The only thing for certain heading into the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association regional championships this weekend is that there will definitely be at least one new finalist in the 4A boys division.
That’s because one of the teams in that title game -- the Peacock Toilers -- saw their school population increase enough to move them into the 5A division this season. And as part of that, the Toilers are in action this weekend as hosts of their regional qualifier all day Friday and Saturday.
Games kicked off at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, with the event featuring 10 teams from throughout the province, including top seed Prince Albert Carlton, Prince Albert St. Mary (second), Lloydminster (third), Peacock (fourth), Yorkton Regional (fifth), North Battleford Comp (sixth), Weyburn (seventh), Estevan (eighth), Warman (ninth) and Balgonie (10).
Warman defeated Estevan 77-41 in the tournament opener and face Prince Albert Carlton in their quarter-final.
Peacock -- who won the Moose Jaw city championship on Tuesday night -- face Yorkton at 2:45 p.m.
The top two teams from the regional final at 7 p.m. Saturday advance to Hoopla, joining the winners of the bronze medal game at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The defending provincial 4A boys champion Central Cyclones are once again the top seed in the province and are hosting their three-team regional. Martensville faces Regina Scott on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to face Central in the regional final at 12 p.m. Saturday
The city champion Vanier Spirits are also hosting their 4A girls provincial qualifier, with the second-seeded Spirits opening against 15-seed Saskaskohc at 6 p.m. at the Ned Andreoni gymnasium.
Melville (seventh) takes on Regina Johnson (10th) in the other regional semifinal at 8 p.m., with the regional final at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Central Cyclones are seeded sixth in 4A girls and are in Melfort, where they face 11th-seed Yorkton Sacred Heart in their opener. The Vanier Vikings are the sixth seeds and at Saskatoon Marion Graham, where they face Tisdale in their regional semifinal.
The Peacock Toilers are seeded fourth in 5A girls and are in Lloydminster, where they take on Yorkton Regional in their first game. As with the boys tournament, the top three teams will advance to Hoopla, joining the top three from Saskatoon and top two from Regina.
The Assiniboia Rockets are the ninth seed in 3A girls and take on Creighton in their opener in Lanigan.
All regional qualifiers advance to the Hoopla provincial basketball extravaganza, which runs Friday and Saturday next week in Prince Albert.
