Six local entries in Heinbuch Classic

KITCHENER — The Oakwood Barons will attempt to return to the winner’s circle at the 34th edition of the Heinbuch Classic high school basketball tournament.

The Toronto school will be aiming for its sixth championship in seven years, and eighth overall, when play begins Friday at Conestoga College. Oakwood saw its five-year tournament win streak come to an end last year when the St. Benedict Saints of Cambridge became the first local team to win the event, scoring a 48-34 win over the Cardinal Newman Cardinals of the Stoney Creek in the final game.

Cardinal Newman is back to take another run at the title but St. Benedict is not.

Six local squads are competing in the 16-team tournament, including the Resurrection Phoenix and St. Mary’s Eagles of the District 8 league and Eastwood Rebels, Glenview Park Panthers, Huron Heights Huskies and Sir John A. Macdonald Highlanders of the Waterloo County (WCSSAA) league.

The Centre Wellington Falcons of Fergus, Saltfleet Storm of Stoney Creek and St. Michael’s Blue Raiders of Toronto are first-time participants, making it 109 schools that have played in the Heinbuch since Toronto Runnymede won the inaugural event in 1984.

The H.B. Beal Raiders (London), J. Clarke Richardson Storm (Ajax), North Park Trojans (Brantford), Sir Allan MacNab Lions (Hamilton), and St. Thomas More Knights (Hamilton) are also participating.

The tournament runs all day Friday, starting at 8:45 a.m., and continues Saturday, starting at the same time. The gold division championship starts at 8:15 p.m. There is no admission charge but donations are being accepted for the Heinbuch Classic bursary program which sponsors Grade 9 students to attend a summer basketball camp.

The tournament is named for Court Heinbuch, a longtime head coach of the Cameron Heights Golden Gaels who died from a heart attack in 1985.