The St. Albert Skyhawks men’s basketball tournament tips off Friday with four games scheduled at the SkyDome.
The eight-team draw starts at 12:30 p.m. between the host Skyhawks and the Archbishop Jordan Scots.
At 2:30 p.m. the Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles, ranked fifth in 2A, play the St. Peter The Apostle Spartans.
The Spruce Grove Panthers and Edmonton Christian Lions, ranked fourth in 3A, meet at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Fort McMurray Miners versus West Central of Rocky Mountain House at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday the semifinals are 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., the third-place game is 6:30 p.m. and the final is 8:15 p.m.
The Skyhawks, Fort McMurray and Spartans were honourable mentions in the third 3A rankings released last week.
In the metro Edmonton league the Skyhawks were 3-2 in division two pool B, and 9-5 overall, before Tuesday’s game against the winless Oscar Romero Ravens. The score was unavailable at press time.
The Spartans (4-0) and Panthers (2-3) are also in pool B and the Eagles (4-1) and Scots (3-1) are in metro division two pool A.
The tournament is one of several fundraising initiatives in February at St. Albert Catholic High School in support of Hawks Have Heart. Donations will also be accepted at the door and a portion of every team’s entry fee will go towards the goal of raising $5,000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
The fundraiser honours the memory Amanda Bruneau. The sister-in-law of Skyhawks’ head coach and teacher, Evan Holstein, died Jan. 18 at age 19 from adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer originating in the cortex of the adrenal gland.
Visit www.albertacancer.ca/hawkshaveheart for more information.
The 17-team meet opens with the parade of athletes at 7 p.m. and the competition starts at 7:15 p.m.
The host Bellerose Bulldogs perform at 7:45 p.m. in the large squad division.
The St. Albert Skyhawks are showcased at 8 p.m. in the small squad division and the Paul Kane Blues are on display at 8:25 p.m. in the co-ed division.
The awards presentation is 8:50 p.m.
The top two teams in each division advance to provincials, March 21 and 22 at Harry Ainlay High School.
Last year the Bulldogs placed second in large squad behind Harry Ainlay at zones and provincials.
