The Hamiota Huskies are shooting for a high school hoops three-peat at the Provincial ‘A’ Girls’ Basketball Championship in Sprague.
The Huskies are ranked #1 while the Grandview Spartans and Glenboro Panthers round out the top three seeds while the Treherne Tigers are also taking part.
"We only have seven girls going to provincials, we’re not too deep and we’re young. We’ve got two really exceptional players and kind of some young girls that are still learning. I have not nearly the lofty expectations I’ve had before, but in saying that we have a chance," Hamiota coach Jon Zilkey told CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston. "I think by far it’s the most parity. Everyone is close. There’s no one that’s going to run away at these provincials, I believe."
Glenboro is once again reaching for that brass ring on the ‘A’ boys’ side with the top-seeded Panthers having played in the final the last six years and winning the title in 2008 and 2010.
"I think there’s an expectation within our program to always have success. I do worry sometimes that the players put a lot of pressure on themselves knowing what’s happened in the past, but I think you do have to treat each team differently," said coach Ryan Diehl. "A lot of these guys on this year’s team, they were on the bench during the finals. We only return one starter this year, but they’ve been there, they’ve seen what it’s all about."
The Prairie Mountain Predators in Somerset are hosting the tournament with the field also including Hamiota and Treherne.
The provincial ‘AA’ playdowns are taking place in Teulon with the Souris Sabres, Neepawa Tigers, Boissevain Broncos, Elton Sabres and Major Pratt Trojans competing for the championship.
Warren is welcoming the top ‘AA’ boys’ teams with Boissevain, the MacGregor Mustangs and Roblin’s Goose Lake Raiders among those vying for the crown.
The tournaments tip-off on Thursday and concludes on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Boissevain is the highest Westman seed at the AA Boys’ Championship at #3; Souris is #2, Neepawa #3 and Boissevain #4 at the AA Girls’ Championship while the AAA Boys’ and Girls’ Championship is taking place in Swan River.
