Hydaburg makes All Native history

Page 9

The Hydaburg, Alaska senior men's basketball team has done in nine years what many other village clubs have been unable to do in 46; win eight division championships at the All Native Basketball Tournament in Prince Rupert.

Not only was it Hydaburg's eighth title in nine years, but it was their fifth straight, as they defeated the Ahousat Suns, 106-97 in the senior men's final on Feb. 12 at Rupert's Jim Ciccone Civic Centre gym.

It was the last of four division finals played that day, in what was the biggest All Native ever, with 55 teams competing.

Hydaburg also won the masters men's division, while Metlakatla, Alaska were intermediate men's champs, and North Pacific Rain of Prince Rupert topped the women's division.

The Ahousat Suns ran undefeated to the senior division final, including a thrilling 98-93 victory over the defending champs two nights earlier that sent Hydaburg to the loser's bracket for the first time since 2000. With that win, along with their youth and flashy athleticism, the Vancouver Island squad was being picked by many to topple the Hydaburg dynasty, something that motivated the more experienced champs.

"We were hungry because they beat us in the first semi-final, and we were hearing a lot about how it (the championship streak) was over for us," said Most Valuable Player Darren Edenshaw. "We just wanted it more than them."

Playing before a packed house of 1,500, Hydaburg appeared to be on the ropes in the first half of the final, trailing by as many as nine points and by six at the half. The tide turned midway through the second frame, though, and Ahousat appeared to lose confidence as Hydaburg poured it on.

Edenshaw led the Hydaburg surge, with 31 points, including eight straight long shots, five of them from beyond the arc.

Luke Robinson notched 36 points to lead Ahousat and was named Most Inspirational Player. He had an outstanding tournament, quickly becoming one of the most popular players, but he was subdued after the game.

"We thought we had a good chance; we had a great tournament," said Robinson. "But, in the end there, they broke down our defence and made some key shots. They're a great team."

In taking the All Native masters title as well, Hydaburg crushed all of their opponents, finishing with a 96-73 victory over Kake, Alaska.

Led by the legendary Sid Edenshaw, Hydaburg was up 49-30 at the half and were never threatened. Kake tried to reduce Edenshaw as a factor, hoping Hydaburg's outside shooting had an off day. Unfortunately, Saturday was not that day.

"When they collapsed down low, we started putting it out to our three-point guys and we've got good three-point shooters and, when they get open looks, they're going to put them away," shrugged Edenshaw after the game.

Metlakatla, Alaska made it three championships for the state as they won the most entertaining game of the day, a 90-87 intermediate men's division nail-biter over Bella Bella.

This game was up for grabs in the final seconds, but Bella Bella, down by two, fumbled the ball out of bounds in the Metlakatla end with three seconds left, sealing their fate. Despite furious charges back by Bella Bella, Metlakatla was able to hold the lead for the most part, using their decided edge in height.

Most Valuable Player, Apollo Marsden, led his team of giants with 27 points and was huge on the boards.

"We had a big height advantage. When we were able to get it underneath, we dominated," said Marsden, playing in his third All Native tourney.

Bella Bella coach Rob Germyn agreed with this assessment.

"Their size advantage played a big factor," Germyn said. "Towards the end, we were physically beat up; they've got a lot of big boys on that team."

It wasn't a complete sweep for Alaska, though, as North Pacific Rain defeated arch-rival Metlakatla, B.C. Crest, 59-48, in the women's division final. After losing in two straight women's finals, the Rupert squad has now won back-to-bck championships.

Paced by Louise Walcott and Neely Humpherville, who finished with 17 points each, Rupert came out flying and led by 13 at halftime and by as much as 16 in the second frame.

Metlakatla made a late push, though, and it was actually 55-48 with about four minutes left when the normally reliable Met star, Judy Carlick, missed an uncontested lay-up and then, seconds later, fouled out. Shaken by her departure, Metlakatla then had a shot clock violation because of tentative play.