Defending champions holding court at Hoopla
SASKATOON Nine of 10 defending champions are back to defend their titles, as Hoopla — the provincial high school basketball championship — tips off this week in Saskatoon.
The only division guaranteed a new champion is 3A girls. There’s a returning gold medallist competing in every other group.
The 5A quarter-finals were played Thursday night; the other divisions tip off Friday at gyms across Saskatoon.
Here’s the breakdown:
1A GIRLS
Middle Lake has won four of the last five 1A girls titles, including last season, when they beat Kenaston 60-43.
They’re back in the mix this weekend, along with teams from Southey, Langham and Gladmar.
Friday, 2:30 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Langham vs. Gladmar
Friday, 4:15 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Middle Lake vs. Southey
Saturday, 11 a.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 3 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Gold-medal game
2A GIRLS
Wynyard returns to Hoopla, trying to win a fifth straight title and sixth in seven seasons. They beat Asquith 72-37 in last year’s gold-medal match.
Standing in their way are Maidstone, Canora and Harvest City Christian Academy from Regina.
Friday, 6 p.m. at St. Joseph: Harvest
■
City vs. Maidstone
Friday, 7:45 p.m. at St. Joseph:
■
Wynyard vs. Canora
Saturday, 1 p.m. at St. Joseph:
■ Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 7 p.m. at Walter Murray: ■
Gold-medal game
3A GIRLS
Last season’s silver medallist, Briercrest Christian Academy from Caronport, is back at Hoopla, one season after losing 72-60 to Regina Christian School in the title match.
They’re up against teams from Unity, Melville and Lumsden.
Friday, 2:30 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Unity vs. Lumsden
Friday, 4:15 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Caronport vs. Melville
Saturday, 11 a.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 7 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Gold-medal game
4A GIRLS
The two-time defending champion Melfort Comets will try for the three-peat in 2019. The Comets captured gold in a tight match with Estevan last season, winning 60-56.
The final four this time around includes North Battleford, Notre Dame and Moose Jaw Peacock.
Friday, 11 a.m. at Walter Murray:
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Melfort vs. Moose Jaw Peacock
Friday, 12:45 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
North Battleford vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, 1 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 5 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Gold-medal game
5A GIRLS
Eight teams, including defending 5A girls champion Regina Leboldus, entered Thursday night with a chance at a provincial title.
Leboldus, who beat Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman 63-47 in last year’s gold-medal match, squared off with Swift Current on Thursday for a semifinal berth. The other quarter-final matchups included Saskatoon Holy Cross vs. Prince Albert Carlton, Saskatoon Centennial vs. Regina Riffel, and Saskatoon St. Joseph vs. Regina O’neill.
Friday, 6 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Semifinal
Friday, 7:45 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Semifinal
Saturday, 3 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Bronze medal game
Saturday, 5 p.m. at St. Joseph: Gold
■
medal game
1A BOYS
Middle Lake has won the last two 1A boys titles, including a 75-53 victory over Lake Lenore in 2018.
Both schools are back in 2019, competing against Coronach and Davidson.
Friday, 6 p.m. at Centennial: Davidson
■ vs. Middle Lake
Friday, 7:45 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Lake Lenore vs. Coronach
Saturday, 1 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 7 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Gold-medal game
2A BOYS
St. Brieux beat Caronport 100-84 in last season’s 2A boys gold-medal tilt, and the winners return for a crack at a second straight title.
Three other teams — Norquay, Birch Hills and Harvest City — are in the hunt for that same gold medal.
Friday, 2:30 p.m. at St. Joseph: St.
■
Brieux vs. Birch Hills
Friday, 4:15 p.m. at St. Joseph:
■
Harvest City vs. Norquay
Saturday, 11 a.m. at St. Joseph:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 5 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Gold-medal game
3A BOYS
Regina Christian, 74-56 victors over Birch Hills in last season’s 3A championship game, will try to win its third straight gold medal, and fourth in five seasons.
Indian Head, Unity and Legacy Christian Academy from Saskatoon will try to topple them.
Friday, 11 a.m. at Evan Hardy: Regina
■ Christian vs. Indian Head
Friday, 12:45 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Saskatoon Legacy vs. Unity
Saturday, 3 p.m. at St. Joseph:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 5 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Gold-medal game
4A BOYS
Weyburn has won two straight 4A titles, downing Moose Jaw Central 98-76 in last season’s final.
Both finalists are back in the hunt in 2019, along with North Battleford and Notre Dame.
Friday, 2:30 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■
Notre Dame vs. Weyburn
Friday, 4:15 p.m. at Walter Murray:
■ Moose Jaw Central vs. North Battleford
Saturday, 11 a.m. at Centennial:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 3 p.m. at Centennial:
■
Gold-medal game
5A BOYS
Saskatoon St. Joseph snapped a seven-year Regina win streak in 5A boys last season, beating Saskatoon Marion Graham 81-71 in the final.
St. Joseph is back for more in 2019, and played Estevan in a quarter-final Thursday night. The other Thursday quarters included Regina Leboldus vs. Saskatoon Walter Murray, Saskatoon Holy Cross vs. Regina Luther, and Lloydminster vs. Regina Winston Knoll.
Friday, 6 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Semi-final
Friday, 7:45 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Semi-final
Saturday, 1 p.m. at Evan Hardy:
■
Bronze-medal game
Saturday, 7 p.m. at St. Joseph:
■
Gold-medal game