Future university hoops stars competing for national title
Posted: July 25, 2017 6:00 a.m.
Members of Team Manitoba take time for a photo at the Dr. Lloyd Barber Academic Green. The team is competing at the 2017 Canada Basketball 15U national championships. Photo courtesy of External Relations
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Maltha Uwambajimana felt warmly welcomed to the U of R the moment she approached the campus for the first time.
Uwambajimana is a member of the Manitoba Girls basketball team competing at the annual 15U Girls and Boys Canada Basketball 15U national championships held at the University.
“It is very nice here. The sign at the entrance makes you want to come into the campus,” says Uwambajimana. “And when you walk into the campus, I like the trees and the flowers. It’s just really beautiful.”
The U of R is hosting girls and boys teams from nine provinces July 24 – 29.
All the games are being played at the Centre for Kinesiology Health and Sport.
Uwambajimana’s teammates agree the campus is beautiful but they are also looking forward to competing.
“The campus is very nice,” says Alyssa Porco. “I’m pretty excited. We’re hoping to do really well and if we work as a team then we will be fine.”
The tournament is organized each year by Canada Basketball, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game at the grassroots and elite level.
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| Members of the 15U boy's team representing Saskatchewan say it's "awesome" that the national basketball tournament is being held at the University of Regina. Photo - External Relations |
For fans, this tournament is an opportunity to see university hoop stars of the future.
“Everyone on our team last year would have played in previous U15 championships,” says Dave Taylor, coach of the U of R Cougars’ Women’s Basketball team. “The majority of my team in 4 to 5 years will be players who played in this tourney. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our facility to future recruits. It’s one of the most important events for me to watch.”
Steve Burrows, head coach of the Cougars’ Men’s Basketball team, agrees.
“My involvement is strictly as an observer. Gathering names that you would potentially speak to in the future,” says Burrows. “It’s always great to have the best basketball players of any age group in your city and having the chance to show off our great facilities.”
The games are at the U of R thanks in part to the efforts of Basketball Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan girls team includes players from Regina, Saskatoon, and Warman. The boy's roster includes players from Biggar, Meadow Lake, Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon. If you can't make it to the University, every game is being live-streamed by Canada Basketball here.
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