Grizzlies and Hawks basketball champs

Page R10

The Kainai Lady Hawks won their third straight basketball tournament for the 1993-94 season as they defeated Cardston here at Senator Gladstone Hall by a score of 57-30 in the championship final Feb. 11-13.

The Hawks are making a bid to represent Alberta in the National Indian Athletic Association basketball finals in Norman, Oklahoma in April. The team won the Arnold Crow Child Memorial at Sarcee during the Christmas holidays, and The Kainai Family and Community Services tourney here at the Gladstone Hall.

The three tourney wins should make them strong contenders for a trip to the NIAA finals. They're hoping for another winning effort at the Blackfoot invitation in early March.

The Hawks won three straight games in the ladies five team double knockout draw. Sharps shooting guard Kelly Eagle Plume led the Hawks in scoring in all three games with 11, 16 and 12 points respectively.

They won over Calgary by a narrow 36-32 victory as Eagle Plume sank a 3-pointer with only seconds left on the clock to clinch the victory.

They then defeated Lethbridge First Nations 61-42 to advance to the semi-finals where they posted a 61-43 win over Cardston.

The Cardston team came back on the lasers bracket by defeating Calgary 48-39 to get another crack at the Hawks in the final.

The Hawks took an early lead and never looked back in posting the win - they led 29-13 at the half.

Renee Day Chief hooped 10 points while Marnai Hunt added eight for the winners. Bonne Sommerfelt replied with eight for Cardston.

The Hawks won first place money of $500. Cardston won $300 for second place while the Calgary team took third place money of $200.

Three individual awards went to the Hawks, the MVP award went to Marnai Hunt, Miss Hustle to Sarah Hunt, and Kelly Eagle Plume won the scoring title with 56 points in three games. Included in her point total were 10 three-pointers.

On the men's side that featured seven teams, the Chief Mountain Grizzlies won four straight games to capture the championships.

The defeated Karey Twiggs 86-53, the Kainai Ghosts 63-54, and Peigan 76-67.

In the championship final they again defeated the Ghosts in an exciting overtime final.

The Ghosts won 86-53 over Kainai Corrections. After their first loss to the Grizzlies they had to battle back on the loser's bracket to make it to the finals. They won over Kainai Corrections again by a 92-71 margin, 62-53 over the Twiggs and 66-60 over Peigan.

In the championship final it was a battle of experience against youth with the experienced Grizzlies defeating a stubborn, hardworking Ghosts team.

The game see-sawed back and forth with the lead changing hands on several occasions. With the Grizzlies behind 71-68 and 43 second left on the clock, Dick Doore was fouled making a two-point layup shot. His free throw was good to tie it at 71-71.

In the five minute overtime final, the Ghosts playing their third game of the day just ran out of gas and lost by a score of 91-83.

J.R. Manson led the Grizzlies offence with 32 points. Doore who was named the tourney's MVP added 24, while Gary Scout chipped in with 19 points.

For the game Ghosts team, Paul Goodstriker and Russell Twigg scored 28 and 23 points respectively and Brad Red Crow added 14 points.

The Ghosts picked up two individual awards - Bobby Weasel Head was named Mr. Hustle while Brad Red Crow was the high scorer with 111 points in six games.

The Grizzlies won $500 for first place, the Ghosts second place money of $300. Peigan won third place and $200.

The all-stars teams included the following:

Ladies

Lucille Twigg Cardson

Molly Calf Robe Cardston

Jolli Davies Kainai Jrs.

Wendy Day Chief Kainai Jrs.

Louise McMaster Calgary

Men

Gary Scout Grizzlies

J.R. Manson Grizzlies

Russ Swagg Peigan

Black Standing Alone Bucks

Russell Twigg Ghosts