Basketball fans will be flocking to Olds High School and the Community Learning Campus this weekend, March 16-19, to take in the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association (ASAA) 3A Girls and Boys Basketball Provincial Championship.
This prestigious competition represents the highest level of 3A high school athletics, and for the nearly 400 student athletes, will be the pinnacle moment of many basketball careers.
Unlike previous years in other locations, both the boys and girls tournaments will take place in Olds over the weekend, making this a tournament of vast proportions and impressively intense level of play. Twenty-four teams, including our very own Olds Spartans, will play their hearts out to be called the best in Alberta.
Opening ceremonies for the tournament will take place Wednesday, March 16. A banquet will be held including VIPs, coaches and players. It will also feature world ringette champion coach and former local resident Lorrie Horne as a guest speaker.
Entertainment for the ceremonies will be provided by the Olds Elementary School choir as well as our own town crier. We are tremendously proud of our local talent and the hometown flavour will start the tournament on the right note.
Competition begins Thursday, March 17, with games being played at Olds High School (Ralph Klein Centre gymnasium), Olds College (Frank Grisdale Hall) and Didsbury High School gym.
To accommodate the numerous games that must be played leading up to the provincial final, tournament days are long.
Thursday will see action from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday's games will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday, play runs from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., culminating with the allocation of the ASAA championship pennants.
Everyone is encouraged to check out the games, especially if you come to cheer on the Spartans.
Up-to-date game information, live streaming, and specifics about the tournament can be found online at the ASAA 3A girls/boys provincial basketball host site. A quick link to this site has been set up on the Olds High School main page, www.oldshigh.ca.
These sites will be updated frequently to keep local and visiting basketball fans connected with teams, results and venues.
At the gyms, special keepsake programs will contain team information as well as coupons for dining and shopping around Olds. Keeping the fans linked to the event and the community has been a priority for Olds High School as hosts of this tournament.
Since the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, dedicated student and staff volunteers have been eagerly preparing to host these provincials.
The generosity of local businesses and the overwhelming support of Olds and area residents have been key in creating a tournament that is not just rewarding for the student athletes, but also an overall enjoyable experience for all who come through our school and community.
Countless hours have gone into making this vision a reality, and Olds High would like to express sincere gratitude for all local support. It is a pleasure to showcase our locale in this way on this provincial stage.
The ultimate goal of all the preparation has been to provide a comprehensive positive experience: a few days of thrilling basketball as well as friendly interactions with the 2,000 guests we anticipate will come to our town.
We also hope it will create happy memories for the students who will look back on their days as high school athletes with a smile.
To all those who have helped us, and will help us, thank you. We hope to see you courtside this Thursday to Saturday.
Wanda Vandervelden
Olds
- Vandervelden is the Olds High School athletic director.
