The number one ranked "AAA" senior girls basketball team in the province will be seeing double duty this weekend as it attempts to defend its title at the 2012 Bob Carkner Classic.
The Riverside Rapids will be returning to the eight team event at Steveston-London secondary school and also participating in the high-profile Top 10 Shootout at Centennial secondary in Coquitlam.
So why is the Port Coquitlam school going through the trouble of playing two tournaments at once? For starters, the Rapids have plenty of depth to pull it off and the Carkner Classic has a special meaning to a couple of team members.
Carkner's son, Mike, is a member of the Rapids coaching staff, while his granddaughter Natalie is the team's starting point guard and was the tournament MVP a year ago.
Carkner passed away in August 2009. He was a principal at four different Richmond schools - Steveston, London, Hugh Boyd and Richmond High - for 22 years and instrumental in the development of basketball in the city.
A year ago, the Rapids skipped the Top 10 to play at Steveston-London but didn't want to miss out on the tough competition and maintaining their number one ranking.
"Believe me, they are deep enough to be coming here and still be the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament," said Steveston-London Sharks head coach Les Hamaguchi. "We all know why this tournament is special enough for them to make the effort to be here.
The host Sharks would love to meet the Rapids in Saturday's championship game. They are off to a solid 3-0 start in league and are led by U17 national team player Anmol Mattu who, amazingly, is in her fourth year of playing at the senior level. Steveston-London should have little trouble with John Oliver in its opening game tomorrow night (8: 15 p.m.) but face a stiff challenge in a potential semi-final date with the Terry Fox Ravens, who are part of the top tier Fraser Valley League.
"They are in a similar situation to us where they are close to be included in the provincial rankings," added Hamaguchi.
"Sure you want to be in the final of your own tournament but we know it's not going to be an easy road to get there."
Hamaguchi added he hopes the tournament provides a springboard heading into the homestretch of the season as the Sharks attempt to take a serious run at earning a provincial "AAA" tournament berth - something a Richmond school hasn't achieved since 2001.
The Lower Mainland zone is solid as ever with four teams in the top 10 rankings, including perennial "AA" powerhouse York House which has opted to move up this season.
Meanwhile, the Carkner Classic boys draw features plenty of local flavour with four teams participating. The host Sharks are joined by the Cambue Crusaders, Hugh Boyd Trojans and Richmond Colts.
Steveston-London opens against John Oliver on Thursday afternoon (3 p.m.) with a potential semi-final match-up with Richmond High looming on Friday night (8: 40 p.m.) The Colts edged the Sharks 82-81 in league play back on Dec. 13. The final is slated for Saturday at 7: 15 p.m.
