The Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) senior boys basketball team will be competing in Hoopla this weekend.
The team will be packing up to leave for Regina in two days' time.
As a result of a 70-44 St. Patrick's Day win over Miller Comprehensive School of Regina, YRHS has qualified to play in this year's SHSAA senior boys' provincial tournament.
The YRHS led Miller 18-11 after the first quarter despite Miller jumping out in front early in the quarter. Then they led 38-21 at the half.
"As long as we play how we have been," suggests YRHS forward Tanner Kardynal, they should be okay.
"It kind of depends a little on who we play," insists coach Jason Payne, before adding how important it is that (we) "just keep doing what we're doing."
Shooting guard Tyler Boychuk hinted at the possibility of another date with one of Saskatchewan's high-tempo offences they've run into in the North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
"We could have another stab at North Battleford," points out Boychuk, licking his chops.
"We battled them," he said talking about January's overtime showdown between the two schools.
This will be Boychuk's first time at Hoopla. The YRHS are scheduled to play Central Collegiate of Moose Jaw when the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletics Association (SHSAA) provincial basketball tournament starts on Friday.
The Miller game started out looking like a nailbiter.
"I thought we were going to have to work really hard," insisted Payne after a 70-44 victory on home floor.
He wasn't the only one.
"I thought we were going to have a really tough game," adds Kardynal, who noted that the visitors backed off near the end after taking a lead early in the first quarter.
"I could tell they weren't trying as hard (as the game went on)."
The two teams were both ranked in the top-5 going into Saturday's game, the Regional in four and Miller in fifth spot.
The only teams ahead of them were Moose Jaw Central, Prince Albert's St. Mary and the North Battleford Vikings. Against Central Collegiate, Kardynal said they will "have to be good defensively." Boychuk said four teams will advance to the provincial tournament.
In the first game of the regionals late on Friday, the Regional played the Weyburn Comprehensive Eagles.
They won 72-56.
