Well that was exciting.
After spending nearly a week straight in the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre watching close to 100 hours of basketball, I survived my first year covering the annual All Native Tournament. People have been hyping up the feel and atmosphere of the tournament since I arrived in Prince Rupert and I have to say that it didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t just the quality of the games, but the passion of the crowd and intensity with which the players played. It was refreshing to be in an atmosphere where the spirit of competition was so pure.
Here are some of my personal highlights from the tournament:
NBA scout in attendance
So after the first few days of the tournament, a rumour started floating around that there was a scout from the Boston Celtics in attendance. I was promptly told to investigate whether or not this was true. After some investigation, however, it turns out that the scout was none other than yours truly. I’m a new face at the tournament, and apparently people saw me running around to all the games with my laptop and camera and assumed that I was somebody important. It was both funny and flattering to think that people saw me and thought I was representing the biggest basketball organization in the world. One can dream though.
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The never-say-die teams
I want to give a shout out to two teams that really impressed me with their incredible tenacity: the Prince Rupert Rain, who fought their way back from a 20-point second half deficit to beat the defending champion Hazelton Mystics in the women’s division, and Hydaburg’s senior men’s team, who lost one of their best players mid-tournament yet fought their way to the championship game and gave Kitkatla everything it could handle.
Entering the tournament, the Rain were not high on anyone’s list to make it to the finals and yet they beat the defending champions twice to make it there. The team didn’t have the shooting or scoring ability of some of the other teams, but they made up for it with non-stop aggression on the defensive end. Well done, ladies.
The Hydaburg senior men’s team had one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever seen in person in the final game. The team was playing in its second game of the day with only eight players on their roster — they had lost two of their players earlier in the tournament due to alleged issues with CBSA. They fell behind by14 points in the first half, cut the lead to seven going into the fourth, sent the game to overtime, and were one ridiculous Jacob Thom fade-away-three away from winning the tournament. By the time the game was done, their players could barely stand, yet they were still sportsman-like in defeat.
Well done, gentlemen.
What a finish to the tournament
Without a doubt, the shot of the tournament was Jacob Thom’s three from the right side of the court to help seal the game for Kitkatla, but there were so many other clutch moments on that day.
Taylor Ross hit a big shot from the left corner to help seal the intermediate title for Port Simpson and Joe Young did the same for Hydaburg’s masters’ team.
The quality of the games was extremely high and entertaining to watch.
Great crowd and atmosphere
The unsung hero of the entire tournament was the crowd. They were loud, enthusiastic, boisterous and engaged throughout the entire week. You can tell there is a real sense of pride in being a part of this event, and it showed.
I realized that the All Native Tournament is more of a festival than a basketball tournament. It’s a way for family and friends to reunite and bond over a sport they all grew up playing and love.
I can’t wait for next year.