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The junior boys basketball team got off to its start over the weekend during the Yorkton Regional High School junior boys volleyball tournament.

The tournament invited five teams to play. Moose Jaw Peacock, Western Christian, Centennial, Thom Collegiate, and Weyburn.

The YRHS dropped their first game on Friday afternoon to Moose Jaw but rebounded to win their second game that day against Western Christian.

Their 1-1 record had them in second place in pool 'A' along with Moose Jaw and Western Christian.

The Regional played Thom Collegiate in the 'B' side game and nothing looked right for the Regional in the game's opening 10 minutes.

"They took a 12-2 early but we battled back," observed Perry Ostapowich, coach of the team, before adding that the lead changed hands maybe once in the opening half.

"We kept battling."

The defence turned out a strong performance, too, says Ostapowich, noting that physical size is something that his team will need to use to their advantage to improve.

One of them is a hulking skyscraper named Peter Kozushka.

"He's got size, right?" coach Ostapowich points out.

"Eddie Schramm did really well and Alex Popoff," adds coach Ostapowich, of the students in Gr. 10 and 9 respectively.

Ostapowich noted that the Thom Collegiate game was a challenge because their players had plenty of size too.

"They are big, too," he said, "but it was defence" he said of their ability to keep the score close.

"The boys worked hard." Ostapowich added that this tournament was a great way to start the season and the team's goal of working on the defence was certainly met.

"Fundamentals are always the key."

The junior YRHS squad had 11 players competing this weekend and are coached by Ostapowich and Eric McDowell.

The team is also made up of both Gr. 9 students alongside of six Gr. 10 students.