Hobbema women voted most sportsmanlike

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For the first time in 27 years the National Indian Athletic Association held the National Men's and Women's Basketball tournament in Canada.

The tournament was held at the Siksika First Nation outside of Calgary from April 17 to 23. With more than 1000 people present including 12 women's and 16 men's teams, it was an event to remember.

"It went pretty good," said JoAnn Buffalo, a member of the Hobbema Lady Hoop team, which was competing in this tournament for the first time. "Every team played their hearts out."

Even though Buffalo and her 11 teammates didn't go home with a medal, they didn't go home empty-handed either.

The Hobbema Lady Hoop team was recognized at the championships with an award for the Most Sportsmanlike team.

Buffalo said the experience of the weekend was just as significant as the actual tournament, with people from the United States of America, Alberta and British Columbia present.

"It gave us a chance to see old friends and make new ones," she said.

Buffalo said that although everyone was from different corners of North America they came together to meet in a neutral setting.

"We all felt like one at the tournament," she said. "We all came together for the weekend."

It wasn't unusual to hear one team tell the opposing team's players how well they played and with what style.

Buffalo was ecspecially proud of her full roster team and coach.

"We set a goal and we grouped together to meet it," she said. "We've accomplished and are recognized for our playing."

For the past year the team had been fundraising and practising. Being part of the Alberta Women's Basketball Association, the team was able to play on a competitive court prior to the tournament.

However, it wasn't unusual to see Buffalo and her teammates playing against males in the community in order to train for the big event.

"We had to get toughened up, because we were playing some high-calibre ball there," she said.

The Hobbema Lady Hoop team played three games, lost two and won one against the Kainai team from southern Alberta.

Buffalo, like many of the other players, had a lot of family members in the stands.

"My kids are really proud of me," she said.

Buffalo explained how she has raised her children to always "reach for the horizon" when it comes to making and reaching personal goals.

"They have that natural instinct to go out there and try, even if you're not the Wayne Gretzky," she said.

In the women's action, the Arizona team won in the finals against the Oklahoma Reds in a close score of 92 to 90.

"It was amazing to watch this game," said Buffalo.

She added how the last few seconds were especially "suspenseful."

Arizona was sitting in the lead at 92 with only a few seconds left on the clock, when a player from the Oklahoma team turned from the middle of the court and threw a three-point ball to the basket.

The ball bounced off the backboard, circled the rim once, then again, and just as the time clock ran out, it fell off the rim leaving Arizona as the champions.

The California men's team won the men's championship.