Panthers Shock First Place Lancers to Win Senior Title

It’s hard to say a three-peat champion has come out of nowhere, but that’s exactly what happened Saturday evening as the John McGregor Panthers upset the first place UCC Lancers to capture their third straight Kent Senior Boys AA-AAAA basketball championship.

The UCC Lancers were a perfect 12-0 in league play entering Saturday’s final against the 8-4 JMSS Panthers, but it was the Panthers who battled to a shocking 36-27 win on enemy territory.

Oshane Daley paced the JMSS Panthers with a game high 13-points in the win.

As he has been all season, Luke Allin was the top scorer for the UCC Lancers, however the Panthers defence held the young star to only 9-points in the game.

The Panthers and Lancers played a tight season series despite UCC winning both battles. Their first game in late December was deadlocked at 36-36 after regulation with UCC pulling off a 46-42 win, while their second match a month later in January ended 42-35 for UCC.

Dylan McTavish and Albert Myers also chipped in for the John McGregor Panthers in the final with 6-points each.

Both teams will now advance to face SWOSSAA opponents from Lambton County.