The stage is set for an exciting weekend of high school basketball in Saskatchewan as the provincial championships, known as Hoopla, tip off this Thursday in Moose Jaw and continue through Saturday. The defending champions in the top 5A divisions enter the tournament with perfect records and high expectations for repeat performances.
Undefeated Favorites Seek Provincial Glory
The Holy Cross Crusaders senior boys from Saskatoon and the LeBoldus Golden Suns senior girls from Regina both completed their respective city campaigns without a single defeat. These dominant performances have positioned them as the clear favorites heading into this weekend's provincial showdown at Hoopla, where they will face the best teams from across Saskatchewan.
Boys Division: Holy Cross Aims for Continued Dominance
The Holy Cross Crusaders enter Hoopla as the number one seed, a familiar position for a program with remarkable recent success. Over the past eleven provincial championships, the Crusaders have advanced to the final five times, capturing titles in 2025, 2023, and 2019. Their primary competition appears to be second-seeded Prince Albert Carlton, though Carlton has never reached a 5A division final at Hoopla.
Potential Championship Preview: If these two teams meet in the final, fans can anticipate an intense battle reminiscent of their February encounter, which Holy Cross narrowly won 72-69.
The Walter Murray boys, seeded third at Hoopla, have already demonstrated their upset capabilities during the postseason. After entering Saskatoon playoffs as the sixth seed, they pulled off multiple upsets to earn their current position.
The Regina boys division experienced its own version of March madness during city playoffs. Fifth-seeded Miller defeated top-seeded LeBoldus in the semifinals before claiming the city title, while sixth-seeded Sheldon Williams and seventh-seeded Martin both eliminated higher-ranked opponents in dramatic fashion.
Quarterfinal Matchups Set the Stage
The boys 5A division quarterfinals feature compelling matchups:
- No. 1 Saskatoon Holy Cross vs. No. 8 North Battleford Composite
- No. 2 Prince Albert Carlton vs. No. 7 Regina LeBoldus
- No. 3 Saskatoon Walter Murray vs. No. 6 Regina Sheldon Williams
- No. 4 Regina Miller vs. No. 5 Prince Albert St. Mary
Girls Division: LeBoldus Pursues Historic Three-Peat
The LeBoldus Golden Suns enter Hoopla as perhaps the heaviest favorite in any division. Led by nationally-recognized standouts Nicola Meban and Hayden Kot, the Golden Suns have dominated every provincial opponent this season. They now aim to become the first girls 5A team since Holy Cross (2010-2012) to win three consecutive provincial championships.
Historical Context: It's worth noting that LeBoldus's first title in this potential three-peat comes with an asterisk in the record books. The Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association hand-selected finalists in every division during 2024 due to teachers' job action across the province.
Saskatoon city champion Walter Murray and Holy Cross have both faced LeBoldus during the Golden Suns' impressive three-season run, with neither team managing to secure a victory. The Crusaders, seeded fourth, would potentially face the top-seeded Golden Suns in the semifinals, while the second-seeded Marauders could earn a championship game rematch against the favorites.
As teams from across Saskatchewan converge on Moose Jaw for this weekend's Hoopla championships, all eyes will be on the undefeated favorites from Holy Cross and LeBoldus as they attempt to cap perfect seasons with provincial glory.
