Basketball zone tournaments hit the floor at college and university

By Garrett Simmons

Westwind Weekly News

For fans of high school sports in southern Alberta, this is the best time of year.

As the calendar flips to March, local teams hit the court at the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College, as zone basketball tournaments invade our post-secondary school campuses.

In the marquee 4A boys division, play kicked off Tuesday night, as No. 2 Magrath beat up on No. 7 Chinook by a score of 110-60 to advance to tonight’s semifinal against No. 3 ranked Medicine Hat. That game will be played at 9 p.m.

But before that big game takes place, No. 1 Raymond will put its season on the line in a semifinal clash with Cardston at 7 p.m. Both games will be played inside the First Choice Savings Centre at the university.

Should everything go according to plan, top-ranked Raymond and second-ranked Magrath will meet Saturday at 8 p.m. to determine the south’s 4A champion. The third-place game is set for Saturday at 4 p.m.

In the 4A girls bracket, play began Tuesday, as No. 2 Magrath defeated No. 7 Chinook by a score of 73-44. That sets up a Magrath-Lethbridge Collegiate Institute semifinal showdown today at 3 p.m.

Raymond, ranked No. 1, will take on Cardston today at 5 p.m. in the other semifinal.

Once again, top-ranked Raymond and second-ranked Magrath could very well meet up in the girls final as well. That game is set for Saturday at 6 p.m.

The tournament’s third-place game is Saturday at 2 p.m.

Junior varsity playoffs got underway Monday, as No. 4 Cardston and No. 5 Magrath played in boys competition. Cardston came away with an 84-74 win, to end the season for the JV Zeniths. Raymond, ranked No. 1, earned a first-round bye and took on Cardston Wednesday evening (score unavailable at press time).

The boys gold-medal game is Saturday at noon at the U of L.

In JV girls play, Monday featured No. 4 Magrath and No. 5 Raymond. Magrath earned a 69-58 win, and advanced to the semifinal against Cardston.

That semifinal was played Wednesday (results unavailable at press time) and the final is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at the U of L.

At Lethbridge College, No. 1 ranked Stirling will play in the 1A girls semifinals today at 5 p.m. A win in that game will see Stirling play for gold on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Stirling’s 2A boys begin the quest for gold on Thursday with a quarterfinal game at 8:20 p.m. at the college. A win would put the Lakers in the Friday semifinal, set for 8:20 p.m. The 2A boys champion will be determined Saturday at 7 p.m.

Stirling enters zones ranked No. 2, only behind top ranked Kate Andrews.

The Lakers enter zones after a tough 81-80 loss last Wednesday to Taber’s W.R. Myers in the Deep South Basketball League third-place game.

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