For the first time in quite awhile, the Brookswood Bobcats were not the top seed heading into the district junior girls' playoffs.
Instead, that distinction belonged to the Walnut Grove Gators, who had posted a 36 point victory when the teams met during the regular season.
But on Thursday, at the Langley Events Centre, the ’Cats came through in the district championship game, prevailing 52-46.
The district title was the 13th straight for the Brookswood junior girls.
"The difference (between the two games) was we were really committed to making defensive stops," said coach Sarah Cameron, a former Bobcat player who was part of the 2001 junior squad which also won districts.
"We had a few lapses here and there, but the girls were really committed to playing defence."
In Thursday's final, Brookswood used a strong second quarter, where they outscored the Gators 14-7, to take control of the game.
Marissa Van Noort led the way with 13 points, while Natasha Tadic, Rachel Beskau and Milica Ceranic each had nine points.
Ceranic's points came on a trio of three-pointers.
For Walnut Grove, Cassie Stea had 14 points while Taylor Gilis scored nine.
Brookswood began the season strongly, much like Cameron figured they would, but the team hit a rough patch in January.
"We hit a speed bump," she said.
"Now, we are starting to play like we had at the beginning of the season."
She added the team is finding its form at just the right time.
As for extending their dominance at the junior girls level, Cameron said "it is always nice to carry on that tradition."
She also expressed gratitude for what Brookswood provided for her when she was a student.
"The program gave me so much, so many opportunities," Cameron said.
"It is nice to be a part of."
Both Brookswood and Walnut Grove advance to the Fraser Valley championships, as do Credo Christian and Langley Christian.
Credo won the third place game 40-29.
Brookswood is seeded sixth in the 32-team Fraser Valleys and they opened against Clayton Heights, at home on Monday (Feb. 20) at 4:30 p.m.
Walnut Grove, seeded seventh, also opened at home against Semiahmoo at 4:30 p.m.as well.
Credo Christian, seeded 25th, and Langley Christian, seeded 29th, both had opening round games out of town.