By Glenn Hicks

Countdown underway for Hoopla 2018 in P.A.

Mar 19, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Organizers of this week’s Hoopla provincial high school basketball tournament are expecting over a thousand visitors to descend on Prince Albert.

The event, which starts Thursday, will feature the best teams from around the province playing at venues across the city.

“There are 48 teams involved,” Tournament Commissioner Rylan Michalchuk told paNOW. “Anywhere from rural communities to small cities to Regina and Saskatoon, it’s one of the biggest events that the SHSAA hosts.”

Schools compete in categories based on their size, from 1A rural schools up to 5A city schools. Each team will bring coaches, family, friends and fans, Michalchuk said.

“All of our hotels have blocked off rooms and we have several local sponsors who’ve donated money,” he said.

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For Michalchuk, the tournament is not only a showcase for the city of Prince Albert, but it will highlight its sporting pedigree as well, offering visitors a chance to see a number of different venues. Adding to the local buzz is the fact that two local teams have qualified; the Carlton Crusaders Girls in the 5A championship and Birch Hills Marauders Boys in 3A.

“It’s significant to have two local teams because, unlike other sports events, teams don’t automatically qualify for Hoopla just because they’re the hosts,” Michalchuk said. “Any time a team qualifies for an event like this it’s such a great experience for high school athletes and coaches.”

The two local teams are fully aware of the magnitude of making it into this special tournament in their own backyard.

“It’s crazy; it’s only Monday and I’m already nervous for Thursday’s game,” Grade 12 student and Crusaders point guard Payton Izsak told paNOW. “We’re looking forward to having our friends, family and fans there at home.”

Izsak said she expects the noise level and intensity to be such a major factor, the team will be practicing this week with loud music playing in the gym.

For Birch Hills Marauders point guard Levi Rask, the event is the culmination of everything they play for.

“This is our playoffs. It’s the big reason why we want to play,” the Grade 9 student said. “It’s the one thing we want to accomplish after all the tournaments and games we play all year.”

Playing just up the road in P.A. will almost be like a home tourney for his squad, Rask said.

“We’ll gets lots of friends and family who’ll come and watch and get to eat our own food and sleep in our own beds. We’re pretty confident going into things,” Rask said.

paNOW will have more information leading up to Hoopla 2018, including coverage of the opening press conference Wednesday in the CPAC at Carlton High School.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow