A player from SaskHoops Elite in Saskatoon carries the ball up the court as an opponent presses on defence during a game at the Rock the North regional basketball tournament at Prince Albert's SaskPolytech campus on April 26, 2025. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Basketball

‘Rock the North’ basketball tournament a huge success

Apr 28, 2025 | 11:31 AM

Around 500 athletes and coaches representing 36 teams from around the province were in Prince Albert this weekend for the ‘Rock the North’ regional basketball tournament.

Spread across U11, U13, U15, and high school levels of competition, play began on Friday and wrapped up Sunday afternoon with games being hosted at both Carlton and St. Mary High Schools, and at Sask Polytech.

Executive Director for the Prince Albert Community Basketball Association Jim Guidinger said this tournament was the largest that they’ve ever hosted.

“We’ve held a tournament in Prince Albert the last couple of years that was smaller in nature,” he explained. “This year, we’ve sort of rebranded and brought the ‘Rock the North’ to the picture. Along with that, it’s really grown from last year where we had 21 teams.”

A player with the Prince Albert Lakers looks to pass the ball during a game against SaskHoops Elite at St. Mary’s High School. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

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Teams from all over Saskatchewan participated, coming from communities like Moose Jaw, Regina, Kindersley, Saskatoon, Melfort, and of course, Prince Albert.

Guidinger said they’re already looking to next year and planning on making it bigger and better.

“There’s space to make [the tournament] a bit bigger in Prince Albert with our current infrastructure of gymnasiums. We can’t make it that much bigger, but there’s definitely space to make it a bit bigger and we have some plans of adding some new elements to it,” he said, also hinting at possibly adding a skills competition to the festivities along with some live music.

“There are little elements like that that help with the atmosphere and give it a good vibe.”

Local teams fared well in this year’s tournament, with the Prince Albert Lakers winning silver in the U11, U13, and U15 Gold divisions.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

On Bluesky: @loganlehmann.bsky.social