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Hoop hoop hooray: High school hoops underway

High school basketball takes flight this week with several Tri-City teams participating in early tournaments.

High school basketball takes flight this week with several Tri-City teams participating in early tournaments. The senior boys teams from Pinetree, Riverside and Port Moody secondary schools are playing in the Big Ticket Tournament that started Monday and wraps up tomorrow (Friday) at 16 sites across the Lower Mainland. 

Thursday, the top seven senior boys AAAA teams —and 11 of the top 15 — will converge at Heritage Woods and Centennial secondary schools, as well as Eagle Mountain middle school, for the annual Kodiak Klassic.

The Centennial Centaurs are ranked fourth heading into the season and the host team, Heritage Woods, is an honourable mention in the pre-season poll.

Kodiaks’ coach Gregory Schellenberg said the assembly of top teams is a good litmus test to see where each stands.

“Competing against the top teams in the province is how you get better,” Schellenberg said. “I also shows us what we need to work on.”

Now in its ninth year, Schellenberg said the Klassic has become a destination tournament. In fact, the last six years, the eventual provincial AAAA champion started its season at the Heritage Woods tournament.

“Over the years we’ve worked extremely hard to ensure everyone has a great experience,” he said. “It’s one of those tournament where coaches are contacting us because they want to be in it.”

The tournament wraps up Saturday with the championship game at Heritage Woods at 6:15 p.m.

For a full schedule go to kodiakklassic.ca.

Look for The Tri-City News’ preview of the the local boys season next week.