Paul Kane Classic
Top-notch high school women’s basketball will be showcased today with eight games on tap at the Paul Kane ClassicGame times are as follows.
8 a.m. consolation semifinal.
9:45 a.m. consolation semifinal.
11:30 a.m. semifinal.
1:15 p.m. semifinal.
3 p.m. seventh/eighth place.
4:45 p.m. consolation final.
6:30 p.m. third place.
8:15 p.m. final.
The tournament tipped off Friday with the round of eight but the following scores were unavailable: Paul Kane Blues versus Parkland Immanuel Penguins, Chestermere Lakers versus Spruce Grove Panthers, Jasper Place Rebels versus Catholic Central Cougars of Lethbridge and St. Albert Skyhawks versus Medicine Hat Kwahommies.
Depending on Friday’s results, Paul Kane plays at 8 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. against Chestermere or Spruce Grove and the Skyhawks hoop it up at 9:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. against Jasper Place or Catholic Central.
Paul Kane, Jasper Place and Skyhawks are 4-0 in the metro Edmonton division one standings.
All three teams are unofficially ranked among the top 10 4A teams in the province and a Paul Kane versus Jasper Place final should determine who is first and second in the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association’s first ranking period of the season next week.
In two tournament finals last month, Jasper Place beat Paul Kane 73-65 at the 20th annual Mike Dea Classic at St. Francis Xavier and the Blues turned the tables on the Rebels at the 36th annual REB Invitational by a score of 70-52 at Jasper Place. It was the first loss for Jasper Place, the 2017 4A provincial gold medallist and two-time defending metro division one champion, after 45 games dating back to the 2016 4A provincial final
Paul Kane is 14-2 overall this season.
Meanwhile, the last league games for Paul Kane and the Skyhawks before the exam break will be staged Monday. The Skyhawks host the Strathcona Lords (1-4) and Paul Kane travels to Sherwood Park to face the Archbishop Jordan Scots (0-5). Tip-off times are 5 p.m.
SAPEC tournament
The annual St. Albert Physical Education Council junior high basketball tournament starts Thursday afternoon at the Richard S. Fowler, Lorne Akins, Elmer S. Gish and Vincent J. Maloney schools.The Boston Pizza Invitational brings together 16 boys’ and 16 girls’ teams and all nine SAPEC schools will be represented.
All 32 teams are in action Thursday and the winners advance into the A bracket and the losing teams compete in the B bracket.
In the A bracket Saturday, Fowler is hosting the finals at 3:30 p.m. for the boys and 4:45 p.m. for the girls and the third-place games will be played at Lorne Akins at 3:30 p.m. for the boys and 4:45 p.m. for the girls.
Last year’s tournament champions were the VJM Marauders for the girls and St. Peter The Apostle of Spruce Grove for the boys.
Meanwhile, league play is underway and the big game next week is between the Richard S. Fowler Falcons and Sir George Simpson Voyageurs in the girls’ division. Tipoff is 4 p.m. at Simpson.
The defending SAPEC Tier I city champions are the Falcons for the girls and Lorne Akins for the boys.
Division two men
Monday marks the last game for the Bellerose Bulldogs, Paul Kane Blues and St. Albert Skyhawks before the exam break in the metro Edmonton division two senior men’s basketball league.Bellerose (3-1) rattles the rim against the host Oscar Romero Ravens (3-2) and Paul Kane (0-4) is in Spruce Grove to play the Panthers (4-0). Game times are 5:30 p.m.
The Skyhawks (1-4) and McNally Tigers (1-4) square-off at 6:30 p.m. at the SkyDome.
Next month, Paul Kane is the guest of honour Feb. 5 against the Skyhawks at the SkyDome and Feb. 12 at Bellerose.
