The courts of the Russell Gamble Gymnasium will host four days of basketball action starting Nov. 21 as 16 teams compete in the All Native Qualifying Tournament.
Teams in two divisions will give it their all in hopes of making it to the 54th annual All Native Tournament in February, with seven women’s teams and nine senior teams battling it out.
For the first time in over a decade the team from Hydaburg Alaska, who tied a tournament record with seven consecutive championships from 2001 to 2007, will have to earn their way into the tournament after missing the 2012 tournament and putting an end to a new three-title streak the team was on. Other teams competing include Gitwinksihlkw, Kitamaat, Greenville, Terrace, Gitanyow, Kispiox, Gitsegukla and two teams from Lax Kw’alaams.
For the women, the team from Vancouver will receive a first-round bye. Joining them are teams from Bella Coola, Gitwinksihlkw, Hazelton, Ahousaht, Kitkatla and Skidegate.
As with the All Native in February, the qualifying tournament is a double-elimination format. The final game of the women’s qualifier will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, with the final game for the seniors beginning at eight
p.m.
Look for complete results from the Tournament in next week’s issue of the Prince Rupert Northern View.