The George McDougall Mustangs High School Basketball Team will be playing host to the Third Annual Hoops Classic Tournament starting today (February 7).  

Airdrie will be represented by the hosts along with the W.H. Croxford Cavaliers in the boy's 3A tourney.  Trochu, Olds, Springbank, Strathmore, Canmore and West Central are the other teams taking part.

Mustangs Head Coach Mike Neilsen said the teams are a mix of those who've competed in the tournament prior to this year, as well as a few newcomers.  "Croxford has attended every single year.  They're a competitor in the City of Airdrie for us so that's always great to have them attend.  Strathmore's also returning this season.  So there's a few that are coming back and we have a few new additions as well."

The tourney tips off with the first game at noon when the host Mustangs take on Trochu.  Games will go at one hour and 45-minute intervals this afternoon.  When it comes to favourites in the tourney, Neilsen says Strathmore will be hard to beat.  "I would think that Strathmore would certainly be considered to be one of the favourites, it not the favourite this year. They're a provincially ranked 3A team with predominantly returning players.  One of the most talented and athletic teams probably in the province this year.  Certainly very, very exciting to watch."

The Mustangs this season are a young team with nine of the 12 players playing senior varsity for the first time said Neilsen.  He thinks best part of the Mustangs this year is their chemistry.  Neilsen said they've already moulded into a family.

"We have a lot of youth, but it's talented youth, combined with three mature and experienced senior players who've really led the way in terms of maturity and what that transition is like from JV (junior varsity) to senior ball.  It's been a process for us, as we expected, but we have a very, very tight group of boys who are very much a family, really committed to each other and to the process."

The tournament continues until tomorrow.  The Consolation Championship game will go at 3:30 pm while the Championship Final is set for 7:30 pm.  Admission is free and the public is welcome to take in the action.  

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