Highly touted Clippers ready for regionals challenge

By Lethbridge Herald on March 13, 2025.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad The ClippersÕ Emma Martineau looks for a passing option during practive on Thursday.

By Alexandra Noad

Lethbridge Herald

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The LCI Clippers senior varsity basketball team are set to host the south regional portion of the 4A provincial championship after taking the zone title last weekend.

This year, the Alberta School’s Athletic Association (ASAA) has changed the format of high school basketball provincials from a 16-team tournament into four regionals, with the winners of the two games this weekend heading to a final-four style tournament in Calgary next weekend.

This means that if any of the teams lose a game this weekend, their season is over.

Darren Miller, head coach for the LCI Clippers, says with the south region being one of the strongest regions of the four, the pressure will be on, but it shouldn’t affect the team as they have been playing with the pressure of being one of the top teams in the province all year.

“I think there’s going to be a little extra pressure, but I don’t think it’s going to impact my girls at all; we’ve been playing under pressure for most of the season.”

Along with having home court advantage this weekend, Miller believes the girls will benefit from the slower paced tournament this year. He says in previous years the teams would battle through four games in a single weekend, sometimes even two in one day.

“With the old format, with four games being played over one weekend, it always seemed to have two tough games on the Friday that you had to play through to get to the finals, so this new format does alleviate that part.”

With the Clippers having 10 Grade12 players and going 8-0 in their league play, along with another perfect 13-0 in tournament play, they are one of the favourites in the provincial tournament.

Miller says the team has a lot to live up to and expects his team to leave everything on the court in the upcoming tournament.

“I know in the last few games, I don’t think our girls have shown people what their potential is, I think we’ve been playing good, but I still know and believe in my girls that they have even more to have when it comes to it and I think it’s all going to come together this weekend.”

The Clippers are set to host Holy Trinity Academy from Okotoks on Friday at 5 p.m.

Other southern Alberta teams participating in the tournament include both boys and girls representing Magrath Raymond and Cardston teams. Magrath Zeniths will also be hosting their regionals.

Tickets and livestream can be purchased at www.asaa.ca.