The Creighton Kodiaks are gearing up for their first home basketball tournament of the season.
The senior girls will welcome seven schools this coming weekend as they hope to work their way to the top of the A side finals.
Teams will eliminate the round-robin play often found in tournaments and head right into bracket play.
The Kodiaks are scheduled to start the tournament Friday afternoon with a game against Frontier Collegiate, from Cranberry Portage.
The winner of the game will advance to the A side while the loser will head to the B side bracket.
Each team will be guaranteed three games over the course of the two-day tournament.
The Kodiaks hold a 5-4 record heading into the weekend.
Coach Ryan Trumbley hopes to see the girls play well.
“Win or lose, I want them to run their stuff,” he said. “Normally we’re pretty defensive and [we’re getting] our offence [stronger]. Our philosophy is defence first.”
Trumbley expects his team will fare well in the tournament.
“All of them [are players to watch],” said the coach. “I really like that we’re deep. Everyone can play.”
Trumbley says having a strong all-around lineup is often intimidating to other teams who may only have three or four players they rely on.
“We can have a different leading scorer every game,” he said.
The Kodiaks will be in the bracket draw with seven other teams, but they won’t see all teams on the court.
Trumbley says he would like to see the Kodiaks and Hudson Bay compete for the A side title, as they are in the same conference.
“But we have to get past Cranberry Portage first,” he said, noting that the first game really dictates where the Kodiaks will end up. “And we haven’t seen Cranberry yet this year.”
Sandy Bay, which has struggled in the past, is also a strong competitor this year. Under the guidance of a new coach, the Timberwolves have stepped up their game.
“They are phenomenal,” said Trumbley.
The Kodiaks will start off the tournament with Friday’s match-up against Cranberry Portage and carry through with games at Creighton Community School until the finals on Saturday evening.
