Opening day of the 2024 All Native Basketball tournament was a day for blowouts, as it frequently is with higher seeds lining up against lower seeds.
Of the seven games on the schedule the smallest gap in final scores was 20 points with Gitxsan (Hazelton) defeating Gitxaala (Kitkatla) 83 - 63 in the Intermediate division.
The biggest thrashing came at the expense of the Lax Kw’alaams Masters who were only able to put up 37 points against Prince Rupert’s 98.
All divisions were in action on Day 1 except for the Seniors with four women’s games, two masters matchups and one intermediate tilt.
All games were played in the Main Gym as the Prince Rupert Rampage were playing their first CIHL Round 1 Playoff game against the Hazelton Wolverines in the Arena. The Wolverines defeated the Rampage 5-2. The best-of-three-game series to determine who will play the Terrace River Kings for the division title now moves to Hazelton for Game 2 on Feb. 17 and Game 3 (if necessary) on Feb. 18.
Following the hockey game, the ANBT floor crew quickly got to work installing the basketball court for games starting this morning (Feb. 11) at 8 a.m.
There are 14 games scheduled for Day 2 with opening ceremonies set to kick off at 8 p.m. featuring the Gitxsan Thunder Dance Group.
FEBRUARY 10, 2024 RESULTS
WOMEN’S DIVISION
All games played in the main gym
9:30 a.m. Kitamaat (Haisla) 77 vs Lax Kwa’alaams 46
Top scorers
Kitamaat - McKenna Stevens 28
Lax Kw’alaams - Cora Sankey 21
1:00 p.m. Gitmidiik (New Aiyansh) 47 vs Hesquiaht 70
Top scorers
Gitmidiik - Mariah Moore 22
Hesquiaht - Jada Touchie 20
6:30 p.m. Gitxaala (Kikatla) 82 vs Gitga’at (Hartley Bay) 32
Top scorers
Gitxaala - Gail McKay 13
Gitga’at - Tracy Reid 17
8:00 p.m. Laxgalts’ap (Greenville) 82 vs Ahousaht 51
Top scorers
Laxgalts’ap - Kristy Innes 29
Ahousat - Zakariyah Thomas 14
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION
All games will be played in the main gym
4:00 p.m. Gitxsan (Hazelton) 83 vs Gitxaala (Kitkatla) 63
Top scorers
Gitxsan - Skyler Chisan 27
Gitxaala - Chris Wilson 24
MASTERS DIVISION
All games played in the main gym
8:00 a.m. Gitxaala (Kikatla) 35 vs Gitxsan (Hazelton) 85
Top scorers
Gitxaala - Jermey Brown 11
Gitxsan - Mike Wesley 16
2:30 p.m. Lax Kw’alaams 37 vs Prince Rupert 98
Top scorers
Lax Kw’alaams - Will Sheppard 17
Prince Rupert - Kyle Cline 28