Three out of the four Langley Grade 8 boys basketball teams survived their opening round game to advance to round two of the Fraser Valley championships.
Leading the way were the district champion Walnut Grove Gators, seeded fifth at the 32-team championships, who thumped the No. 28 Sands Scorpions 67-24 on Tuesday at Walnut Grove.
With the win, the Gators advance to play the No. 21 North Surrey Spartans, who upset the 12th-seed R.E. Mountain Eagles 43-33. The game will be played on Feb. 21 at Johnston Heights with the winner advancing to the final eight championship round at Archbishop Carney.
The Langley Christian Lightning, seeded 18th, knocked off the No. 15 Pitt Meadows Marauders 36-35 to also move on to the final 16. They face second-seed Delta at Delta Secondary.
And the No. 19 H.D. Stafford Skyhawks also beat a higher seed, winning 36-28 over the No. 14 Eugene Reimer Ravens.
The Skyhawks face the No. 3 Tamanawis Wildcats in the Wildcats home gym.