The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the closure of two of their schools, the Catholic Board of Education’s Primary Schools 2014 Basketball League will be decided between just four schools.

And with the amalgamation of the St Bede’s Crushers and Our Lady’s Blue Flames into the four remaining schools, league director Vanta Culmer said the door is wide open for the Xavier’s Giants, the St Cecilia’s Strikers, the St Thomas More Sparks and the St Francis/Joseph Shockers.

The quest for this year’s title is scheduled to begin 3pm today at Loyola Hall, Gladstone Road, following the opening ceremonies when all four teams - Giants, Strikers, Sparks and Shockers - are expected to be in action.

The boys will all play after the reintroduction of the girls division between the four teams.

“This is going to be very interesting seeing that a number of players from both schools that closed down are playing with the other four schools,” Culmer said. “So the competition will be spread out evenly in each school and I really don’t know what to expect until I see that first ball tip off.

“But from what I’m hearing and what I see on paper, there seemed to be some strong teams out there. And with the girls’ division being reintroduced, it will be interesting. We are looking forward to a competitive season in both divisions.”

Today’s opening matches will feature Xavier’s against St Cecilia’s in the girls’ opener, followed by St Thomas More against St Francis/Joseph. The boys’ matches will be played in that same order afterwards.

“I haven’t really watched anyone play, but I think it’s going to be evenly matched and very interesting,” Culmer said. “By the middle of the season, I think we would be able to have a better assessment of who is the team to look forward to this year. It’s just that tight.

“As for the girls, the coaches are saying that there is a lot of skills to be developed, but they all should be on an even playing field, so it should be very interesting to watch them when they compete. I think when we start, the first team to shoot will probably win.”

In recent times, just about all six teams had at least one girl on their boys team, but it appears as if all four teams will be in a resurgence as none of those girls who participated in the past are still in the primary school system.

Once the season gets started today, two games will be played every Tuesday and Thursday until Friday, February 28 when four are on tap.

The regular season is scheduled to be completed on Tuesday, March 25. The sudden death playoffs are set for Friday, Mach 28.

The best-of-three championship series is set for Tuesday, April 1 with game one in both the girls and boys divisions. Game two is on Thursday, April 3 and if necessary, the third and deciding games will be on Friday, April 4.