Sask. basketball teams set sights on provincial titles as Hoopla returns

After a one-year hiatus, Hoopla is once again ready to tip off in Saskatoon.

The provincial high school basketball tournament, which runs from Thursday through Saturday, brings together dozens of teams from every corner of Saskatchewan together as they compete for a provincial title.

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“We’re going to be in four buildings over the weekend. It’s going to be a huge event,” said Jud Heilman, one of the organizers of the tournament.

“Thank goodness we’ve got an army of volunteers in each of our buildings and great site and host co-ordinators. We’re really excited.”

Heilman and his army of volunteers are in charge of running 54 basketball games, handing out 10 provincial championship banners in the process.

“We’ve got 48 teams from all over the province. Every corner of the province is essentially represented at Hoopla,” Heilamn said.

The games over the next three days will be played at four high school gymnasiums across the province: St. Joseph High School, Centennial Collegiate, Marion M. Graham Collegiate and Bethlehem Catholic High School. Those gyms will see hundreds of basketball players and thousands of students and family members pass through their doors over the coming days.

Heilman said he feels like there’s a bit more buzz around this year’s edition of Hoopla due to the one-year break. Sanctions by Saskatchewan teachers during the contract dispute with the provincial government resulted in the 2024 tournament being scaled back to a single-day event.

He said the tournament means a lot for people across the province.

“Hoopla is always one of the biggest events in the calendar. Saskatoon hasn’t hosted since 2019. COVID kind of delayed a few things, so it’s our first time in a while,” Heilman explained.

“I know we’re pretty excited to be having the province’s best basketball teams show up and give it their all and put everything on the line for a championship on Saturday.”

“I think it’s just the size and scope. Other provincial championships spread throughout the province, and here you get all categories in one centre.”

All of the games of the tournament will be streamed on the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association’s website.

The first games of the tournament begin on Thursday at 6 p.m., with eight games being played at four different gyms throughout the city.

The action on Friday begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 8 p.m. at all of the gyms across the city.

The championship final games are set for Saturday.