Two Yukon basketball squads are hoping for some good results this weekend in a tournament in Haines, Alaska.

The Young Guns and the Yukon Ballers will both represent the territory at the annual Dick Hotch Memorial Basketball Tournament, which began on Thursday.

The Yukoners will see their first competition today and are guaranteed at least five games. The tournament wraps up on Sunday.

Rob LaRose, the Young Guns' shooting guard, has been attending the tournament since 1990.

Heading into the weekend, LaRose's hopes are high and he said he wants to finish first in the tournament for the first time since 2000.

"These years don't come by very often," he said. "Basketball is really constructed of everybody needs role players. You can't have five guards, you can't have five forwards, you can't have five centres. You need everybody to play a role and this is one of those years where we have all of the pieces that we need. Everybody is going to play their role and I think it would be kind of disappointing if we didn't win it."

Last year the Young Guns finished in fourth place with a record of 3-3. However, LaRose said this team, comprised of eight players, has a lot more size than in previous years.

"We usually go down there with a bunch of forwards and guards, but this year we have a couple of really tall guys," he said. "This year, we are fortunate to have a big pool of talent, because even the second team is actually very talented as well."

Heading into the tournament, the Young Guns have been playing pick-up basketball on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

The rules in the pick-up league are a little different and generally have games up to seven, with each basket counting for one point. Winners hold the court in the pick-up league.

LaRose said playing pick-up ball will be a benefit to the team in Haines.

"We are just looking forward to playing and being competitive," he said about the Haines tournament.

Teams from Citra, Juneau and all around Alaska will attend the tournament, which usually draws between eight and 10 squads.

The two Yukon squads are the only Canadian teams in attendance and are invited because of Alaska's close relationship with the territory.

LaRose said if everything goes well in Haines, the team might go to a much larger basketball tournament in Juneau in March.