According to the tournament’s organizer Mike Kirkham, the tournament is about promoting the game of basketball locally, keeping students active and interested in the game.

Having been involved with youth basketball for over two decades, Kirkham noted that the tournament is a great way of getting kids to enjoy playing basketball because it involves players of roughly the same skill level, which has resulted in a lot of close, competitive games so far.

Featuring five teams from four small schools in the region, the tournament involved one team from ESSC, two teams from St. Mike’s High School in Low, Que., one from Woodland School in Maniwaki and another from the Cité Étudiante de la Haute Gatineau.

While the schools involved don’t have big basketball traditions, Kirkham explained that getting the schools involved with the sport is the first step towards them building something bigger.

“It’s about promoting the sport,” he said. “I know our teams and they are good. But if we went into the RSEQ we probably would’ve struggled. So, I think it’s better that we set up something on our own.”

When Kirkham arrived in the region last year, the tournament took place over one day only. Now, with four days of competition, the kids play at least eight games per year, which almost matches up with the amount of games schools in the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RSEQ) play in a season.

“It’s decent,” he said. “You can practice all you want but until you’re in a game situation the kids don’t know what to do.”

Consisting of a round robin tournament with each team playing the others twice, the event will take place on four separate dates throughout the schoolyear. Games are played over an hour and 10 minutes of running time.

Normally, the tournament also involves more schools. But with problems finding coaches, this year, Kirkham decided to roll with five teams instead. He added that he would like to get Dr. Wilbert Keon School in Chapeau and Kikinamadiman School in Kitigan Zibi involved in next year’s tournament.

The next set of games is scheduled for Dec. 5 at St. Mike’s.

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