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Warriors to play for title after thrilling semifinal win

White Rock Christian Academy advances to championship game of BC Boys AAA Basketball Championships after victory over Kitsilano.
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White Rock Christian's Vartan Tanelian (left) led the Warriors with 29 points in Friday's semifinal victory over Kitsilano.

This time, there would be no overtime.

After winning back-to-back overtime games just to make it into the Friday semifinals, the White Rock Christian Academy Warriors finally won a game in regulation - barely.

WRCA edged Kitsilano 74-72 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre, advancing to the finals of the 2013 BC Boys AAA Basketball Championships Saturday night against Langley's Walnut Grove Gators.

The Warriors led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter, but Kitsilano clawed back to tie it late - even taking a one-point lead briefly - but WRCA retook a two-point lead in the final seconds when point guard Tyus Allen drove through the lane and deposited a layout with just 2.4 seconds remaining.

With time for one last play, Kitsilano couldn't get the ball close enough to the hoop to take one final shot, giving White Rock the win.

"The first two games were a wakeup call for us... but we got it done," said white Rock's Vartan Tanelian after the game.

Tanelian, named the player of the game, led the Warriors with 29 points and nine rebounds.

Luka Zaharijevic led the Kits Blue Demons with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Saturday's final, at the LEC, hits the court at 8 p.m.