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Junior A Lakers sweep semi
Tom Berridge, sports editor
The Burnaby Lakers made easy work of the Victoria Shamrocks, sweeping the Island visitors 13-5 in the third and final game of their best-of-five semifinal series.
After 15 straight losses to the Lakers spanning two seasons, Victoria looked a beaten team as they headed back onto the floor for the final period trailing 11-3.
"We've beaten them so many times in a row that seed of doubt is planted in the back of their heads," said second-year Laker Jeff Buchanan of the relative ease of the team's series-winning victory.
After Sunday's 8-6 overtime win in Victoria, Burnaby wasted no time jumping on the visitors early at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre Monday.
Burnaby built a 5-1 lead after the opening 20 minutes and didn't let up, outscoring the Shamrocks 6-2 in the middle frame with six unanswered tallies, including back-to-back power play goals 30 seconds apart when Victoria captain Nate Brice took a pair of minor penalties.
Dane Dobbie, who was voted the series MVP scored four goals and added three assists, while B.C. league scoring champion Garrett Billings added three goals and a pair of helpers.
Baun Adlington, who rarely ventures into the offensive end of the floor, had one goal and three assists.
Assistant captain Brad Richardson also chipped in with three assists.
Ron Schibild and Adam Meakes, who took over from the Burnaby starter midway through the final period, faced 32 Victoria shots, including a paltry eight in the final frame.
The Lakers must now await the winner of the other B.C. Junior Lacrosse League semifinal between Coquitlam and Surrey.
Coquitlam won the opening game 10-9 in double overtime.
A Coquitlam sweep would see that series finish up Friday in Surrey.
A more likely scenario would be the Coquitlam/ Surrey series going four or five games, leaving a final game either Aug. 7 or Tuesday, Aug. 9.
That would leave likely 10 days before the B.C. final would commence.
Buchanan, who had three helpers in Game 2, said the team will use that time to refocus.
"It's a better opportunity to prepare ourselves for the opposition," said Buchanan. "No matter who we go through, we're going to come out just as hard. We have just one goal, and that is to get to the Canadians.
In Victoria, Ilija Gajic and Billings, with his hat-trick goal, both scored in OT to give the visitors the win and put them two games up in the semifinal series.
Schibild stopped 50 shots in the Burnaby goal. Buchanan added three assists, including two in a six-goal second period for the junior Lakers.
Burnaby outshot the home team 69-56 in contest.
Scoring demons
Dane Dobbie led all Lakers in the three-game semifinal playoff against Victoria, scoring seven goals and seven assists, while Garrett Billings chipped in with seven goals and six helpers.
The Burnaby defence was also sharp, allowing just 17 goals in three games for a 5.66 goals per game average.
Burnaby's best period was the second, with 16 of the team's 31 total goals scored.
published on 08/03/2005
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