The North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior boys' and girls' basketball teams are no strangers to the HOOPLA scene.
The girls went from losing in regionals in 2009 to fourth at provincials the next year and earning bronze last season.
The boys won gold in 2009 and '10 and were fourth last season. They are hungry again for a provincial title.
"We are looking for gold," said girls' coach Bryan Cottini adding, "If we play our best it is a goal we can achieve."
Both teams have high expectations and several players and coaches have experience at provincials. Both teams have proven time and time again this season they can win the big games.
Both teams hosted the regional playoffs on the weekend and, for both teams, the tournament went according to plan.
The girls beat Moose Jaw Central 91-23 in the semi final and Melfort 67-32 in the final.
They advanced to HOOPLA and take to the court Friday at 12:45 p.m. NBCHS will face Moose Jaw Peacock, who enter the weekend ranked fourth, while the Vikings are the top ranked team in the 4A division.
Cottini says the depth of his team and the experience of most of his starters will be the keys to the weekend. The Vikings hope to be playing in the championship game, which is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. at the University of Regina.
The NBCHS boys emerged from what their coach Jamie Sommerfeld called the toughest regional playoff bracket. The Vikings beat Nipawin 74-43 in the regional semifinal and faced Yorkton Sacred Heart in the final. NBCHS fell behind 10-2, but later rallied with a 21-0 run. The Vikings went on to a 76-65 win.
The Vikings' regional gold medal moves them to provincials as the second highest ranked team. They will face their conference rival from Meadow Lake.
Sommerfeld said mental toughness will be important for his team on the weekend, as they have beat every one of the teams at provincials. However, Moose Jaw Central, the top ranked team, has their number with two wins in the three games between the teams this season.
The boys will be on the court in the same gymnasium as the girls, Friday at 2:30 p.m. The 4A boys' championship game will be played Saturday at 3 p.m.
NBCHS is just one of seven schools to have both their boys' and girls' teams playing at HOOPLA this weekend.
