Division one women
The playoff bracket is finalized for the metro Edmonton division one women’s basketball playoffs.
The quarter-finals tipoff Monday at 5:30 p.m. as the St. Albert Skyhawks (11-0) host the St. Francis Xavier Rams (5-6) and the sixth-place Paul Kane Blues (6-5) visit the third-place Salisbury Sabres (8-3) in Sherwood Park.
In league play, the Skyhawks buried the Rams 98-35 and Paul Kane lost 54-38 to Salisbury.
The semifinals are Wednesday and the final is 5 p.m. next Saturday at Ross Sheppard High School.
The Skyhawks are a near-perfect 28-1 as winners of 22 consecutive league and tournament games and Paul Kane is 16-10 overall.
Last year’s Skyhawks finished 30-5 as the division one champions for the second year in a row and 4A provincial gold medallists.
In the third and final Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association rankings released Thursday, the Skyhawks remain No. 1 and Paul Kane is not listed after dropping from ninth to an honourable mention in the previous two rankings.
The division one teams in the 4A rankings include No. 4 Jasper Place Rebels (10-1) and No. 9 Salisbury while the Strathcona Lords (6-5) and O’Leary Spartans (6-5) are listed as honourable mentions.
The 16-team provincial tournament is March 19 to 21 in Lethbridge.
Division two men
The Paul Kane Blues are seeded third in the eight-team metro Edmonton division two men’s playoffs starting Monday.
Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. against the sixth-place Archbishop Jordan Scots (5-6) at Paul Kane.
The second loss in league play for Paul Kane (8-3) was 94-87 against ABJ on Jan. 13 in St. Albert.
The semifinals are Wednesday and the final is 8 p.m. Friday at Ross Sheppard High School.
Paul Kane is 16-11 overall after falling 83-77 to the visiting Millwoods Christian Royals (5-6) Monday in the last game before the playoffs.
Paul Kane’s 21-3 record last season included the 13-1 mark as division two finalists.
Division two women
Monday the Bellerose Bulldogs host the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds in the metro Edmonton division two women’s playoffs.
Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. between the third-place Bulldogs (8-3) and sixth-place Shep (6-5).
The Bulldogs beat Shep 62-33 in league play.
The semifinals are Wednesday and the final is 6 p.m. Friday at Ross Sheppard High School.
The Bulldogs, last year’s division three champions, are 14-6 overall after losing three of their last five division two games before the playoffs.
Division two juniors
The metro Edmonton division two junior women’s playoffs start Tuesday for the undefeated St. Albert Skyhawks.
Tipoff is 4:45 p.m. against the St. Peter the Apostle Spartans (2-6) of Spruce Grove at the SkyDome.
The Skyhawks (8-0) and St. Francis Xavier Rams (7-1) are the top playoff seeds.
The semifinals are Thursday and the final is next Saturday at 12 noon at Ross Sheppard High School.
The Skyhawks finished last season at 12-2 as the division two junior finalists.
BREAKING AWAY – Eric Hartman of the Richard S. Fowler Falcons slips past Colin Smith of the Sir George Simpson Voyageurs in Wednesday's quarter-final in the St. Albert Physical Education Council junior high league. The Falcons, winners of back-to-back SAPEC Tier I city championships, squeaked out a 73-72 decision at Simpson. The boys' TIer I semifinals start at 4 p.m. Tuesday with the Falcons (6-3) as the visitors against the Lorne Akins Gators (9-0) and the William D. Cuts Crusaders (7-2) host the Morinville Wolves (6-3). CHRIS COLBOURNE/St. Albert Gazette
