Keeping up with what has become an annual tradition in southeast Saskatchewan, the Fillmore Falcons girls basketball team is going to compete at HOOPLA in Saskatoon this Friday and Saturday, March 21-22.

"We're going for three in a row," said Falcons coach Greg Lendvay, whose stellar basketball team has won the 1A provincial championship in 2001 and 2002.

In 2001, the Falcons defeated Bengough for the provincial title in Moose Jaw. Last year, they crushed Eatonia at the finals in Regina.

The Falcons start this year's run at HOOPLA against Kenaston at St. Joseph High School on Friday, starting at 11 a.m.

The girls are ranked No. 1 going into HOOPLA, but this year's competition promises to be tougher than ever; Lendvay said they have a really small bench this year, and there's an inexperience factor.

The Falcons won the right to go to the annual provincial competition after winning the 1A Girls Regionals, hosted in Fillmore on Friday and Saturday.

The Falcons won both their games against Lake Lenore (86-51) and Southey (82-57).