Going into the girls 1A provincial basketball championships in Abbotsford, Credo Christian head coach Kayla VanderHorst knew victory was possible, but it wouldn鈥檛 be easy.

鈥淲e kind of knew it was anybody鈥檚 game,鈥� VanderHorst said.

鈥淲e came in knowing that we could win [but] we would have to fight for it.鈥�

Credo had core players from the same group that won the provincials two years ago, the first time in 25 years for the 91原创 school.

鈥淭he girls were in a really good head space,鈥� VanderHorst said.

鈥淭hey had a really strong mental game and at the end of the day I felt that whats won it for us.鈥�

On Saturday, it was Credo Christian versus Unity Christian, defending champions from 2018 in the final.

鈥淚t was tight the whole time, as we knew it would be,鈥� VanderHorst said.

鈥淲e鈥檝e played them three time this season and every time we鈥檝e played them it鈥檚 been within 10 points.

By the half, Kodiaks were down eight points.

鈥淚 said to the girls at half time, we鈥檙e outplaying them, but they鈥檙e outscoring us and we need buckets to win.鈥�

Credo built up a seven-point lead in the second, but the tenacious Unity players weren鈥檛 about to give up, putting up a three-pointer in the closing seconds.

鈥淲e managed to hold the ball until the end,鈥� VanderHorst said.

Credo won 75-71.

READ ALSO: Credo Kodiaks claw to provincial 1A girls basketball crown

Credo鈥檚 Kari Stam was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

鈥淪he鈥檚 just a very consistent player which is always good to have as a coach,鈥� VanderHost said.

Credo Christian鈥檚 Rebekah Allison was named most defensive player.

Her coach said the physically fearless Allison is a 鈥渇irecracker 鈥� the most exciting and sometimes terrifying [type of player] for a coach to watch.鈥�

Kodiak Esther Allison made the first all-star team.

Allison, the tallest Credo player was described as a 鈥渞eally valuable鈥� three-point shooter by coach VanderHorst.

鈥淪he [was] defending on the inside against the big players and putting up numbers for us [as well].鈥�

There will be some rebuilding to do next year, with the entire Credo starting line-up graduating, but many outstanding players like Stam and Allison will be back to take another run at a third provincial title.

READ ALSO: Credo Christian Kodiaks of 91原创 take silver at 1A boys provincial basketball championships