Junior All Native Tournament comes to a close with two exciting Finals

Congratulations to the Greenville Timberwolves and Prince Rupert Tribesman on their JANT 2018 U17 Championships.

John Leong

March 23, 2018

Capilano University - The Junior All Native Tournament is about much more than basketball, as athletes and their families spanning generations have descended on Vancouver this week for a cultural event that you need to experience to understand. Over the past week, over 170 games were played by 800+ athletes in addition to numerous cultural events/workshops, Community Feast, Fashion Show, Youth Dance and Coaches Game. Today, the five-day tournament was capped off with four championship games at Capilano University, The gym itself was packed from 8:30am for the U13 Girls Final straight through to 3:00pm at the completion of the U17 Boys Final. In the Boys U13 Division it was the Na7nita Nuxalk Nation A Team(Bella Coola) who defeated the Prince Rupert Synergy Sharks 72-65. The U13 Girls Division was won by Skidegate Saints who defeated the Vancity Grizzlies Black team 37-27.

U17 Girls Final: Greenville Timberwolves vs Hesquiaht Storm

The energy in the gym for the U17 Girls Final was the best all day - as spectators and fans cheered their respective teams on all game long in the packed gym. It was the Hesquiaht Stom who took an early 3-2 lead, but that would be their only lead of the game. Powered by #6 Kristy Innes who scored 23 of her game high 38 points in the first half, the Greenville Timberwolves took a 36-18 lead. In the third quarter, Hesquiaht would go on 8-0 run in the middle portion of the quarter to cut the lead to 43-35. #14 Memphis Dick and #21 Destiny Hanson would combine for 13 points in the quarter for the Storm making the score 47-37 after three quarters. The Timberwolves would grow their lead to as many as 18 in the final quarter before the Storm would cut it to nine points to end the game. Final score 66-57 for the Greenville Timberwolves

‍

‍

High Scorers:

‍

Greenville Timberwolves

#6 Kristy Innes - 38 Points

#2 Jewel Leeson - 13 Points

#14 Robyn Moore - 10 Points

‍

Hesquiaht Storm

#21 Destiny Hanson - 20 Points

#33 Serena Kaluocokovale - 12 Points

#14 Memphis Dick - 10 Points

‍

U17 Boys Final: Vancity Sons vs Prince Rupert Tribesmen

The U17 Boys Final was entertaining from start to finish as no team led by more than eight points. The Vancity Sons jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the game but the Prince Rupert Tribesman came back to tie the game at 14 after one quarter. The Vancity Sons would hold the lead at half time 33-30, led by #30 Marlon Edgar-Apps who had 13 points in the half. Prince Rupert stayed close by knocking down four triples in the second quarter. The third quarter was entertaining as the Tribesmen came out of the locker rooms on a 7-0 run to take the lead 37-33. The Sons would answer back by taking the lead 39-37. The Tribesmen stayed hot, knocking down five “3’s” in the third, including a pair from #5 Malcolm Brown. In the fourth quarter, the game was tied on three separate occasions. The star of the fourth was from Prince Rupert, #8 Cedric McKay who erupted for 11 fourth quarter points leading his team to a 67-61 victory.

‍