On Day 5 of the All Native Basketball Tournament Feb. 14, the playoff pictures in the four divisions started to emerge.
In the Masters Division the matchup for the first semi-final was decided on the winner’s side of the bracket setting up a rematch of last year’s championship game. On Wednesday, perennial Masters Division powerhouse Hydaburg sent Prince Rupert packing to the elimination bracket 72 - 64. Meanwhile, the now three-time defending champions Gitmidiik did the same to Gitwinksihlkw 83-73.
Following this afternoon’s (Feb. 15) semi-final either Hydaburg or Gitmidiik will have secured their berth in Saturday’s final while the other will have to fight their way through the second semi-final on the elimination side if they hope to set up a rematch of the 2023 final.
The Women’s semi-final in the winner’s bracket will also go this afternoon featuring the defending champion Similkameen Starbirds and the Hesquiaht Descendants. Hesquiaht made it through by narrowly edging out Vancouver 55-50 while Similkameen cruised by Laxgalts’ap (Greenville) 67 -46.
En route to the semi-final, Hesquiaht also knocked 2023 finalists Haisla Ladies (Kitamaat) down into the elimination bracket. The Ladies remain alive in their bid for another crack at the title, however, decisively eliminating the host Prince Rupert Rain on Day 5 60- 42.
The Senior Men also saw the first semi-finalist in their division decided. As they have the past two years the Burnaby Chiefs cruised through the winner’s bracket crushing Lax Kw’alaams on Tuesday before beating up on Similkameen 89 - 73 on Wednesday.
They await the winner of the 8 p.m. game today between Gitxaala (Kitkatla) and the defending champion Skidegate Saints. That game promises to be a barn-burner in a rivalry that has seen each of those teams take three of the last six Senior Division titles.
Only the Intermediates did not see any teams qualify for a semi-final on Day 5, but the defending champion Prince Rupert Cubs did secure their spot in the early game this morning (Feb. 15). The Cubs were in championship form as they relegated Massett to the elimination side of the draw 106-81.
FEBRUARY 14, 2024 RESULTS *denotes elimination
WOMEN’S DIVISION
8:00 a.m. Prince Rupert 77 vs *Gitxaala (Kitkatla) 38
Top Scorers
Prince Rupert - Cary-Lynn Cochrane 21
Gitxaala - Gail McKay 11
11: a.m. Hesquiaht 55 vs Vancouver 50
Top Scorers
Hesquiaht - Jada Touchie 15/Skylene Patrick 15
Vancouver Shenise Sigsworth 16
2:30 p.m. Laxgalts’ap (Greenville) 46 vs Similkameen 67
Top Scorers
Laxgalts’ap - Neve Wilson 18
Similkameen - Jade Montgomery-Reid 23
6:30 p.m. Gitmidiik (New Aiyansh) 50 vs *Gitanmaax (Hazelton) 43
Top Scorers
Gitmidiik - Grace Clayton 15
Gitanmaax - Taylor Wale 14
9:30 p.m. Kitamaat (Haisla) 60 vs Prince Rupert 42
Top Scorers
Kitamaat - Jennifer Nyce 12/Brooke Gray 12
Prince Rupert - Lexi Ryan 10
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION
8:00 a.m. Lax Kw’alaams 89 vs. *Gitmidiik 76
Top Scorers
Lax Kw’alaams - Lloyd Dudoward 28
Gitmidiik - Markus Wilson 31
9:30 a.m. *Kitamaat 51 vs Skidegate 77
Top Scorers
Kitamaat - Chaz Genaille 29
Skidegate Levi Burton 22
11:00 a.m. Nuxalk (Bella Coola) 65 vs Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) 72
Top Scorers
Nuxalk - Jacob Vaa 25
Heiltsuk - Carson Martin 21
6:30 p.m. *Gingolx 71 vs Lax Kw’alaams 89
Top Scorers
Gingolx - Cole Angus 18
Lax Kw’alaams - Lloyd Dudoward 29
SENIORS DIVISION
1:00 p.m. *Massett 69 vs Gitga’at (Hartley Bay) 91
Top Scorers
Massett - Damon Reece 18
Gitga’at - Kaine Wesley 28
2:30 p.m. Nuxalk (Bella Coola) 86 vs *Gitmidiik (New Aiyansh) 82
Top Scorers
Nuxalk - Cliff Thompson 25
Gitmidiik - Charles Leeson Sr. 31
4:00 p.m. Lax Kw’alaams 90 vs *Kitamaat 75
Top Scorers
Lax Kw’alaams - Taylor Ross 23
Kitamaat - Jeremy Nyce 28
8:00 p.m. Gitxsan (Hazelton) 43 vs Gitxaala (Ktikatla) 94
Top Scorers
Gitxsan - Travis Smith 19
Gitxaala - Jacob Thom 26
9:30 p.m. Burnaby 89 vs Similkameen 73
Top Scorers
Burnaby - Kobe McKnight 28
Similkameen - Kaleb Montgomery-Reid 19
MASTERS DIVISION
9:30 a.m. Kitamaat 79 vs *Skidegate 70
Top Scorers
Kitamaat - Daryle Bolton 40
Skidegate - John MacIntyre 21
1:00 p.m. Gingolx (Kincolith) 51 vs *Gitxsan (Hazelton) 49
Top Scorers
Gingolx - Simon Gurney 21
Gitxsan - Jess Olson 15
4:00 p.m. Hydaburg 72 vs Prince Rupert 64
Top Scorers
Hydaburg - Vinny Edenshaw 32
Prince Rupert - Kyle Cline 18
8:00 p.m. Gitwinksihlkw 73 vs Gitimdiik (New Aiyansh) 83
Top Scorers
Gitwinksihlkw - Charles Adams 20
Gitmidiik - Phillip Clayton 36