Jason Kerr
Daily Herald
Prince Albert basketball players Zane Litzenberger and Emerson MacCuaig helped Team Saskatchewan to a seventh place finish at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Nfld.
Saskatchewan defeated New Brunswick 85-59 in the seventh place game after being knocked out of the gold medal hunt in the quarterfinals. In an email to the Herald, MacCuaig wrote that the experience was amazing both on and off the court.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling when you slow down and think about the significance of representing your province,” MacCuaig wrote. “It really hits you after the tournament is over, thinking about how big of a stage you really played on and how you got the opportunity to compete for your province on this type of level.”
Saskatchewan’s win over New Brunswick was sweet redemption after the two teams met in the opening round of the tournament. New Brunswick built up a 35-22 lead at halftime, but Saskatchewan stormed back with 33 third quarter points to go ahead 55-49. However, New Brunswick went on a run of their own in the fourth quarter, outscoring Saskatchewan 22-10 to secure a 71-65 win.
Saskatchewan led from start to finish when the two teams met again. They led 23-17 after the first quarter, 51-36 at the half, and 84-59 at the end of the game.
“From the very start of that game we just came out looking to show how good of a team we were after losing to them in an earlier game in the tournament,” MacCuaig wrote. “I think we moved the ball and shot the ball very well, just making sure the game was out of their hands from the start.”
Saskatchewan finished 2-2 in the opening round of the tournament after wins over Nunavut and Yukon, and losses to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. That was good enough to send them to the qualifying round, where they faced off against the hosts from Newfoundland for a spot in the quarterfinal.
Saskatchewan found themselves down 21-16 after the first quarter, but rebounded to tie the game at 40 by halftime. They led 67-65 following a high scoring third quarter, and held on for an 86-82 win.
“Heading into the Newfoundland game we were confident,” MacCuaig wrote. “We practiced and game planned for them coming in, knowing we were the heavy underdog. We knew we had to come in … and keep the momentum on our side and I think we did just that playing in front of a crazy atmosphere of hometown supporters in a full stadium.”
The win put Saskatchewan in the quarterfinals where they lost 90-64 to Quebec. The eventual fourth-place finishers opened up a 32-15 lead in the first quarter and cruised to victory.
That put Saskatchewan in the consolation side of the bracket, where they lost 95-66 to Nova Scotia before defeating New Brunswick in the seven-eight final.
Although the tournament didn’t end with a medal, MacCuaig said trading pins and meeting players off the court was a great experience, and the competition was intense on it.
“It felt like every team could play and every team was out there to prove themselves,” he said. “The size and skill of every single player was crazy. Every team had guys who were skilled or 6’8+. The competition was intense and full of great games.”
Alberta won the tournament, defeating Ontario 72-69 in the gold medal game. B.C. claimed bronze with a 72-69 win of their own over Quebec.
@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca
