It was opening night on Tuesday in the MJHSAA Senior Basketball League.

Four games hit the court to kick-off the pre-Christmas schedule on Tuesday night.

There will be games each Tuesday over the next three weeks to open the year before the league takes a break for the holidays and returns in the new year.

* * *

Over at Vanier, the Vikings rolled to a 115-68 win over the Assiniboia Rockets to tip-off the senior boys season.

Ronald Nyekowat paced the Vikings to the big night offensively with 32 points in the win.  Javan Panko chipped in with 18 points, while Elijah Buachie picked up 15 and Joshua Murray had 14.

Assiniboia’s Logan Fettes had 31 points in the loss for the Rockets.

In the girls game, the Rockets struck back with a 68-66 win over the Vanier Spirits.

Alyssa Anderson scored a game-high 16 points for the Rockets, while Jenna Meili had 13 points for Vanier in the losing effort.

The Vikings and Spirits will be back on the court next Tuesday when they head to Caronport to face the Cougars, while Assiniboia is off until Dec. 19 when they host the Peacock Toilers.

* * *

The Central Cyclones hosted the Caronport Cougars for a doubleheader on the opening night.

In boys action, the Cyclones rolled to a 115-79 win over the Cougars.

Central was led by Kyle Boughen, who finished with a game-high 22 points, including five three-pointers.  Jaxson Brownell added 17 points sand Gurav Changer had 16.

Matt Adkins led Caronport in the loss with 19 points.

The girls game saw Central come out on the winning side again, topping Caronport, 95-48, to open the season.

Alexa Larson had 22 points to lead all scorers in the win for Central, while Rachelle Kienle had 10 in the loss for Caronport.

Central will head to Peacock next Tuesday to renew their rivalry with the Toilers, while Caronport hosts Vanier next week.

* * *

The Junior Basketball League opens its season on Wednesday night with four games.

In junior boys action, the Peacock Green Toilers head to Assiniboia to face the Rockets and the Central Gold Cyclones host the Central Butte Bulldogs. Both games tip-off at 5:30 p.m.

On the junior girls’ opening night, the Riverview Royals head to Central Butte at 5:30 p.m. and the Cyclones host the Vanier Spirits at 7 p.m.