Qualifier champs undefeated

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In the 2004 All Native basketball qualifying tournament, the back door was slammed shut by defending champs.

All four champions of the tournament held in Prince Rupert at the end of November went undefeated, snuffing any thoughts anybody might have had of a glory team rising from the losers' bracket.

And, despite losing two of the three finals they reached, the village of Kitkatla was the biggest winner, with three of their teams advancing to the big tournament in February 2005

The Kitkatla Women, Masters Men and Intermediate Men's teams earned the right to compete in the 46th annual February classic by virtue of getting to the finals in their divisions.

The incentive to win the final was that the $350 entry fee would be waived in the main tournament.

The tournament began at 4 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Civic Centre gym, with the women on the floor first, and the Kitkatla women setting a good tone for the village as they rolled to a 56-42 victory over Massett.

Tracy Nelson was on fire from the get-go, draining four three-pointers in the first half. Yet, surprisingly, after pummeling Massett by more than 30 points earlier in the game, Kitkatla only led by two early in the second half.

"We kind of had a lapse on offence and defence," said Kitkatla coach, George Mason.

After Massett had drawn within two, Mason said he told his players to keep shooting like they had been and, eventually, the shots would start falling again.

He also reminded them to key on Massett's top player, Gail Bedard. The team responded with a 9-0 run and cruised from there.

Kitkatla's Evelyn Innes was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The Masters final followed and again featured a Kitkatla vs. Massett match-up but this time it was Massett coming out on top, 78-65.

The game was very close for the most part but an incredible 49 fouls caught up to Kitkatla in the latter stages of the second half.

Mason, who switched from coach in one game to player in the next, called the foul parade by his team "ridiculous."

Massett's Henry Wilson, the division MVP, appreciated the infractions, scoring 16 of his leading 41 points from the foul line.

Kitkatla appeared in its third final of the night in the Intermediate wind-up, bowing to Klemtu in a low-scoring affair, 58-45.

Quick starts was the secret for Klemtu, who started each half with 17-2 and 14-2 runs respectively, and were paced by MVP Vern Brown's 17 points.

The Senior Men's final did not include a Kitkatla team. That saw Bella Bella romp past Hartley Bay, 114-93, led by MVP Shawn Gladstone's 18 points. Randy Robinson notched 40 points in a valiant effort for Hartley Bay.

"It was our biggest qualifying tournament yet," said newly appointed tournament chair, Farley Stewart, of the event, which featured 24 teams.

"We had very good crowds. This has become more than just a warm-up to the All Native. It's a significant tournament by itself."

The 45th annual All Native Basketball Tournament, which attracts 54 teams from across B.C. and Alaska, goes Feb. 6 to 13, 2005.