4A rankings
The first high school basketball rankings of the season were released Monday by the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association and the St. Albert Skyhawks and Paul Kane Blues are among the top-10 4A women’s teams.
The Skyhawks, the defending 4A provincial champions, are listed second and Paul Kane is ninth.
The Skyhawks are 5-0 in the metro Edmonton division one league and 13-1 overall while Paul Kane is 3-2 in division one and 10-4 overall.
The Skyhawks are winners of two out of three tournaments and Paul Kane won its home tournament and twice was a finalist.
The next tournament for both teams is next weekend at St. Mary’s in Calgary.
The only loss for the Skyhawks was 76-68 against the Western Canada Redhawks of Calgary in the semifinal of last month’s REB Invitational at Jasper Place and the result left the Redhawks ranked No.1.
The Skyhawks and Redhawks are on the same side of the draw at the St. Mary’s tournament. The first game for the Skyhawks is against the No. 4 Raymond Comets and a win would set the stage for a potential semifinal clash with the Redhawks.
Last year, the Skyhawks were ranked No. 1 from start to finish while going 13-0 in division one and 30-5 overall.
The rest of the division one teams in the 4A rankings are the No. 3 Jasper Place Rebels (6-0) and No. 5 Salisbury Sabres (4-1).
The next ASAA rankings are Feb. 14.
3A rankings
The Morinville Wolves and Sturgeon Spirits cracked the top-10 3A high school basketball rankings in the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association.
The 3A women's list has Morinville at No. 5 as the only North Central zone team to be ranked and Sturgeon is 10th.
Morinville is the two-time defending North Central champion and at last year's 3A provincials defeated Sturgeon 59-52 in the consolation final.
At the recent Rock of Ages tournament in Spruce Grove, Morinville beat Sturgeon 53-50 for third place.
Morinville’s overall record is 8-4.
Sturgeon is the third metro Edmonton league team in the 3A rankings. The division one St. Peter the Apostle Spartans (0-5) of Spruce Grove is No. 3 and the division two Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles (5-1) of Sherwood Park is No. 6.
The top-two 3A teams are the W.R. Myers Rebels of Taber and McCoy High Colts of Medicine Hat.
Sturgeon, 3-3 in division two and 8-10 overall, is hosting 3A provincials March 19 to 21.
Next weekend is the annual Morinville tournament featuring eight teams and Sturgeon is competing at the Ardrossan tournament.
In the men’s 3A rankings, Morinville is ninth as the lone North Central team in the top 10.
Upcoming for Morinville, 6-3 this season, is the St. Peter the Apostle tournament next weekend and the host Spartans, 3-1 in division one, are ranked second in 3A.
Morinville's home tournament is Feb. 14-15.
