EDMONTON — Teams from Quebec, Ontario and B.C. have set the early pace in the older division of the Canadian boys' Under-15 and Under-17 national basketball championships, flexing their offensive muscle and dynamic defence.
Quebec, Ontario and B.C. are all 2-0 after two days of play in the Under-17 championship, while Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba are all 2-0 in the Under-15 championship.
The national championships, being played at the Saville Community Sports Centre in the Alberta capital, include teams from every province in the country. The tournaments conclude Saturday with medal games. The 2020 and 2021 championships were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
B.C. defeated Manitoba 125-96 on Tuesday, to go with a 119-54 win against Newfoundland & Labrador in Monday's opener. Ontario got past New Brunswick 76-61 on Tuesday after bouncing Saskatchewan 83-58 on Monday. And Quebec beat Saskatchewan 91-68 on Tuesday after an opening-day 103-45 victory over New Brunswick.
In other Tuesday games, Alberta outlasted Nova Scotia 87-72, Nova Scotia beat Manitoba 105-91 and Alberta dunked Newfoundland & Labrador 86-69.
On the Under-15 side, Saskatchewan outlasted B.C. 125-119 in a Tuesday thriller. The Prairie squad opened the tourney Monday by dumping New Brunswick 91-75.
Host Alberta beat Nova Scotia 97-77 on Tuesday after opening the tourney with a 57-44 win over Ontario on Monday. And Manitoba beat Newfoundland & Labrador 83-70 on Tuesday. Earlier in the day they edged P.E.I. 70-66 in a nail-biter.
In other Tuesday games, Ontario tripped Quebec 83-71 and B.C. beat New Brunswick 78-57.
The tournament wraps up Saturday with medal games in both age divisions.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2022
The Canadian Press