Crusaders forward Luke Huddlestone reaches for a loose ball while in between Marauders defenders Sam Kiunga and Nnamdi Ndubuka during a game back in March 2022. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

BRIT

Carlton boys basketball team set to take the court at 53rd annual BRIT

Jan 13, 2023 | 8:00 AM

This weekend is the 53^rd annual Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT) which sees Prince Albert’s Carlton Crusaders make their first-ever appearance.

This is the first installment of Western Canada’s premiere high school basketball tournament in two years after the pandemic forced BRIT to sideline the event due to the pandemic.

On BRIT’s official website, event officials wrote a small paragraph welcoming the Crusaders to their first tournament.

“A huge welcome to the Crusaders from Prince Albert’s Carlton Comprehensive, who are making their first-ever BRIT appearance,” the post read.

“Coached by Tom Hazzard, Carlton Comprehensive features nine returning players, and three rookies. It has been an inspiring year for the team so far. No doubt one of their biggest accomplishments was making their first trip to HOOPLA in 23 years! Their small team is known for playing fastball, as they use their team speed to pressure the opposition at both ends of the court. Their ability to play multiple styles makes them a dynamic challenge, as does their ability to hit shots from all over the court. They are here with a purpose: to capitalize on. Good luck Crusaders!”

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The Cru will join 11 other premier basketball schools from across Western Canada, ranging from British Columbia to Manitoba.

The list of competitors includes Collingwood School (Vancouver, BC), Elgin Park Secondary School (Surrey, BC), Raymond High School (Raymond, AB), St. Francis Xavier High School (Edmonton, AB), Vincent Massey Collegiate (Winnipeg, MB), Martin Collegiate and Michael Riffel High School (both Regina, SK), and Holy Cross High School, St. Joseph High School, Walter Murray Collegiate, and Bedford Road Collegiate (all Saskatoon).

This year’s tournament features four former BRIT champions. The host Bedford Road has participated in every tournament since its founding but shockingly, the Redhawks have only won it once and that was at the first-ever tournament in 1968.

Out of all the teams participating, Saskatoon’s Holy Cross has the most tournament victories, winning three past tournaments in 1997, 2003, and 2004 while Saskatoon’s Walter Murray also has a championship, winning their only title in 1990. The fourth and final school is Edmonton’s St. Francis Xavier, which is the most recent of winners at the tournament having won it all in 2017.

Carlton’s quest for their first BRIT tournament championship begins on Friday at 5 p.m. against Regina’s Michael Riffel High School Royals. All games will be live-streamed on BRIT’s official YouTube channel.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann