The Skidegate Saints have booked themselves a spot in 2012 BC All Native Basketball Tournament final with a convincing 79-32 Friday morning victory over Syilx, and will now face Heiltsuk Nation for the boy’s championship to be played later this afternoon at the Alberni Athletic Hall in Port Alberni.
The Saints never trailed, and thanks to a 19-2 run to start the contest, they were never threatened by their Okanagan rivals.
Game Photos at: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/skidegate-and-syilx-boys-semi-final
Friday’s win was redemption for the Saints, having lost to Syilx earlier in the tournament, a loss that seemed to be the catalyst for better things.
“They beat us by three points the last game,” said Skidegate coach Desi Collinson. “But every single game we’ve played since then we have improved. What you saw today, that’s how we play all the time.”
The Saints were led in scoring by Trevor Casey with 21 points, while Joel Richardson and Nathan Vogstad added 17 and 11 points respectively.
Syilx were led by the 12 points of Shyan Coon.
Skidegate will now face Heiltsuk Nation from Bella Bella in this afternoon’s final, and the process for that contest began immediately following their victory. Faced with a return to the court approximately two hours after the game with Syilx, the Saints had a plan of action for their contest against a well-rested Heiltsuk.
“We’re hydrating, and we’re stretching,” said Collinson immediately after the win. “And we’re mentally focusing for our next game.”
Their opponents are well-rested after a convincing win on Thursday evening, the latest in a string of five consecutive double-digit victories.
Collinson felt his team matched up well with Heiltsuk, saying both teams had played a lot of basketball over the course of the season.
“But we’re a little bit bigger, and I feel were a little bit more skilled than them individually.”
The final begins at 2:30 pm. The girl’s final was to begin at 1 pm, with the Ahousaht Mystic Sunz tipping off against the Gingolx Storm.
