A new champion will be crowned in the men’s and women’s divisions at the 20th annual Optimist Showdown in St. Albert high school basketball tournament.
Not returning to defend their 2009 titles are the Jasper Place Rebels and the Sturgeon lady Spirits. The 2008 winners — the St. Albert lady Skyhawks and the Paul Kane Blues — are among the local teams competing for tournament honours.
The Showdown draw for the 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams starts Thursday at 3:15 p.m. at the St. Albert Catholic (SkyDome), Paul Kane, Bellerose Composite and Morinville (MCHS) high schools. The opening day winners qualify for the championship round and the losing teams move into the consolation bracket. Play resumes Friday at 9:15 a.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. Saturday’s finals are 6:15 p.m. at the SkyDome (women’s championship), Paul Kane (men’s championship), Bellerose (men’s consolation) and MCHS (women’s consolation).
Thursday’s game times are as follows.
SkyDome
3:15 p.m. women: Skyhawks (ranked second in 3A) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Thunder of Spruce Grove
5 p.m. men: Skyhawks vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Thunder
6:45 p.m. women: Wetaskiwin Sabres (ranked fifth in 3A) vs. Bowness Trojans of Calgary
8:30 p.m. men: Scona Lords (4A honourable mention) vs. Bowness Trojans
Paul Kane
3:15 p.m. women: Paul Kane vs. Daysland Darls (ranked third in 1A)
5 p.m. men: Paul Kane vs. Wetaskiwin Sabres (ranked 10th in 3A)
6:45 p.m. women: Bedford Road Redmen of Saskatoon vs. Scona Lords (ranked ninth in 4A)
8:30 p.m. men: Bedford Road Redmen vs. John Maland Wildcats of Devon
Bellerose
3:15 p.m. women: Bellerose Bulldogs vs. Edmonton Christian Lions (ranked second in 2A)
5 p.m. men: Bellerose Bulldogs vs. Spruce Grove Panthers
6:45 p.m. men: Sturgeon Spirits vs. Bert Church Chargers of Airdrie (ranked eighth in 4A)
8:30 p.m. women: Grande Prairie Totems (2009 finalists) vs. Medicine Hat Kwahommies
MCHS
3:15 p.m. women: Morinville Wolves (3A honourable mention) vs. John Maland Wildcats (ranked 10th in 3A)
5 p.m. men: Morinville Wolves (3A honourable mention) vs. Rimbey Spartans (2A honourable mention)
6:45 p.m. women: St. Francis Xavier Rams vs. Centennial Coyotes of Calgary (4A honourable mention)
8:30 p.m. men: Grande Prairie Tomahawks vs. Edmonton Christian (ranked ninth in 2A)
The tournament expanded from its original all-girls’ format in 1995.
