The provincial title quests for the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings basketball teams came to an end Thursday at this year's Hoopla tournament in Prince Albert.
Both sides were knocked in the 5A quarter-final round, as the girls dropped a 84-65 decision to the Centennial Chargers of Saskatoon and the boys came out on the losing end of a 80-72 affair to the Holy Cross Crusaders of Saskatoon.
Having moved up a level for this year's tournament after winning a bronze medal in the 4A category last season, the Vikings girls team held a 37-29 lead at halftime but could only watch as the Chargers controlled the play for the final 20 minutes.
Mia Cottini led the way for the Vikings with 34 points, while Kaitlyn Jockmis paced the Chargers offence with 33 points.
Meanwhile, the Vikings boys squad found themselves with a 64-57 lead after the third quarter but the Crusaders outscored them by a 23-8 margin in the final frame to earn a spot in the final four.
Ben Carlson took charge for the Crusaders with 22 points, while Damon Dutton had 23 points for the Vikings in the loss.
Both teams will now gear up for consolation semifinal games Friday, with the boys taking on the Regina Campbell Tartans and the girls going up against the Saskatoon St. Joseph Guardians.
