Four teams from local high schools will be chasing provincial championships this week.
Provincial games will begin on Thursday (Nov. 24) and will include Salisbury Composite's highly ranked senior men's and women's teams as well as Strathcona Christian's senior men's and women's teams.
Salisbury is expecting a lengthy run; their boys' team went undefeated in their season and is one of the favourites to win the provincial title.
Both teams will be duking it out in the 4A division tournament.
They kick off their tournament tomorrow in Lethbridge with three games on the docket:
- 12 p.m. vs. Hunting Hills
- 2:30 p.m. vs. Centennial
- 5:15 p.m. vs. Magrath
Head coach Mark Van Drunen knows that other teams will be looking to prove something against them.
"Since the beginning of September, we have been ranked number one, so the target has been on our back since then," said Drunen. "Expectations since then have been to win cities and win provincials."
The Salisbury women's team enters with lofty expectations as well, ranking only behind Lindsay Thurber. Their pool-play schedule looks like the following:
- 1:15 p.m. vs. Strathcona
- 4 p.m. vs. William Aberhart
- 6:30 p.m. vs. Lindsay Thurber.
Head coach Grant Melnyk is eager for the girls to show what they are made of on the provincial stage.
"Lots of confidence with our group going into this weekend," said Melnyk. "The feelings and vibes around our team is quite good."
The Strathcona Christian men and women will both be in the 3A tournament.
The men are ranked as the sixth seed in the tournament and will open pool play on Thursday with two games:
- 1:30 p.m. vs. Barrhead Composite
- 6:30 p.m. vs. Cochrane High School
The women come in as the seventh seed in their pool, they also have two games on tap for Thursday:
- 1:30 p.m. vs. Peace Wapiti Academy
- 5:15 p.m. vs. Springbank High School
Playoff rounds are expected to get underway Friday for Salisbury and then on Saturday for Strathcona Christian.