For the past couple of years, a new January sports tradition has emerged in Yorkton as the city hosts some of the best high school basketball teams at the end of the month in the annual York City Classic that marks the return of the basketball season after the break for semester one finals.
A combination of the former prestigious Yorkton Regional High School and Sacred Heart High School Invitational tournaments, the two gym event gives both schools one of the best tournaments in the province while allowing the city to show of its two quality high school gyms and basketball teams each year.
This year will mark the fourth year in the tournament and while the schools have had mixed success, with the best finish for a Yorkton school being the Raiders heartbreaking overtime loss in the 2012 tournament to eventual provincial champion North Battleford, both schools always step their level of play up a notch to defend home court and both schools will have intriguing rosters to follow this weekend.
For the Saints they will be led by Grade 12 forwards Carter Ruff and Jaedon Pellatt who have emerged as consistent scorers from both inside the paint and from three point territory. Sacred also has the post presence of David Ojo, a 6'5" center who leads the team in blocks and has a soft touch around the rim.
The YRHS, after back to back 4A bronze medals at Hoopla have a group of talented young faces that coach Jason Payne will be hoping to build to similar success as a new era making their YCC debuts.
Guards Ryan Krochak, Nick Payne and Alex Popoff all have multiple years left with the Raiders, as does the majority of their new look team. Seniors Tyrell Ulmer, Braden Oystrick and David Balysksy will be looking to end their Raider careers on a high note starting with their last York City Classic.
Want to know more about the 2013/14 Raiders/Saints? Read our complete player bios below.
2013/14 Sacred Heart Saints
Brody Kormos - gr. 10 player
- Rookie of the year on the Saints 2013 football team
Tremendous rebounder and defender in the post
Evan Gleason - gr. 10 forward
- Enjoys playing football
- His focus is on defense and rebounding
Bryan Buzinski - gr. 10 point guard
- He likes to take the outside shot
- Was the MVP of his junior team
Zach Sutian - gr. 10 point guard
- 4 time champion of his high school league in the Philippines
- Intense defender
Jonah Sutter - first year basketball player
- A very good track and field athlete that likes to take the ball to the net
Caleb Sutter - gr. 11 guard/forward
- Been working on his outside shot and enjoys spending time with the team
David Ojo - gr. 11 center
- He is a consistent double/double player
- Rookie of the year in 2013
Tannum Wyonzek - gr. 11 guard
- He won a provincial title with his hockey team in 2011
- He has worked hard over the year to improve his game
Riley Anderson - gr. 11 forward
- First year basketball player
- Likes to shoot from outside and rebound the ball
Jaedon Pellatt - gr. 12
- 3 year player with the senior team
- MVP of the volleyball team
- Outside shooting and driving the ball
Carter Ruff - gr. 12
- 3 year player
-2 time provincial champion in soccer
-Outside shooter and perimeter defense
Garrett Betker - gr. 12
- 3 year player
-Ball handler and good court vision
-Was runner up to the Yorkton Elementary basketball title
Jared Buzinski - gr. 12
- 3 year player
-Won defensive MVP of the football team
-Loves to drive the ball to the hoop
2013/14 YRHS Raiders
#5 Clyde Mariano Guard
- Clyde is a first year Raider who is a very explosive athlete.
- He excels at using his athleticism on the offensive end of the floor.
#33 David Balysky Guard
- David is in his second year with the team and has improved his shooting to go with his solid defensive play
- David was the MVP of the Raider Gridder Football team and is hoping to continue playing football after high school
#12 Tyrell Ulmer Forward
- Tyrell is in his second year with the team and his stepped his offensive game to go with his physical defensive play.
- Tyrell also played linebacker for the Raider Gridder football team
#4 Ryan Krochak Guard
- Ryan is in his first full year with the Raiders and has played very good defense
- Ryan is also a wideout for the Gridder football team
# 7 Alex Popoff Guard
- Alex is in his second year with the team and has done a great job of rebounding for his size.
- Alex was also one of the top Receivers in the Moose Jaw Football League this season.
Grade 11's
#6 Braden Oystrick Guard
- Braden is in his second year with the team and has been a good leader this season.
- Braden is also the SRC President this year.
# 13 Adam Wyonzek Forward
- Adam is also in his first year with the Senior Raiders.
- He has worked hard and is becoming a solid two way player.
#44 Jesse McDowell Forward
- Jesse is in his first year on the senior team
- He has worked hard to improve his overall game
- Jesse is also a slotback on the Raider Football team
#9 Nick Payne Guard
- Nick is in his first year with the Senior Raiders and has had a good season at the Point Guard position
- Nick was also the QB of the Junior Gridder Football team.
#8 Caleb Bymak Forward
- Caleb is a first year Raider who is becoming a powerful player under the basket.
- He also started at Linebacker for the Senior Raider Gridders
#10 Jon Muir Forward
- Jon is a first year member of the team and has done an excellent job on the defensive end.
- Jon also played Defensive End for the Raider Gridders.
#15 Peter Kozushka Forward
- Peter is in his first year with the team
- He is becoming a solid post threat
- Pete is also one of the Top Left Tackles in the Province as a member of the YRHS football team.
#14 Earl Langan Forward
- Earl is a first year Raider who brings great hustle to the team
- He has been slowed by a knee injury suffered in football
#11 Tyson Black Guard
- Tyson is also in his first year with the team
- Tyson is having a good rookie season and is becoming a solid outside threat.
- Tyson is also an excellent baseball player
Groups/Tournament Schedule
Friday Round Robin Schedule
Group A
PA Carlton
YRHS Moosomin
Group B
PA St. Mary
Moose Jaw Vanier
Lumsden
Group C
Weyburn
Swift Current
Melville
Group D
Melfort
Sacred Heart
North Battlefords
GYM A- Yorkton Regional
GYM B- Sacred Heart
12:00pm
YRHS vs Moosomin (Gym A)
Vanier vs Lumsden (Gym B)
1:40pm
Swift Current vs Weyburn
Sacred Heart vs Melfort
3:10pm
Moosomin vs Carlton Lumsden vs St.Mary
4:50pm
Weyburn vs Melville Melfort vs North Battleford
6:30pm
Carlton vs YRHS St Mary vs Vanier
8:10pm
Melville vs Swift Current North Battleford vs Sacred Heart
Saturday (Playoff Round)
Saturday's schedule will be determined following Friday evening's pool play. Early games will tip starting at 10:00 a.m. at both gyms.
