Yorkton was well-represented at the Canadian Basketball U15-U17 Nationals held recently in Winnipeg.
Yorkton Regional High School players Ben Redl and Daniel Mandziuk were part of the Team Saskatchewan Under-15 team in the tournament.
For both Redl and Mandziuk, being a part of such a huge tournament was incredibly memorable.
"It was an experience like no other. I couldn't believe how well done it was," Redl recalls.
Mandziuk agrees, "It was a great experience, I got to probably play against some of the best players in Canada so I got a lot better."
Making the Provincial team was the culmination of a lot of hard work for both guys.
Mandziuk and Redl had tried out for the team last year unsuccessfully and were driven to show their stuff this time around.
"I was just eager, I actually really wanted to make the team," Mandziuk emphasizes.
Despite a winning record, the Saskatchewan team came away from the tournament without a medal. Redl and Mandziuk were both a little disappointed with the result.
"We finished 4-2 but we lost to a team by about 10 points which could've put us in the medal round," Redl laments.
Mandziuk says the team was capable of achieving at least a bronze medal.
"I wish we could've made it into the medal round. We could have probably had a chance at bronze if we played to our full potential."
Although the result left something to be desired, the event was a successful one from an individual standpoint.
Redl, a natural centre, says that he relished the chance to grow his game against bigger and taller players.
"I was up against people (who were) taller and bigger, but (I) battled through it, I guess. I thought I played pretty well," he reflects, ""You learn a lot there."
Mandziuk's playing time was slightly diminished due to an ankle injury but he still achieved the goal of earning a starting role.
"I was a starter, I played most of the first game but I came into the Nationals with a ankle injury. I injured it the weekend before in a tournament, so I was playing on a sprained ankle," he details.
The biggest beneficiary of all from this Nationals experience may be the YRHS Senior Boys basketball team - which Redl and Mandziuk play important roles on.
Jason Payne, the Raiders Head Coach, says that the exposure to that calibre of play was invaluable.
"This opportunity to compete against the best players their age in Canada is an enormous opportunity. Not just from challenging themselves against the best that our country has to offer but also the confidence that it gives them when they come back to compete against the best our province has to offer," he says.
Heading into their second year on the senior team, Redl and Mandziuk are both expecting to take on more of a role.
Payne says that the boys dedication to the game will work in their favour.
"The amount of time they put into the game leads to respect on the team and certainly we'll be counting on them a lot this year."
Mandziuk, the Raiders starting point guard, says that he will let his play do the talking.
"I'm going to try to lead by example and do my thing," he states.
With the Nationals experience fueling them, Redl says that improving on the Raiders record from last year is paramount.
"We didn't have a great season last year and I know we'll do a lot better this year."
Mandziuk has some goals in mind.
"Definitely I would like to make it to Regionals," he mentions, "I just want to get a lot better from what we did last year."
As a parting thought, Redl wanted to give a special thanks to his coaches for contributing to their success - particularly Tony Hayden and Coach Payne.
