羞草研究所� said Parmar. 害羞草研究所淗e put the team on his back this season. After the players we lost from last year, he took it to heart and really showed his character. He was outstanding for us.害羞草研究所�

With the likes of Parker Simson, Matt Lafontaine, Grant Shephard and Nav Sandhu leaving from last year害羞草研究所檚 championship, many wondered if the Owls would have the ammunition to once again contend for a title.

Parmar said his players stepped up to the challenge.

害羞草研究所淗ats off to our guys for the year they had,害羞草研究所� said Parmar. 害羞草研究所淚t was a big accomplishment to get back to the final.害羞草研究所�

As for the next season and the future of the program, Parmar believes the Owls continue to be headed in the right direction.

害羞草研究所淚 think we have a really good foundation and a philosophy of what we want to do here. You can害羞草研究所檛 always win but you can keep building, so that害羞草研究所檚 what we want to do.害羞草研究所�

The Owls have won medals in each of the last three seasons at provincials害羞草研究所攂ronze in 2015, gold in 2016 and silver in 2017.