After a long preseason, the basketball teams at Olds College will begin playing in earnest, starting with the Western Canadian Championships the teams are hosting this weekend.
An open championship, the tournament will feature seven teams on the men's side and four on the women's, including both OC men's teams and two OC women's team for the first time ever.
Other teams scheduled to compete on the men's side include Grande Prairie Community College which is bringing its ACAC side and its developmental team. ACAL teams include the two Olds squads along with St. Mary's and Ambrose with Red River College from Winnipeg also slated to take part.
The women's draw features two Olds College sides along with ACAL rival St. Mary's of Calgary and Red River.
Games are slated to begin Thursday at 2 p.m. and continue through to Saturday night at both Frank Grisdale Hall gymnasium and the health and wellness centre at the CLC.
The event coincides with Parent/Alumni Weekend at the college and features a social event on Friday evening.
For the basketball teams the tournament serves as a launch into the ACAL regular season, which begins this month.
