Teams from across Alberta will face off on the court in a three-on-three invitational style basketball tournament at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre on April 17.
The event is two years in the making, according to Cochrane Basketball League event organizer Bryan Verdillo. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, he is looking forward to finally getting the chance to show off all the up-and-coming basketball talent Cochrane has to offer.
"There's a lot of young talent from Cochrane," said Verdillo. "Our population is booming and the talent is booming as well."
The Cochrane Basketball League will showcase athletes from 12 teams in the tournament's U20 and open categories in front of spectators, business sponsors, scouts, and agents alike.
"I want to use this platform to expose our athletes and local talents from Cochrane and surrounding areas," said Verdillo. "We want Cochrane Basketball League to become the benchmark for these athletes."
The Cochrane Basketball League, formerly known as the Cochrane Ballers, won first place from 2016 to 2018 in their inter-town league.
Verdillo said the Cochrane High Cobras winning the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association 3A basketball provincials earlier this year is another great example of the town's overall skill level and dedication to the sport. Both Sam Smilski of the Cobras and Pao Cuesta of the Bow Valley Bobcats will be featured in the U20 division, along with teams from Calgary, Banff, Canmore, Airdrie, Bragg Creek, Okotoks, and Red Deer.
"We invited all the surrounding areas' basketball organizations and some are sending their elite players in high school and in their towns," said Verdillo.
The tournament's format will pit teams of five against each other, with three players per team on the court at a time, in 20-minute games.
Teams will race to a score of 21 in a double-knockout format with trophies and cash prizes available at the end. There will also be raffles for sponsor-provided sports gear.
Verdillo encourages parents of players and other spectators to attend in support of Cochrane and area's up-and-comers.
"We are so excited and the players are preparing for this," he said. "I'm calling out those parents to support their kid and their hobby.
"Maybe [basketball] is their dream that they want to chase and the Cochrane Basketball League can be that bridge for them."
The league has previously hosted basketball training clinics and has plans to do more down the road. Those interested can stay up to date on events through their Facebook page.
Registration has closed for the tournament which is set to begin at 11 a.m. and wrap up around 6 p.m.
