In what could go down as one of the tensest nail-biters in BC Junior All Native Basketball tournament history, the NCN Lady Warriors beat the Heiltsuk Nation 56-55 in overtime.
The score alone though belies a game that was full of drama and intrigue, not to mention excitement.
In overtime, Heiltsuk tied the game 56-56 on two foul shots with 0.1 seconds left. The player made both foul shots and the game was seemingly tied.
But one of the game’s referees ruled that the shooter committed a violation on her second shot by placing her foot over the foul line when she took her shot so the point didn’t count. With no time left on the clock, the score stood at 56-55 for the NCN Lady Warriors.
The ruling not only brought an end to the game, but an end to Heiltsuk`s Junior All Native experience.
“The rules are the rules and we all know what they are,” Warrior’s head coach Francis Frank said. “The refs didn’t win this for us. Our girls’ hard work got us the points we needed for the win to begin with.”
The teams were neck-and-neck in regulation time. Heiltsuk was leading 49-48 when stalwart Lady Warriors forward Evelyn Thomas scored two fouls shots giving her team a 50-49 lead with one minute remaining. Thomas fouled out with 19 seconds left though allowing Heiltsuk to tie the game and force overtime.
The teams traded leads four times in the five-minute overtime. The Lady Warriors scored at the 31-second mark to pull ahead 56-54. But a Lady Warriors foul with one second left gave Heiltsuk the chance to tie it on foul shots, but, as we know, only one shot counted.
It took more than points to win the game, Frank said.
“It was a gutsy performance and I’m proud of all of them,” he said. “Our girls had to play from the heart. This was a character builder. That’s what got them the win. That’s why it was so gutsy.”
Heiltsuk tried to isolate the Lady Warrior’s No. 30, a mainstay who drives the ball, scores and draws fouls.
“We saw it though and had our player spread the ball around,” Frank said.
The win was all the more significant because the Lady Warriors are playing with six players.
“Our starting lineup couldn’t play and remain in Port (Alberni),” Frank said.
The Maqtussis Magic beat Haisla 89-56 and is the last remaining Nuu-chah-nulth boys’ team in the tournament. The NCN Young Guns beat Gitwinksihlkw 83-63 but lost to Nunanta 78-59 and were knocked out of contention. The Ahousaht Chiefs lost to Heiltsuk 53-37 and are also out of the tournament. Old Masset beat the TFN Kings knocking them out.
The Lady Warriors and Hesquiaht Storm are the only Nuu-chah-nulth girls` teams left in the tournament. Both teams continue play today, March 19.
In the girls division, the Ehattesaht Storm was beaten by Heiltsuk and is now out of the tournament. The Prince Rupert Friendship House beat the Ahousaht Ravens knocking them out as well. And the TFN First Ladies are also out of the tournament after being beaten by the Prince Rupert Tribesman 68-47.
