The Fulton Cup, the city's unofficial basketball championships, begins Wednesday at the Tournament Capital Centre (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

FULTON CUP

Fulton Cup returns after year off, players excited to get back to playing city’s unofficial basketball championship

Dec 14, 2021 | 4:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been two years, but the city basketball championships are back on at the TCC.

After a year off due to COVID, high school players across Kamloops will be able to play on the big stage.

“I think it’s just knowing everybody, the rivalry between all of us,” said Westsyde senior boys player Cailen Hamilton. “We’ve all played each other since Grade 8, so we all know each other pretty well and it’s just tough competition. It’s fun to get out there.”

Margaret-Jean Willis from NorKam added, “It was kind of bummer not playing last year, but I’m really excited that we really get back for this year. I really appreciate the comradery with our teams to come together. We end up doing a Secret Santa or White Elephant every year with our team, so it’s a really cool bonding experience.”

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The tournament starts on Wednesday and runs through Friday with the junior and senior finals. “I think it’s just so great for the kids. It’s something they look forward to,” said tournament organizer Will Blair. “But as coaches and fans, I think it’s something we look forward to, too. Sports is something that grounds us. It’s a difficult time right now, and it’s something we look forward to. I gets us out and gets us excited.”

The players, more than getting to play on the big court, are just excited to be back to somewhat normal season. “Basketball’s something that is a fun hobby of mine and I enjoy playing, so it was hard not to be able to do that [last year],” said SouthKam senior boys player Derek Buemann. “Even not to have the practices. This [Fulton Cup] tournament, too, was big. Not being able to play that was definitely a hit.”

The Sa-Hali Sabres won the senior boys and junior girls championship in 2019 — the last time the Fulton Cup was played — while Valleyview Vikings are the defending senior girls champions.

“I’m super excited about this tournament,” said Valleyview senior girls player Jaya Saroya. “Our senior girls, we’ve won two years in a row now, so I’m hoping to get back in the groove and hopefully take it home again.”

Fulton and Company will provide a $300 bursary to a senior player on each team — as well as the senior boys and girls MVP — altogether worth more than $4,000.

In terms of capacity, there will be full attendance allowed during the Fulton Cup tournament, granted spectators are fully vaccinated.