The Steveston-London Sharks senior girls basketball team will be getting a steady diet of potential playoff opponents when it hosts the Fourth Annual Bob Carkner Memorial Classic, starting Thursday.
The eight-team draw is chock full of Lower Mainland schools, including two each from Burnaby/New West and the North Shore leagues. The Sharks open play against Burnaby's Byrne Creek at 3 p.m. A win would set-up a Friday night (7 p.m.) semi-final match-up against Riverside (Port Coquitlam) or West Vancouver. The other side of the draw features Burnaby South and Carson Graham - along with a pair of Richmond schools - McMath Wildcats and Hugh Boyd Trojans.
The Wildcats (4-0) and Sharks (2-0) are the only remaining unbeaten teams in the Richmond league. Burnaby South defeated Steveston-London 62-51 in the opening round of the Telus Classic back in early December. The Rebels are 10th in the latest provincial "AAA" rankings. The final tips off at 5: 30 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Sharks and Hugh Boyd Trojans could be adding to their long rivalry in this tournament on the boys side, dating back to the days when it was known as the Purple and Gold Classic at Steveston High.
Last season, the Trojans pulled out a dramatic 76-75 victory on a buzzer-beater shot. Boyd opens play Thursday against Prince of Wales, while Burnaby Central and North Kamloops are also on their side of the draw.
The Sharks will play Kitsilano's "B" team at 4: 45 p.m., then face Valleyview or Burnaby North in a potential semi-final match-up at 8: 40 p.m. Friday.
The boys final goes at 7: 15 p.m. Saturday.
