After winning all three games they played in leading to the final, the Skidegate Saints became Intermediate Division champions of the 2014 All Native Basketball Tournament (ANBT).
The Saints met up with the Prince Rupert Lawn and Garden Huskies in the last game, who they beat 82-37 on Friday to secure a spot in the final. The Huskies had to face off against Hesquiaht to meet their Skidegate competitors once again.
The Saints started off the final game on a good foot, earning seven points before Prince Rupert was able to get on the scoreboard. With just over one minute left in the first quarter Skidegate had double the points with 26-13, ending it 32-16.
In the second quarter, the Prince Rupert Lawn and Garden Huskies pushed hard and were able to get the count to 27-41 half way through. With just over over four minutes left in the first half of the game, Prince Rupert were only down by nine.
But Skidegate pushed back with only a few minutes left, continuing to build their advantage. By halftime, the scoreboard was 61-40 for the Saints.
The Huskies came back strong in the third quarter, bringing the score to 54-63 with a little over five minutes left. Prince Rupert kept pushing and managed to get only seven points behind Skidegate. But the Huskies would stay there for the remainder of the quarter, with Skidegate entering the final portion of the game with a 72-62 lead.
Although it got close in the third quarter, the Saints maintained first place with 86-71 with a little bit more than three minutes left. Prince Rupert got as close as 75-88 with two and a half minutes to go, but Skidegate responded with a two-pointer to bring their score to 90. The Huskies got more baskets in the final couple minutes, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Saints, who ended the Intermediate final with 93-80.
Skidegate's Nate Vogstad was named the Most Valuable Player of the Intermediate Division.