Bragging rights are again up for grabs at the annual Abbotsford Police city basketball tournament, which tips off at gyms all over town starting on Wednesday.
The senior boys division is jam-packed and features 10 teams battling it out for the first time ever.
The two-time defending champion Yale Lions look to make it three straight, and will have to go through Abbotsford Christian, Dasmesh, Abbotsford Traditional, St. John Brebeuf, Bateman, Hansen, Abbotsord Senior, MEI and Mouat.
The Lions begin the defence of their crown against Bateman on Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. The first three days of senior boys action all occurs at Abbotsford Senior.
The senior girls division will feature a new champion, as the 2016 winners from Abbotsford Senior will be playing in the Tsumura Basketball Invitational in Langley.
The Panthers defeated Yale in last year’s final. This year’s draw includes Yale, Bateman, St. John Brebeuf, MEI, Hansen, Mouat, Abbotsford Christian and Abbotsford Traditional.
The Abbotsford Senior gym also hosts the senior girls draw, with games getting underway Wednesday at 1:45 p.m.
The Mouat Hawks look to defend the junior boys title and take on teams from Abbotsford Senior, Bateman, Hansen, Yale, MEI, ACS and ATSS. Yale hosts the junior boys draw, which kicks off Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The Bateman Timberwolves will have early home court advantage as they try to repeat as junior girls champions. Bateman battles squads from Hansen, Yale, SJB, Abby Senior, MEI, ACS and Mouat. The junior girls division tips off on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Bateman.
Over in west Abbotsford, Hansen hosts the Grade 9 boys division, which was won by the Mouat Hawks in 2016. Bateman, Abby Senior, MEI, Yale, ATSS, SJB and Hansen are all competing. Games get underway at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Only two teams are competing in the Grade 9 girls draw, as Dasmesh challenges Hansen. That game will occur on championship Saturday (Dec. 16) at 9 a.m.
The Grade 8 boys draw features teams from W.A. Fraser, SJB, ATMS, Chief Dan George, MEI, Reimer, Abby Middle, ACS, Clayburn and the defending champion team from C.G. Howe. MEI hosts the Grade 8 boys, beginning Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The Fraser Falcons aim to defend as Grade 8 girls champions against CDG, ATMS, SJB, Reimer, ACS, Abby Middle, Howe, MEI and Clayburn. Abby Christian hosts the division kicking off on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Division games continue at the venues until Friday, with the remaining two teams advancing to championship Saturday at Columbia Bible College. Games run all day starting at 9 a.m.
For more on the tournament, read Wednesday’s print edition of the Abbotsford News.