The Skidegate Junior Saints have three-peated as champions in the boys’ division at the 2014 BC Junior All Native, their third title in three years.
The Saints beat the Van City Junior Boys basketball team 86-49 in a Friday afternoon game at the Kamloops University gym.
The Saints didn’t have an easy go of it initially. Van City guard Corey Hauck’s crisp ball movement and his teammate Dylan Joe’s deft shooting had a flat Skidegate on their heels in the first quarter, with Van City leading 16-14 after one quarter.
The Saints picked up the pace the second quarter with each team scoring 18 points but Skidegate found holes in Van City's defense. Skidegate guards either slashed to the net or launched shots from the perimeter, and both efforts scored. Skidegate began to take control of the game and took a 34-32 point lead at the half.
The rout was on in the fourth quarter. Skidegate seemingly scored at will, pouring in 33 points in the final stanza compared to Vancouver’s 15 to take the game and the championship.
Meanwhile, Syilx from the Okanagan dethroned Haisla to win the girls’ division with a score of 49-39 in the first place game.
Syilx was a step faster and their passing and shooting was sharper than the former champs from Kitimat.
Led by guard Nicola Terbasket, Syilx took control of the game early, establishing a 25-18 lead at the half.
Haisla couldn’t get their game on track in the second half, nor could they stop Syilx, whose game was running on all four cylinders. Kitimat guards slashed through the key and scored 17 points in the fourth to try and keep them in it. Their defense also began to hold Syilx to just 10 points.
But with a minute left, drums began to beat and chants echoed in the university gym as the clock ticked down to zero and a new champion was crowned.
