The metro Edmonton premier basketball semifinals tip off today for the St. Albert Skyhawks and Paul Kane Blues.
In the women’s playoff, the Skyhawks (13-2) host the Blues (11-4) at 4:45 p.m. at the SkyDome. The winner advances to Saturday’s final at 5 p.m. at O’Leary High School.
The Skyhawks, last year’s premier champions and 3A provincial gold medallists, are undefeated in three matches against the Blues, an honourable mention in the 4A rankings. Scores were 50-39 and 66-45 in premier and 72-59 in the final of the Optimist Showdown in St. Albert.
In quarter-final action Monday, Kendall Lydon sank 20 points and Shelby Hucul added 19 as the Skyhawks downed the seventh-place St. Francis Xavier Rams 86-52. The Blues are coming off a 67-52 playoff win over the sixth-place Bev Facey Falcons.
Last weekend the Skyhawks lost the final at the 3A-calibre Wetaskiwin tournament, 78-69 to McCoy of Medicine Hat. The Skyhawks were plagued by fouls and eventually lost the game in the fourth quarter on giveaways.
The Skyhawks also whipped Morinville 127-39 and defeated Magrath by 20.
In the 3A rankings, the Skyhawks are first and McCoy is second.
The Skyhawks are 26-11 overall this season.
Meanwhile, in the men’s semifinals, the Blues (12-1) host the Archbishop Jordan Scots (7-6) at 4:45 p.m. The winner qualifies for Saturday’s final at 7 p.m. at O‘Leary.
In league play, the 10th-ranked 4A Blues thumped the Scots 75-53 and 82-63.
In Monday’s quarter-finals, the Blues hammered O’Leary 71-48.
After a break in the playoff schedule to accommodate players with the U18 provincial team at the Canada Winter Games, the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League’s north division final between the St. Albert Slash and Edmonton Thunder starts Thursday. Puck drop is 8:45 p.m. at Bill Hunter Arena.
Game two in the best-of-five series goes Sunday at 2 p.m. at Performance Arena. Game three is Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. at Castledowns Arena.
If needed, game four is March 12 at 4:45 p.m. at Performance and game five is March 13 at 2 p.m. at Castledowns.
In the north standings, the Thunder (27-0-5) finished first and the Slash (23-6-3) placed second.
The Thunder are the defending league champions and 2010 Esso Cup national bronze medallists as the Pacific region reps.
The Slash are the host team for the April 17 to 23 nationals at Servus Credit Union Place.
In league play, after a 2-2 draw in October, the Thunder beat the Slash 5-2, 3-1 and 6-4.
Meanwhile, Slash forwards Melissa Kueber and Jessica Kampjes celebrated a gold-medal victory with Alberta at the Canada games in Halifax, N.S. In the final, Alberta edged Ontario 3-2.
