ESTEVAN - The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs senior boys' basketball team hosted teams from across the province for their annual home tournament on Friday and Saturday.
Teams from Oxbow, Weyburn, Melville, Yorkton, Prince Albert, Lloydminster and Balgonie joined the host team for the tournament.
ECS opened against what coach Trevor Dutka called a "very strong" Lloydminster team and lost 104-84. Then they lost by four, 68-64, against the Oxbow Prairie Horizons School Black Knights, but recovered to defeat Balgonie Greenall by 12, 74-62, in their final game.
The tournament had a strong field, as Lloydminster and the teams from Prince Albert and Yorkton will likely be top teams at regionals, Dutka said, while Melville and Oxbow have a good chance of making it to provincials in their respective divisions.
"The only way you get better is playing better competition, pushing yourself and getting challenged, and although we only won one game this weekend, we definitely improved throughout the weekend."
Dutka noted Balgonie is a team they could be playing during a qualifier for the Hoopla provincial basketball tournament.
He was pleased with how the young players performed during the tournament. The senior boys' team has four Grade 12s, two Grade 11s and six Grade 10s. The team played well offensively.
"We wanted to make sure our offence and defence was moving forward, and that's basically what we've been trying to do all year. We've been trying to improve every weekend and improve every week in practice."
Last year's team had seven players who were together for three years, he said. This year it's been a longer process to reach the level they want, but Dutka said they're making strides.
"The Grade 10s are definitely learning a lot and enjoying themselves this year, and that's all we can ask for. They're looking forward to the future."
The tournament was the Elecs' fourth this season. They have upcoming competitions in Yorkton and Moose Jaw, and the annual McLeod Series showdown against the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles, which also includes the senior girls' basketball teams from both schools, is slated for the first half of February.
