A number of North Coast teams made their way to Penticton last week for the BC Junior All Native Basketball Provincials, and it was the Lax Kw’alaams Hoyas who made the biggest impact in the tournament.
The Lax Kw’alaams boys made it into the semi-finals with a win over the Kittatsoo Gamerz, the Heiltsuk, the NCN Young Gunz and the Skidegate Saints before suffering their first loss to the undefeated Syilx squad. In Friday’s semi-finals they met the Homiss Wolves and lost 68-57 to end the drive to bring another provincial championship banner to the North Coast.
The Friendship House Jr. Tribesmen ended the tournament with a win over the Sons of Kincolith, a loss to Van City, a win over the Nuxulk Nation and a loss to the Homiss Wolves to bump them from the tournament. Skidegate also had a strong showing, defeating the Maaqtusiis and the Tl’Kemcheen, before back to back losses to Lax Kw’alaams and the Homiss Wolves.
On the girls’ side of things, the Friendship House defeated the Heiltsuk before losing the Syilx and the Nlaka’pamuxw Cougars to be bumped from the tournament. Lax Kw’alaams started with a win over the TFN 1st Ladies, lost to Syilx, defeated the Heiltsuk Nation and were bumped from the tournament by the NCN Lady Warriors. The Old Massett Hurricanes were eliminated quickly, losing to the Ahousaht Blazers on Monday and Sookanakin on Tuesday.