The Okanagan College Coyotes etched their names into the record books Saturday night, capturing their first-ever PACWEST gold medal with a thrilling 79–74 upset over the nationally top-ranked VIU Mariners.
Built on tough defence and dominant rebounding, the Coyotes rose to the occasion. Jordan Kemper earned MVP honours after dropping 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Off the bench, Devin Felt provided a major spark, draining four triples and adding 17 points in total. OC shot an impressive 48.4% from beyond the arc—fueling the team’s historic win—and secured a spot at the CCAA National Championships in March as PACWEST’s top seed.
Despite the loss, the Mariners delivered a hard-fought battle. Amber Lease, the PACWEST Player of the Year, finished with 19 points. Shayce Johnston nearly recorded a double-double with 16 points and 9 boards, while Ranika Guyton added 12. VIU will still compete at Nationals as the host team and look to bounce back on their home court.
All-Stars:
- Karalee Antonie (Douglas Royals)
- Amber Lease (VIU)
- Shayce Johnston (VIU)
- Devin Felt (OC)
- Natasha Alfonso (OC)
Tournament MVP: Jordan Kemper (OC)
Gold Medal Game Players of the Game:
- Soleil Wilding (OC)
- Amber Lease (VIU)
