The Lake City Basketball Club is hosting a key tournament in its second season.
The club will host a national club championship qualifying tournament, with nationals being in Vancouver. The girls tournament for age groups under-13, -15 and -17 will be April 22 to 23. The boys tournament for the same age groups is April 29 to 30.
“We’re getting in on the ground level, which gives us a chance to host a high profile event for years to come,” said Lake City Basketball director Chris Terris, adding they have teams from Alberta, Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver. “We’re optimistic that there will be some great basketball in Penticton come April.”
Terris said this is a new initiative started by the VK Basketball in Vancouver. In August, they’ll host the first national tournament with teams coming from as far away as the Maritimes.
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Terris added this will give their athletes a chance to compete against highly skilled players in the top programs in B.C. and Alberta. Terris added as an organization, their mandate is two-fold: continue to develop the basketball culture in the South Okanagan and provide competitive situations for their most passionate players.
“Hosting this caliber of tournament can help us in both those regards,” said Terris.
Lake City Basketball held identification camps earlier this month and had 130 players trying out for six levels. They will have teams in the under-13, -14, -15 and -17 age groups for girls and under-13, -15 and -17 for boys.
Teams will participate in tournaments in the Lower Mainland (SFU, 3D), Kamloops (TRU) and Kelowna (Heat, KMBA). Lake City Basketball also had 45 players register for the 3-on-3 league and created a wait list.