North Dakota takes basketball title

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After being three-points behind at half time, North Dakota roared back to win the gold medal in junior ladies basketball at the North American Indigenous Games. The final score, 43-31, showed the mastery of the Dakota club over the home team.

"We kind of came out a little slow, but we started to take it to them on defence," said Carla Brunsell, of New Town, N.D. "We got the ball inside, drew fouls. But I knew we could beat them because we beat them before."

"All week long, we've been playing good defence," said coach Mike Patnaude of Belcourt, N.D. "A few of the girls knew each other, but I was asked to coach the team a week before the games.

"It went good," he continued. "It was kind of confusing with all the schedule changes, but the girls were good. It's an important win because it's the first time North Dakota has competed in the games."

"This is important because it's the biggest tournament we've been in," said Brunsell. "There were like five of us who played together, and the rest are from all around." The side went undefeated over four games through the round robin and two games in the playoffs. It was a satisfying win for North Dakota, but a blow for the home team.

"They took us out of our game in the second half," said Minnesota coach Tracy Sam from Mille Lacs, Minn. "We were four and one coming into the final, and we'd only practiced for two weeks prior to the games and the girls didn't know each other.

"What really seemed to beat us, though, was their depth. We didn't have the subs that they had." Minnesota dressed only seven players for the final.

"That's true," confirmed Patnaude. "Our depth really did seem to be the difference in the game. We could go to our bench and they didn't have that option."

Both clubs vow that these games are only the beginning. They plan to be better-prepared, better-organized in Victoria.

"We're talking in two years we'll go to Canada for the Indigenous Games," said Sam. "We'll have experience and preparation on our side then."