The Skyhawks Invitational men’s basketball tournament wraps up today with eight games scheduled at St. Albert Catholic High School.
Draw times include the 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. semifinals, 4:45 p.m. consolation final, 6:30 p.m. third-place game and 8:15 p.m. final.
The eight-team draw features the Archbishop Jordan Scots, Cochrane Cobras, Edmonton Christian Lions, Spruce Grove Panthers, Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles, St. Peter The Apostle Spartans, West Central of Rocky Mountain House and the host Skyhawks.
The tournament opener for the Skyhawks was Friday against Cochrane but the score was unavailable at press time.
Today the Skyhawks will play Edmonton Christian or Spruce Grove at 8 a.m. in the consolation bracket or in the 11:30 a.m. semifinal.
The Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association 3A rankings list St. Peter at No. 4, Strathcona Christian is No. 5, Cochrane is No. 6 and the Skyhawks are an honourable mention.
The top two 4A women’s basketball teams in Alberta go head-to-head Tuesday, when the Spruce Grove Panthers host the St. Albert Skyhawks at 5:30 p.m. in the metro Edmonton division one showdown.
The Panthers are No. 1 for the second-straight ranking period and the Skyhawks are No. 2 after starting out at No.1 before dropping to No. 4.
The Panthers are 20-1 (9-0 in league and 11-1 in tournaments) and the Skyhawks are 20-2 (8-1 in league and 12-1 in tournaments).
Last year the Panthers defeated the Skyhawks 70-65 in the metro division one final but lost the 4A provincial bronze-medal game 56-51 to the St. Albert Catholic High School team.
The Panthers have nine returning players (four Grade 12s) on their roster and the Skyhawks have eight players (five Grade 12s) back from their 30-5 campaign last season.
Next weekend both teams are on opposite sides of the draw at the Panthers Classic. Friday the Skyhawks play the E.P. Scarlett Lancers of Calgary, a 4A honourable mention, at 1:45 p.m. Depending on the result the Skyhawks would face the Strathcona Lords or the No. 3-ranked 4A Cardston Cougars at 7:15 p.m. Friday in the consolation bracket or Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. semifinal.
Saturday the consolation final is 4 p.m., the third-place game is 5:45 p.m. and the final is 7:30 p.m.
The Titans Tri-Prov women’s tournament continues today for the St. Albert Skyhawks and Paul Kane Blues at Harry Ainlay High School.
Friday in semifinal action the Skyhawks played the Jasper Place Rebels in the championship bracket and the Blues battled the host Titans in the consolation bracket. Scores were unavailable at press time.
Today the Skyhawks hoop it up against the 4A provincial champion Raymond Comets or the Peacock Tornadoes of Moose Jaw in the 2 p.m. third-place game or the 6 p.m. final.
The Blues are in action at 10 a.m. against the Thunderbirds or Oak Park of Winnipeg.
Visit http://triprov.ainlay.ca/ for the schedule and results.
Thursday the Skyhawks levelled the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds 84-38 as Brielle Wise wired 22 points and Jessa Ivicak drained 15 points and owned the glass with 10 rebounds.
The Blues lost their Thursday opener 90-86 to the Tornadoes. Rachel McIntyre was the team’s top scorer with 33 points. Sydney Hurlburt drained 16 points and Allison Hunder and Britney Hinecker added 11 apiece.
The Blues were 14-8 overall after the loss and are listed seventh in the 4A provincial rankings.
The Paul Kane Blues are undefeated in four metro Edmonton division one games with two weeks left in the regular season.
Wednesday the Blues (7-4) visit the M.E. Lazerte Voyageurs (4-6) and Thursday they host the 4A provincial champion Harry Ainlay Titans (11-0). Game times are 5 p.m.
The Blues are in a three-way tie for fifth place after Wednesday’s 72-55 victory over the host St. Francis Xavier Rams (7-4).
Dani Iskander and Shaydon Philip tossed in 18 points apiece.
Eight division one teams make the playoffs.
In the 4A provincial rankings the Blues are an honourable mention.
The Lorne Akins Gators celebrated their third tournament title in four finals in junior high hoops last weekend.
The Stanley sisters, Ella and Alesha, combined for 27 points as the Gators defeated the host Riverbend team 48-45.
Ella was the top Gator with 14 points and four rebounds. Lily Armstrong chipped in with seven points and Kaitlyn Kluttig grabbed five rebounds.
The Gators tipped off the tournament with a decisive 61-10 victory over Woodhaven as Alesha pumped in 18 points and Kaitlyn Kluttig added 12.
Armstrong and Kluttig recorded nine points apiece in the 44-38 decision against F.R. Haythorne. Armstrong also pulled down six rebounds and Ella had four, in addition to scoring eight points.
The Gators are 18-2 overall and their only losses were 33-32 to the Vincent J. Maloney Marauders in the final of the Spruce Grove Power of 3 tournament and 51-43 to the ESSMY Leopards in the SAPEC league.
The Gators have six players back from last year’s team that lost the SAPEC Tier I city final 60-22 to VJM.
