Sports

The KSS Owls hope to climb one rung higher when they host the 40th annual Interior Savings Western Canada Basketball Tournament.

The Owls, who have won the tournament just once finished second a year ago, losing 91-85 to the Harry Ainley Titans out of Edmonton.

KSS was the number one ranked team in the province when the tournament opened a year ago.

The 2013 version of the Owls find themselves the #7 ranked AAA boys squad in the province.

They will have to contend with a pair of top five ranked schools in BC, Walnut Grove from Langley (#3 19-3) and the Kits Blue Demons out of Vancouver (#5 18-3).

The number 8 ranked WJ Mouat Hawks from Abbotsford will also be at the tournament along with two schools from Alberta and two from Manitoba.

The Owls, minus 2012 stars Mitch Goodwin and Braxton Bunce still have six players returning from last year's second place team.

Despite one of the toughest schedules of any team in the province the Owls (13-6) find themselves ranked seventh in the province.

The Owls will face Jon Taylor Collegiate Pipers out of Winnipeg in their opening game at 8:15 Thursday.

The feature game follows the Power-104 Slam Dunk Contest set for 7:30 Thursday.

The tournament kicks off at 2:30 Thursday as WJ Mouat faces St. Francis Xavier from Edmonton.

The tournament wraps up with the final Saturday at 7:45.

All games will be played at the KSS gym.

Check out the schedule here.

Photo: Contributed