Inuvik (Jan 19/07) - If you know a basketball team in a nearby community that wants to play competitively, call Lorne Guy.

Guy is the vice principal at Samuel Hearne and is also organizing a basketball tournament for the weekend of Feb. 2 to 4.

"We're hoping to get teams from all over the Beaufort Delta," said Guy.

The tournament will resemble the volleyball tournament hosted by Samuel Hearne school last fall.

"This tournament will be structured nearly the same way as our volleyball tournament was," said Guy.

Different divisions have been made for age groups: adult, 19-under and ages 13 to 15.

Guy said there will be two parts to the tournament: the traditional competitive game of 5-on-5, and a skills competition with one-on-one games.

"Most of the competitive games will take place at Samuel Hearne," said Guy.

He said the tournament was initiated by the Samuel Hearne sports committee to boost active living.

"We wanted three tournaments this year," said Guy.

"Volleyball was hugely successful," he said. "We hope basketball and later this spring, soccer, will be as fruitful."

For Guy, getting teams from the outlying communities is important at this stage.

"We are good for local teams, there are plenty signed up, but we want to see players from other communities," said Guy.

"I hear about old sports rivalries between Inuvik and other towns, that should come back."

Basketball player Rory Gordon is looking forward to playing against other players, regardless of where they are from.

"We have the best team on paper going into the tournament," he said. "I'm a competitive person who likes to win."

Gordon has been keeping his skills honed by playing recreational basketball with friends twice a week.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie vice principal Jason Dayman is also involved in the tournament.

His group of younger players under the age of 12 will have their own activities and games scheduled during the weekend.

Dayman said there are 60 participants in the mini-ball league. Each player is set to receive their own jerseys and ball as well.

Dayman said the junior group is led by teacher Colin Murphy. They meet on Tuesday afternoons to practise their drills and on Saturday afternoons to play games against each other.

"The group started five weeks before Christmas and will be playing for the next six weeks," said Dayman.

"Right now they are working on player development, talking about shooting and defensive sides. This will be good practice for the grade six players before they leave for the Cager tournament in Yellowknife."