The St. Albert Skyhawks soared to victory at the Chinook Coyotes Classic in Lethbridge last weekend.
The lady Skyhawks ran the ball exceptionally well to beat the host Chinook team 76-38 in the final after slipping past the Raymond Comets 55-46 in the semifinals.
Lauren Cardinal was named the tournament MVP and Aphia Ward received all-star honours.
The Skyhawks improved to 5-1 in metro Edmonton division one and 14-4 overall by downing the Leduc Tigers 91-55 Monday. It was 32-31 Skyhawks at halftime.
Jamie Bain and Ward combined for 10 three-pointers in the win. Bain finished with 31 points and Ward drained 21.
The only loss for the Skyhawks in league play was 74-45 to the undefeated Jasper Place Rebels on Dec. 14 after arriving home the night before at 10:30 p.m. from a tournament in Victoria.
The division one finalists the last two years and fifth-place finishers at the 2015 4A provincials are led by seven returning players from the 33-5 team. Cardinal and Sarah Dedrick have provided key points up front along with strong rebounding and defence. Abby Morrison, a Grade 10 guard, has also earned solid minutes as a defensive force, similar to what Skyhawks’ alumna Hillary Annich provided at the same age.
Meanwhile, the Skyhawks have elected not to host their annual tournament at the end of the month with several top-notch 4A teams committed to tournaments in Calgary during the same weekend. Instead, the Skyhawks will compete in the Bishop Grandin Ghosts’ tournament in Calgary that weekend, followed by the Titans Tri-Prov at Harry Ainlay and the Panthers Classic at Spruce Grove in February.
The next league game after the exam break is Feb. 1 at Harry Ainlay.
The last game for the Paul Kane Blues before the exam break in metro Edmonton division one women’s basketball is Thursday against the Archbishop Jordan Scots.
Both teams are 4-1. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. in Sherwood Park.
The Blues beat the winless O’Leary Spartans 82-64 Monday.
Last weekend, the Blues finished 1-2 at the Paul Kane Classic. The eight-team competition featured several 4A teams expected to be highly ranked when the Alberta Schools Athletic Association releases its first rankings of the season Friday.
The Blues lost their opener 63-49 to the Catholic Central Cougars of Lethbridge, followed by the 70-57 setback to the Bishop Grandin Ghosts of Calgary. Both games were close until the fourth quarter.
The Blues lost the services of their captain, Jenna Desharnais, to a neck injury in the second quarter against the Ghosts. It was a three-point game when Desharnais was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The Grade 12 senior will need a few weeks to heal before returning to action.
The Ghosts went on to lose the consolation final 66-60 to the Centennial Coyotes of Calgary
The Blues closed out the tournament with a 71-51 decision against O’Leary.
The Jasper Place Rebels, 6-0 in division one as the team to beat this year, knocked off the Cougars 62-57 in the final.
Grade 11 guard McKenna Ledgister of the Rebels was named the tournament MVP.
The Spruce Grove Panthers placed third overall by defeating the 2015 tournament champion Medicine Hat Kwahommies 58-47.
The Panthers, 6-1 in division one, pushed past the Ghosts 71-56 in their opening game before falling 49-48 to the Cougars.
At the 4A provincials last year, the Kwahommies beat the Panthers for the championship banner and the Rebels defeated the Blues in the consolation final.
The annual Boston Pizza Invitational Basketball Tournament starts 4 p.m. Thursday in St. Albert.
The winning teams in the opening draw qualify for the A bracket and the losing teams are slotted in the B bracket.
Saturday’s finals at Richard S. Fowler School are 1 p.m. for the girls and 2:15 p.m. for the boys in the B division and 3:30 p.m. for the girls and 4:45 p.m. for the boys in the A division.
The St. Albert Physical Education Council hosts the tournament which features 16 girls and 16 boys teams. Games are scheduled at Sir George Simpson, Lorne Akins, Vincent J. Maloney and Fowler.
Local teams include the VJM Marauders, Elmer S. Gish Warriors, ESSMY Leopards, Lorne Akins Gators, Richard S. Fowler Falcons, Sir George Simpson Voyageurs, William D. Cuts Crusaders, Morinville Wolves, Camilla Thunderbirds and Sturgeon Heights Eagles.
Last year, Fowler repeated as the boys’ champion and the Gators won the girls’ final.
The St. Albert Skyhawks returned home from Okotoks with a third-place plaque from the Holy Trinity Knights Classic.
The Skyhawks corralled the George McDougall Mustangs of Airdrie 84-79 to finish 2-1.
The Skyhawks tipped-off the tournament with an 83-41 win over Springbank Phoenix and in the semifinals lost 73-59 to the Chestermere Cowboys one of the top 3A teams in the province.
Grade 12 post Keilan Dobish was named to the tournament all-star team. Dobish unleashed a couple of thunderous dunks in the first game and went toe-to-toe with Chestermere’s six-foot-eight big man and CIS prospect.
The Skyhawks are 2-2 in metro Edmonton division two pool B and their first game after the exam break is Feb. 2 against the Spruce Grove Panthers at the SkyDome.
