The Paul Kane Blues tip-off their varsity men’s and women’s high school basketball tournament Thursday at noon.
The opening game features the lady Blues against the Fort McMurray Composite Miners.
The Blues are one of five honourable mention teams in the 4A provincial rankings.
At 1:45 p.m. the Paul Kane men hoop it up against the M.E. Lazerte Voyageurs.
Paul Kane is unranked in 4A.
Two games are scheduled for Bellerose Composite High School on Thursday. The Bellerose Bulldogs host the Sturgeon Spirits at 4:30 p.m. in the men’s draw and the Balfour Collegiate Redmen of Regina at 6:30 p.m. in the women’s draw.
Sturgeon is ranked No. 2 in 3A.
If Paul Kane and Sturgeon win their opening games, they would meet in the men’s semifinal Friday at 5:45 p.m.
Last month at the Rise Up tournament in Namao, Sturgeon beat Paul Kane by five points in the semifinal before falling 92-79 to the Bev Facey Falcons in the final. Paul Kane finished third by defeating the Archbishop MacDonald Marauders by 17 points.
Saturday the men’s consolation final is 1:45 p.m., the third-place game is 5:15 p.m. and the final is 8:45 p.m.
The women’s consolation final is 12 p.m. the third-place game is 3:30 p.m. and the final is 7 p.m.
The men’s bracket includes the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds, ranked No. 4 in 4A, Eastglen Blue Devils, Fort McMurray, a 3A honourable mention, and the McNally Tigers.
The O’Leary Spartans, a 4A honourable mention, Sturgeon, Dr. E.P. Scarlett Lancers of Calgary and the Hunting Hills Lightning of Red Deer round out the women’s bracket.
Visit www.pkhs.spschools.org for tournament updates.
Thursday the St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres travel to Fort Saskatchewan to play the Rangers at 5:45 p.m. in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
The Sabres (12-8-3), winners of five in a row, trailed the third-place Sherwood Park Flyers (14-10-2) by three points with three games in hand in the nitro north division, prior to Tuesday’s contest against the Canadian Athletic Club (15-8-1). The score was unavailable at press time.
Leading up to the John Reid Memorial Tournament the Sabres host the Leduc Oil Kings (6-16-2) Sunday at 5 p.m. and the SSAC Southgate Lions (21-4) Monday at 6:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
The 36th annual St. Albert bantam AAA tournament starts next Thursday at Servus Credit Union Place.
Visit www.johnreidmemorial.com for details.
