The last game before the metro Edmonton premier women’s basketball playoffs for the St. Albert Skyhawks and Paul Kane Blues tips off today at 4:45 p.m. between the crosstown rivals at the SkyDome.
Tuesday the Skyhawks (10-0) visited the No. 7-ranked 4A Archbishop Jordan Scots (7-4) and the Blues (4-6) hosted the Bev Facey Falcons (5-5). Scores were unavailable at press time.
The No. 1-ranked 3A Skyhawks were 29-1 overall after placing third at the Spruce Grove tournament last weekend. The unranked 4A Blues were 16-7 overall.
The first loss of the season after 28 wins for the Skyhawks was Saturday’s 70-63 overtime setback to the No. 5-ranked 4A Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs of Calgary in the tournament semifinal.
The loss also ended a 36-game winning streak for the Skyhawks. The last team to beat the Skyhawks was the McCoy Colts of Medicine Hat by two points on Feb. 25, 2012 in the Wetaskiwin tournament final.
“Better a loss now than in the end when it truly matters. A good learning lesson,” said John Dedrick, head coach of the 2012 premier champions and three-time reigning 3A provincial gold medallists.
In the tournament opener the Skyhawks beat the No. 2-ranked 3A Colts 70-56 and in the third-place game defeated the host Spruce Grove Panthers 54-44.
The first draw in the St. Albert Centre Ladies’ Bonspiel is 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the St. Albert Curling Club.
The 24-team competition wraps up Sunday at 3 p.m. with the A, B and C event finals.
Last year’s bonspiel featured 18 teams.
The St. Albert Nordic Ski Club’s annual Fun Loppet makes tracks Saturday afternoon in the Kingswood area.
Classic technique distances are the 400-metre bunny hop and fun loops of 2.5, 4.5 and 6.5 kilometres.
The mass start at Kingswood Park for all fun loops is noon. The bunny hop goes at 12:15 p.m., followed by games.
A large clock will be set up at the finish area to track your own time.
Registration is $5 per skier through www.stanski.ca to link up to the Zone 4 STANSKI Fun Loppet entry site.
On-site registration on race day is $10 per skier before 11:30 a.m.
