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Double Tournaments Heat Up School Courts

Basketball fever hits Outlook over February 1-2
Derek Ruttle
Derek Ruttle

The weather outside may have been cold, but the action on the basketball courts at both Outlook and LCBI High School were red hot over the weekend.

Over at OHS, the Blues senior boys team played host to their 2nd annual Hoops Classic, welcoming the Kindersley ‘B’ Kobras, Kenaston Kodiaks, LCBI ‘B’ Bisons, and Eston Mustangs to Outlook.  The action started after school on Friday, February 1, where Kenaston defeated Outlook at a score of 59-47, followed by LCBI beating Kindersley at 69-43, and the Blues coming back to win their second game against Eston at a score of 55-40.

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The Outlook Blues battled the Kenaston Kodiaks in afternoon action on Saturday, February 2. - Derek Ruttle

The eventual winner of the Hoops Classic would be a local team, just not the hosting one when the LCBI ‘B’ Bisons took the 1st Place title.  The Outlook Blues ended up taking 3rd Place.

Over at LCBI, the weekend saw the maroon-and-gold squad host their 41st annual Bisons Home Tournament, welcoming teams from Kindersley, Kawacatoose, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Biggar, Eatonia and Shaunavon, while Briercrest bowed out of the tournament on Friday afternoon.  LCBI’s win on Friday night against Shaunavon saw the team propelled into a championship-slot-deciding game against Biggar on Saturday afternoon, and the supercharged Bisons wound up victorious when they beat the Blazers at 80-48.

The other team that seemed destined to go to the championship final was the Kindersley Kobras, who defeated Kawacatoose and Ill-a-la-Crosse to snag the second spot.

On Saturday night, the Bisons and the Kobras played their hearts out with the championship up for grabs.  Momentum swung both ways at times as each roster dug deep to turn the tide.  The fired-up crowd only added to the electric atmosphere, and soon the Bisons were ahead on the score clock.  Undeterred, the Kobras sunk some impressive three-pointers and found a second wind, and soon LCBI fans were biting their nails at the possibility of Kindersley tying things up or even overtaking the hometown team.

In the end though, the Bisons persevered and found themselves the winners of their home tournament by beating the Kobras at 71-57, the first time since 1998 that LCBI has achieved this victory.

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The LCBI Bisons wound up the winners of their home tournament, the first time since 1998 that they've been victorious in the invitational event. - Derek Ruttle

Amidst the cheers, smiles and celebrations, it became clear over the weekend that with two tournament wins at both schools in Outlook, the LCBI Bisons boys basketball roster may just be the team to beat when playoffs roll around.