Two championship teams were homeward bound last week as both the Prince Rupert Lights Out men’s team and the Prince Rupert Rain women’s team returned from the 11th annual Kitamaat Open Basketball Tournament victorious.
The Lights Out, which included some members of the All Native Basketball Tournament champion Skidegate Saints, faced off against the Terrace WAKS in the championship game and proved to be much too much for the players to the east. Led by tournament MVP Cal Westbrook, who tallied 26 points in the final, and tounament all-star Darcy Pearson, who netted 29 points in the game, the Lights Out cruised to a 115-83 victory.
The host Haisla Braves finished third in the men’s competition.
On the women’s side, the Prince Rupert Rain met up with the host Haisla Senior Women in the tournament final. Like their male counterparts, the undefeated Rain made short work of the Haisla squad with an 87-62 victory. Sara Robin, who would end up claiming MVP honours, led the team in the final with 25 points.
“The Haisla had to come through the back door, so them being tired we were able to run them throughout the game,” said player Denise Wilson.
In the women’s division, the Rain beat out the Haisla, the Vanderhoof Queens (who took third-place), the Northern Ballers, Aiyansh and Gitwinksihlkw.
Each Rupert team received $2,000 in winnings for claiming the titles.