INUVIK - If you want to show off your skills on the basketball court, get some friends and sign up for the annual Samuel Hearne school tourney.

Darryl Day, front, takes the ball past Ben Wright during a recreational basketball game. Players all over town are preparing for the upcoming Samuel Hearne tournament on Feb. 15. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The annual event will take place on Feb 15-17.

Each year, the staff and students of Samuel Hearne open their doors to the community and to visiting teams from the region.

Phys-ed teacher Josh MacKenzie said planning is underway for this year's showdown.

"We've sent out invitations to the outlying communities," he said.

"We want to drum up some interest from the other communities."

MacKenzie added the students of Samuel Hearne are also preparing for the in-house playoff.

"Our students are playing in two divisions," he said.

MacKenzie said he is looking for additional teams to come out of the woodwork from in town to play.

"We're hoping to get a few more adult teams from in the community," he said.

Vice-principal Lorne Guy said the school has already received verbal confirmation from Paulatuk and Aklavik.

"Aklavik was here last year and Paulatuk came to our volleyball tournament earlier in the school year," said Guy.

In order to keep a friendly rivalry between the elementary school and high school, Guy said a team of Grade 7 athletes will also take on a group of players from Sir Alexander Mackenzie.

"We've been working with the coaches of the other school to make some teams of both girls and boys," said Guy.

He added that any adult women's teams would face the senior high girls squad.

There will also be an adult male bracket, like last year.

Guy said getting the younger girls in the school to join is often challenging.

"We'll have a good mix of junior girls and boys teams as well," he said.

"Last year, we had three pools, an older mens, an older womens and one for the younger boys."

Last year, the tournament had 68 participants which made eight teams.

"Last year, we had a good team come in from Tuk who played against the girls from our school," he said.

In the 2007 tournament, a team of staff members from Sir Alexander Mackenzie came into the playoff and won the final game.

Guy said he has something special waiting for them, should they return for their glory.

"The staff at Samuel Hearne is also looking to put a team in for this year," he said.

Guy said this year they want at least 12 teams playing all weekend.