This weekend the basketball season kicks off for HCI. The senior boys head up the road to St. Brieux for their first tournament. The senior boys are a young team with only three Grade 12's on the roster but I think they've got a good shot to go far. A lot of the boys on the current roster have been playing since Grade 9 which I think is great for the boys. You need to have the experience to go far in High School Hoops and I think since the majority of the boys have played since Grade 9 that's really good for experience. It should be a good year for them. 

The senior girls also open up the tournament portion of their season this weekend with their home tournament. The senior girls played an exhibition game on Tuesday at HCI losing a close effort to Middle Lake. There are eight teams at the HCI tournament: Lake Lenore, Middle Lake, Kenaston, Melfort, Meadow Lake, Warman, Wynyard and of course the Mohawks. The Mohawks also have a very small amount of Grade 12's with just four but those four were on the team that just two years ago finished fourth at Hoopla which is the Provincial Championships for basketball in Moose Jaw. That, in my opinion, gives the Mohawks a strong advantage going into this year. As now they can use that experience to pass on to the Grade 9's, 10's and 11's to help them with this year and for upcoming years. 

Overall it should be a good year for basketball at HCI. Obviously, basketball is one of the "Big 4" sports at HCI along with Football, Volleyball and Track, and Field so a lot of people in and outside of HCI will be paying attention to the games. Being a Grade 12 student myself I hope both teams do well as I want to see my classmates look back and be happy with their result at the end of the year as it can be emotional once the year is over and realizing you will not be there next year to support your teammates. I know that personally from football as I shed a few tears after we lost knowing that I wouldn't be with the program next year and being there since Grade 9 it can be emotional. But those topics are for another day. It's an exciting team as we head into a brand new season at HCI.