Coached by Randy Emmerson and Scott Manson, the Crusaders team includes: Everett Moccasin-Bourke, Tucker Prodaehl, Josh Climenhaga, Mason Wilson, Colton Golding, Jacob Sawatzky, Caleb Klassen, Zane Litzenberger, Landon Stonestand, Draco Pamaran, Clarence Ermine and Emerson MacCuaig. (Image Credit: Facebook/ Carlton Senior Boys Basketball)

By Nigel Maxwell

Basketball

Carlton makes history with second place finish at HOOPLA

Mar 30, 2026 | 8:52 AM

Entering the 5A provincial basketball championships, the Carlton Crusaders Seniors Boy’s Basketball Team knew they were underdogs and they were also fully aware of the fact no team before them had ever made the medal round.

But this year’s talented team took that as a challenge and proved all their naysayers wrong, finishing second and narrowly losing to a juggernaut that never been beaten by any team from Saskatchewan. The final score of Saturday’s final game was after overtime, 102-97 in favor of Holy Cross.

At the half, Carlton trailed 54-34. Point guard Emerson MacCuaig told paNOW when the team gathered in the locker room, the conversation was centered around a desire to just play their game.

“We knew that wasn’t the best we could do,” he said. “It was jut kind of a lock in moment and knowing this was our final game and if we gave it our all, things would eventually start to go our way.”

McCuaig finished the game with 28 points. Over the course of the three-day tournament he averaged about 32 points per game.

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“My role is to come and score the basketball. So I felt good with how I played.”

Carlton was solid from the free throw line. (Image Credit: Submitted)

MacCuaig’s basketball career won’t end this weekend. Next year he has signed on to play with King’s University in Edmonton.

“I’m very proud and happy with how it ended. We wanted to win, but for a rural team that has never done that before, I thought it was a very good experience,” he said.

In the final game, Zane Litzenberger scored 29 points.

“You know, we were the underdogs in that game, they haven’t lost a game to a Saskatchewan team so for us to come back after down 20 at halftime, give them a battle, force overtime, and then just coming up short was probably one of the best things we could have done,” he said.

Recalling his own experience in the locker room at halftime, Litzenberger said all the graduating players, knowing it was their final game, realized they had a lot more energy left in the tank.

“After a dunk and some made shots and again, fans were cheering for us and then everything kind of just started going our way,” he said.

Next year Litzenberger, an accomplished multi-sport athlete will play football for the University of Regina Rams.

Prior to facing Holy Cross, Carlton defeated Regina Sheldon Williams 86-75 and Regina LeBoldus 91-76. Assistant Coach Scott Manson noted when the team last appeared at HOOPLA in 2025, they didn’t quite reach their goal, and when they learned they’d be playing Holy Cross, they knew it would be a challenge.

“To give them the game we gave them, we’re nothing but proud. We can’t leave this season with anything but pride and just a sense of we achieved something,” he said.

Reflecting back on the final game, Manson recalled how the boys never gave up, even when they were still down 16 points entering the final quarter. With about six seconds left, Clarence Ermine tied the game up with a layup. Manson said the atmosphere was incredible.

“Just being in that gym was something definitely special, like the way our crowd was responding to everything that happened. It felt like we had home court advantage. There were so many people rooting for us, it was awesome.”

More results and winners

5A: St Mary boys lost in the consolation final, Regina Leboldus won the girls’ championship

4A: Moose Jaw Central (Boys), Harvest City (Girls)

3A: Regina Christian School (Boys), Wynyard (Girls)

2A: St Brieux (Boys), Preeceville (Girls)

1A: Porcupine Plain (Boys), Norquay (Girls)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell