After the final weekend of tournament play and preparation now it really matters for high school basketball teams.
The North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior boys team finished the tournament season with a victorious weekend on their home court and now, like the rest of the province turn their attention to conference playoffs, which are the first step to reach HOOPLA March 22 to 24 in Regina.
NBCHS and John Paul II will both be competing in Meadow Lake for the 4A boys' conference 3 playoffs. The other teams there include Meadow Lake and Kindersley and the top two teams will advance from the conference playoffs to regionals.
On the senior girls' side, the NBCHS team, which has lost just twice this season, goes into conference play as a heavy favourite. NBCHS gets a first round by and will face the winner of John Paul II and Martensville. Meadow Lake, Saskatoon Bedford Road, Swift Current and Kindersley will also be competing in Kinderlsey for the conference playoff.
Unity will host one of seven 3A boys' conference playoffs, as they will compete against Spiritwood, Eagleview and Turtleford.
Luseland will host Spiritwood, Maidstone, Minahik Waskahigan and La Loche in 3A girls' conference 3 playoffs Friday and Saturday.
At the boys' 2A level there are just five conference playoffs, which will result in 16 teams moving forward to regionals. Maidstone will host Lashburn, Big River, Stobart, Minahik Waskahigan, Blaine Lake and Macklin.
Wilkie will host one of eight 2A girls' conference playoffs, as Unity, Lashburn and Rossignol will be fighting for the top two spots and chance to move forward to regionals.
At the 1A boys level, Maymont and Glaslyn are among the six teams that will be at Thunderchild for conference 3 playoffs. Chief Poundmaker will also be competing on Friday and Saturday in Thunderchild. Luseland and Borden will also be playing in one of the eight conference playoffs this weekend.
St. Walburg will host the 1A girls' conference 3 playoffs Saturday. Paradise Hill, Thunderchild and Turtleford will join the host school for the four-team tournament. Borden, Glaslyn and Edam will travel to Canwood along with Hepburn for the 1A conference 7 playoffs as well.
