Hoops crown back!

By Rudy Kelly

It was one of the most exciting and emotional All Native Basketball Tourna-ment finals ever and, when the final seconds ticked off the clock, the senior men’s championship had returned to Canada. Bella Bella shocked the defending champions, Hydaburg, Alaska, 83-76 in the finale of Canada’s largest annual Aboriginal sporting event last month in Prince Rupert, BC, ending the Americans’ record reign at seven consecutive titles. All the Hydaburg players could do was look on in stunned disbelief as Bella Bella players and their fans poured onto the floor in delirious jubiliation, a celebration not only for the community but for the end of the hated dynasty.

“It is an awesome feeling. I’m having a hard time trying to find words,” beamed Bella Bella centre and division Most Valuable Player, Phil Nadrazsky. “I’m just so happy for my teammates and my brothers in Bella Bella – but this is also for Canada. The championship has been in the States for too long; it’s good to bring it back to where it belongs, where it all started.”

Nadrazsky deserved MVP honors if only for drawing the toughest assignment. It was his job to try and contain Hydaburg ringer, Damen Bell-Holter, a 6’9” teenager that could not only battle inside but – almost unfairly – drop down shots from outside the three-point arc.

“Tonight, when I came here, I just looked out on the floor and said, ‘wow,’ I gotta guard him??” said Nadrazsky of facing the Hydaburg giant. “It was a battle. I had to give it everything I’ve got. He even asked me how old I was and when I told him I had about 12 years on him, he said, ‘man, you can still ball!”

The crowd was already riled up by Metlakatla, AK supporters who celebrated throughout their Intermediate men’s championship win by waving a large U.S. flag, occasionally standing out on the court, taunting the fans. Most fans had also seen enough Hydaburg celebrations, not only seven straight but 10 of the past 11 years.

“It’s been a long run. We knew we were going to get beat one of these days,” conceded Hydaburg coach, Matt Carle. “We lost to a very good team. We have a lot of respect for them.”

Nadraszky was MVP but it was Shawn Gladstone who was the hero at the end, leading the team with 25 points and draining six straight foul shots to put the game out of reach for Hydaburg who, unlike in past finals, choked at the charity stripe in the final minutes.

New Aiyansh placed third.

Meanwhile, in the Intermediate (age 22 and under) men’s final, Metlakatla, Ak, had a much tougher go of it than expected but still managed to win the title with an 82-80 decision over the North Shore Wolves.

The Alaskans went undefeated en route to the final, winning every game by no less than 18 points, and were once again led by Bryan Hayward. The division MVP tallied 32 points in following in the footsteps of his father, the legendary Hall of Famer, Randy Hayward.

“This is huge for me,” smiled Hayward after the game. “Everybody else in the family has championships and they’ve been razzing me at home to pick up mine!”

For the Wolves, from Vancouver, it was their second straight final defeat. Kitamaat placed third.

In afternoon action, Metlakatla, BC, Crest won their second straight women’s division crown with a 76-67 win over Kispiox. Strength and experience was the difference as the older Crest team won the physical battles and came through with big shots when they had to.

“We have just as much talent, probably more, than them but their experience was the key,” said Kispiox coach William Starr. “We just made too many mistakes. The game was ours for the taking when we were down by four and they were struggling, but we couldn’t take advantage.” Crest’s Denise Wilson was chosen MVP.

Ahousat, of Vancouver Island, finished third.

Finally, in the Masters final, Kitamaat was foiled for the third straight year as they were trounced by Bella Bella, 71-52.

After a plodding first half that saw Bella Bella leading 25-20, the Heiltsuk Nation picked it up and the Haislas were unable to match them. Probably the biggest exclamation mark came when Bella Bella’s Mitch Martin threw up a prayer from centre court as time in the third quarter expired – and it fell in.

“That was demoralizing,” sighed Kitamaat all-star, James Harry. “We were just shaking our heads. We couldn’t buy a basket and then he gets that one . . . “

Martin was named MVP.

Two-time defending champions, Skidegate, finished third.

Prince Rupert’s All Native Basketball tournament attracts 50 teams and approximately 4,000 visiting players and fans every February – 250 came from Bella Bella alone this year! – and pumps an estimated $1.5 million into the city’s economy.

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