April 21, 2022—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 11
Young players shine at All Native tournament Basketball event returns with the typical pre-pandemic crowds after a cancellation in 2021 due to COVID-19 By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor Prince Rupert, BC- With COVID restrictions easing, Two Nuu-chah-nulth basketball teams were able to once again travel to Prince Rupert for the 2022 AllNative Basketball Tournament (ANBT). Running from April 3 to 9 this year, the annual basketball tournament took a oneyear hiatus in 2021 due to the pandemic, but this month the event was back in action again for the 62nd year. Tournament president Peter Haugan said organizers were unsure how the tournament would look with COVID restrictions just recently easing and whether supporters would still come to the event. But he said it was as if the event never stopped and “flowed along like it normally does.” “The fan support in the initial opening ceremonies of course is always sold out and then through the week it seemed like [the crowd] was down a little bit but it picked up on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.” Haugan said. “The atmosphere was the same…we didn’t know as an organization how it was going to go. We had to screen people at the front and we didn’t know how that was going to work, but it went fine.” Haugan said there were a lot of close games throughout the week and teams were happy to see the tournament back in action. “The communities are so used to having this tournament,” Haugan said. “It’s a bright light they see every year where they can come back and visit with old friends and meet new ones and compete in the sport, but also there’s more to it then that it’s a lot of culture.” Cultural events and exhibits are also part of the week-long event. The tournament’s Women’s Division champions were All My Relations from Vancouver, the Senior Men’s champions
Photo by Mariah Charleson
The Hesquiaht Descendants placed sixth our of 16 teams in the Women’s division at the All Native Basketball Tournament in Prince Rupert April 3-9. Left to right: Janae Sam, Jada Touchie, Francine Charleson, Shania Sabbas, Mariah Charleson, Destiny Hanson, Dalainee John, Chantelle Thomas, Zacari Thomas, Shauntelle Dick-Charleson, Jaylynn Lucas, Bev Hansen-Michael. were the Kitkatla Warriors, the Intermedi- we would have easily been top three,” team has played in a tournament together ate Division champions were the Burnaby Charleson said. “We had four 18-yearin more than two years and with the Chiefs and the Masters champions were olds, they all did amazing, it was their ANBT being such a big event, there were New Aiyansh, who took their second con- first All-Native tournament and our first some nerves around gathering in large secutive Masters title. tournament in a few years being able to groups. Two of the 55 teams competing were compete as a team, so I’m really, really “Definitely a little bit anxious, just that Nuu-chah-nulth—the Hesquiaht Dehappy with the outcome and how everyfeeling of being in such a crowded place, scendants in the Women’s division and body played.” I think there was definitely some nerves Ahousaht (Maaqtusiis Suns) in the Men’s Charleson said her teammates are all involved,” Charleson said. “I literally Senior division. Hesquiaht but live spread out from one only went to the gym for my games. I Mariah Charleson with the Hesquiaht another, so practicing before the tournathink everyone took precautions. FNHA Descendants said she’s proud of how ment was challenging. The team has (First Nations Health Authority) was strong her team played, finishing sixth players from Bella Bella, Vancouver, there and they were giving out free test out of 16 teams. Nanaimo, Kyuquot and Port Alberni. kits.” “We only lost to the two best teams in “Me and a few of my teammates play in Charleson said a lot of people came out the tournament and managed to come a league in Nanaimo together, the girls in to watch the games and that the crowds out with three wins so we did really, rePort Alberni play together and luckily the were at similar capacity as in previous ally well and if we had a different draw older ladies on the team, we’ve played years. She said she’s also grateful for all together for years, and then the younger the supports back home who were cheergirls, they all played together on the ing the team on remotely. Hesquiaht Storm,” Charleson said. “Half Ahousaht’s Maaqtusiis Suns placed of us have played together and the other fourth out of 14 teams in the Senior half have played together and [the tourna- Men’s division. ment] was just our first time all playing Sun’s assistant coach Tom Campbell together. I’m really impressed how every said the team played strong in all five of body performed.” their games, especially the young players. A stand out moment for Charleson, who “We had five guys age 18 and under, was named an All Star player, was the so we had a very, very young team,” team’s first game against Bella Bella. She Campbell said. “Three of them stood out said her team played strong and took a like a sore thumb in the crowd with their win. performance on the floor—Gredy Barney, “We played against the young, fast Bella Russel Robinson, Qwammi Robinson and Bella team. It was good for us to start that Ray August, they battled it out with all way,” Charleson said. “I feel like it was the big boys every game.” a statement game where people knew we Two Ahousaht players received All were there after that. All of our games Star Awards—Luke Robinson and Jalen were really good.” Charleson. Charleson said it was the first time her
