As expected, the Red Deer schools received a tough opening draw to the provincial 4A high school basketball championships which open Thursday in Edmonton.
The Hunting Hills Lightning go into the tournament, hosted by Ross Sheppard, as the 13th ranked team and will face fourth-ranked Spruce Grove at 2 p.m. at Ross Sheppard while the Notre Dame Cougars are ranked 14th on the boys’ side and clash with third-ranked Bishop Grandin of Calgary at 6 p.m. at Edmonton Christian.
Archbishop O’Leary of Edmonton is the top-ranked team on the girls’ side and face Westwood of Fort McMurray while Calgary Centennial is second and meet Grande Prairie.
As well Dr. E.P. Scarlett of Calgary clashes with Raymond, Calgary’s Western Canada takes on Ross Sheppard, Catholic Central of Lethbridge meets Edmonton Harry Ainlay, Sir Winston Churchill of Calgary faces Okotoks of Foothills and Edmonton’s Jasper Place takes on Cardston.
The semifinals are set for 7 and 9 p.m. Friday at NAIT with the final at 6 p.m. at Ross Sheppard.
Raymond goes in as the top-ranked team on the boys’ side and faces Westwood while Harry Ainlay is second ranked and meets Grande Prairie.
As well, Paul Kane of St. Albert meets Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, Calgary’s Father Lacombe faces St. Francis Xavier, Jasper Places takes on Calgary’s Bishop McNally, Cardston meets Ross Sheppard and Western Canada clashes with Foothills.
The semifinals go at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday with the final at 8 p.m. All games are at Ross Sheppard.
• The 3A provincials are set to open Thursday in Chestermere.
The Camrose Trojans and Wetaskiwin Sabres will represent Central Alberta on the boys’ side.
Camrose is ranked third and received an opening round bye, playing Friday at noon against the winner of the Cochrane andCalgary Rundle College contest, while the Sabres clash with Fort McMurray Thursday at 5 p.m.
On the girls’ side, Camrose goes in ranked eighth and faces Morinville at 7 p.m. Thursday.
• The Rimbey Spartans represent the Central zone in the 2A boys’ playoffs in Didsbury.
The Spartans clash with Calgary Christian at 4:45 p.m. Thursday with the winner meeting Didsbury at 11 a.m. Friday.
• Central Alberta Christian High School of Lacombe competes in the 2A girls’ championships at Prairie Christian Academy in Three Hills.
CACHS, who are ranked ninth, takes on eighth-ranked Calgary Christian at 11 a.m. Thursday with the winner advancing against No. 1 ranked Immanuel Christian of Lethbridge at 10:45 a.m. Friday.
Prairie Christian is ranked No. 2 and received a bye, facing the winner of F.P. Walshe and La Crete at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
The final is set for 7:30 p.m.
• Hay Lakes represents Central Alberta in the boys’ 1A finals at Heritage Christian Academy in Calgary while Bawlf, Daysland and the host Ryley squad will compete in the 1A girls’ championships.