Skidegate took the long road to find Championship status in ANBT Closer Saturday night

The 63rd All Native Basketball Tournament wrapped up Saturday Night in Prince Rupert, the Seniors Final bringing the curtain down on a day full of Championship play in Four Divisions.

The Day began with Semi Finals matchups in the Intermediate and Senior's Division that sent two teams from Skidegate on to the finals later in the day.

By night's end, one of the two would be celebrating a championship title, the other a second place finish.

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The Championship matchups began with the Women's Division Tournament Finale which saw Similkameen and Kitamaat  tip off in the early afternoon.

The game making for a breakthrough moment for the Similkameen side which had been a second place finalist in the last three years. 

Saturday saw them take their title in convincing fashion. Their dominating offensive play from the opening tip off and  play that featured a smothering defence never really allowed  Kitamaat to gain any traction.

The offensive punch one that the Kitamaat side couldn't find an answer towards, the clock moving far too fast for them on the day to give hope of a comeback.

A score of 66 to 25 a well deserved result for a hard working Similakmeen team that seems destined to be part of the final groupings for years ahead.

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The Masters contest featured a Hydaburg team playing in their eighth game of the tournament taking on a Defending champion from New Aiyansh that cruised through the opening rounds and had only hit the court four times previous owing to their success.

That long haul for the elder statesmen of the tourney was on display in the first half as the well rested New Aiyansh squad built up a lead over the first ten minutes of play. However the Hydaburg Masters did battle back in period two, some strong defensive play slowed down the New Aiyansh attack, while the Hydaburg side picked up their scoring pace taking the game to just a four point lead for New Aiyansh at the half who led by 34-30.

The third quarter saw Hydaburg remain within striking distance of the champs from the Nass Valley the scoring pace such that by three quarter time, New Aiyansh had just a one point lead at 53-52.

A frantic pace of end to end basketball was the narrative for the final ten minutes, the teams exchanging leads until New Aiyansh slowed the Hydaburg attack and regrouped to regain some distance on the score board, that as Hydaburg ran into foul trouble late in the game.

New Aiyansh took advantage of those opportunities to add to their lead putting the finish on a 66-59 victory to claim a three peat for the division and retain the bargaing rights for another year for the corner of the Nass Valley.

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The energy of youth propelled a highly entertaining Intermediate Showdown which featured the rising stars of Skidegate up against a hugely popular hometown side in Prince Rupert. 

The title open for either with the defending champs from Burnaby having moved up to Seniors this year, the Prince Rupert Cubs had their hands full in the first half as the Sikdegate side kept the pace of scoring close, neither team able to build a run to put some distance on the scoreboard.

Some cold shooting for the Cubs towards the end of the first left points on the floor, something that allowed the Skidegate youth to hold to just a 34-31 deficit for the half.

The two teams began the third period exchanging scoring opportunities, with the Rupert side beginning to put some distance from their competitors towards the end of the third quarter taking a 55-48 lead into the final frame.

An untimely bout of cold shooting brought a string of misses for Skidegate in the final ten minutes, a situation that the Prince Rupert Cubs took full advantage of.  

A combination of strong offensive boards allowed the Rupert youngsters to get on a roll building to a 73-57 led with minutes to go.

The final push putting the finish touches to a strong challenge from Skidgate but delivering the Prince Rupert side the championship by a score of 81-67.

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The finale to the 2023 event in the Seniors Division did not disappoint, with the Skidegate Saints somehow finding renewed energy after a grinding run through the B side to get to the title matchup with Burnaby.

A relatively young squad from Burnaby, which moved up a division for this year tourney and had defeated the Skidegate side earlier in the week was well rested and many considered them the favourite heading into Championship Saturday.  

But the Saints were quick to remind everyone how a veteran team which has had much success over the years, can find a way to win.

They came out fast from the opening tip building to a 14-3 lead a surge of offence that seems to set the Burnaby side back a bit, knocked off their pace it took them a bit of time to build up a rhythm to the play, making an 11 point run midway through the first quarter to close the gap.

The torrid pace of end to end rushes saw the Lower Mainland team close the score to a there point deficit by the end of the first quarter.

That same intensity was back for the next ten minutes, Burnaby tying the game up early in the first minute of the frame, with Skidegate using its board play and some long range threes to get back on top. however a string of highlight reel threes for the Burnaby side once again kept them close, the half time score 52-49 in favour of Skidegate.

The third quarter belonged to the Haida Gwaii ballers who dominated the play with an explosive pace of action, their scoring touch gave them a nine point lead which built to fourteen before Burnaby could regain some of their balance.

However strong defensive play by Skidegate served to hold Burnaby to just perimeter play, with a string of missed shots getting turned around as scoring plays for Skidegate who too the game into the fourth quarter with an 82-59 lead.

That frustrating defensive play held Skidegate well in the early portion of the final frame, but as many had expected the big push was about to come from Burnaby, a sudden urge of energy combined with some complacent play by Skidegate marked an impressive run for the southern visitors.

They cut deep into the Skidegate lead closing the gap to eight points with just ninety seconds to play, Skidegate rededicated towards their defensive play which forced Burnaby to the outside launching a flurry of three point shots that fell short of the mark.

The Saints hit the 100 point mark with just seconds to go, the final score for Championship Saturday a 100-95 victory for Skidegate, the team claiming their eighth championship in the last 11 years.

The win a hard earned one for a team that makes for a Master class in basketball every time they hit the court, Saturday night's lesson one no doubt a disappointing result for the Burnaby side.  

But  it is also one that they will learn and build from, with the prospects of a return to a final something that seems a likely result considering how they will only get better.

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The high energy play of Saturday served as a proper way to send off the 63rd annual event, the crowds leaving the Civic Centre going home with some vivid memories of great action over 7 days of play.

The organizers deserving of a round of applause for the hard work that goes into launching the annual reunion, the broadcasters of CFNR can take a bow as well. That for some stellar work both in describing the action on the courts and providing for much of the in depth background that expands on the All Native Tourney experience.

But most of all it's a thank you for the teams near and far and the travelling party of fans that come with them on the journey  that make the tournament what it is and bring the excitement of the Big Event to our North Coast city every year.

You can review the twin social media fees for the ANBT and CFNR for more on the wrap up to tournament week, including some videos of final day action, as well as the post game events, awards and celebrations from all four Divisions.

All Native Basketball Tournament Facebook page

CFNR Facebook page

Our look back at the full week can be reviewed from our archive page.