Going into Day Two at the 2012 BC Junior All Native Basketball Championships, the Kispiox Magic boys knew that they had to make some adjustments after a tough 63-41opening round loss to the supernatural Maaqtusiis Magic of Ahousaht.
Tired and rusty after a long road trip, the visitors, members of the Gitxsan Nation from the villages of Kispiox, Gitanyow and Gitanmaax, fell behind in the first quarter as Maaqtusiis standouts Riley Botting and Adam Campbell powered their club to a 17-6 lead. Despite a rally in the third quarter in which they outscored the home club 17-13, the Kispiox crew was never able to catch fire.
Tournament photos: http://www.hashilthsa.com/photos
“We started out slow and it cost us,” coach Larry Skulsh Jr. told his players after the game. “We need to learn to play against the press and against a zone defence.
“We have to re-group–we have a 9 a.m. game.”
Like all of the visiting clubs from remote communities, it has been a challenge, he said.
“It took us 15 to 16 hours to get here. We drove down to Chilliwack and spent the night there,” Skulsh said. “Here, we’re staying in two different locations–two billet houses.”
Xavier Hillis, grandson of team manager Charlie Hillis, said the team got caught in a time squeeze on Monday morning, and it probably cost the team in energy, when they took to the court at 9:30 a.m.
“We went to watch our girls’ team, the Kispiox Storm, play at Maht Mahs at 8 o’clock and we didn’t get a chance to eat,” he said.
Despite the support from the boys, the Anspayaxw Storm fell to the Gold River Cougars of Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation.
The Kispiox boys range in age from 13 to 17, and play at Hazelton High School.
“Kispiox Village has about a thousand people,” manager Charlie Hillis said.
“We have four pickup players from Hazelton and two from Gitanyow,” Skulsh said. “These players play on different squads at school. There are juniors, seniors and intermediates.”
Four Magic--Xavier Hillis, Kirk McKay, Shane Stewart and Julian Starr--played in last year’s Junior All Natives. Hillis said he is confident his team can bounce back, but there is already a bit of déjà vu in play.
“Exactly the same thing happened last year. We lost our first game and we came back to the semi-finals,” he said. “But the same team beat us in the first game and the last game.”
That team was the Homiss Wolves, who took the championship and are hosting this year’s event. Brent Matthews said Maaqtusiis Magic, who placed second at the All Native Island Championships, proved to be a bit of a surprise, and an indicator of how seriously Ahousaht First Nation takes its basketball.
During the dying minutes of the game, with the score safely out of reach, Magic coach Travis Thomas sent out the youth squad: Moses Jack, West Frank and his 11-year-old son Shandon.
While it has become a bit of a tradition in local tournaments, somebody forgot to inform the visitors that these young Ahousaht kids take their court time very seriously–and they can play. With the last seconds ticking off the clock, Shandon coolly picked up a pass and launched a last-second buzzer-beater from three-point land.
“Who were these guys?” Matthews wondered later.
Maaqtusiis assistant coach Alan Dick said the three young players have practiced with the team since the Junior Boys Island Zone Championships in February.
“Travis had the team booked in two tournaments at the same time, so he sent the three young kids up to Courtenay to fill out the roster on the Saturday. He’s kept them on the roster since then,” Dick said, adding that the team picked up their place in the Courtenay tournament.
At the Islands, Maaqtusiis proved to be the Cinderella team, knocking off the Hesquiaht Braves in overtime, 62-57, to earn a berth in the semi-final, then defeating the Homiss Wolves in a 59-54 thriller, before falling 68-62 to Ahousaht Wolfpack.
“I think the Magic will go far this time,” Dick said.
Colton Murrell led the Kispiox Magic with 10 points followed by Kirk McKay with nine and Shane Stewart and Richard Hillis with six apiece. Adam Campbell led Maaqtusiis with 15, followed by Cosmo Louie and Riley Botting with 13 apiece.
The Kispiox players said they were impressed with the size and intensity of the opening ceremonies. For Xavier Hillis, there was an amazing sense of community being among young First Nations athletes from all over the province.
“I kind of feel like I’m home,” Hillis said.
Home is located at the confluence of the Kispiox and Skeena Rivers. Like the Stamp River, the Kispiox is world-famous for winter steelhead fishing.
“We should have brought our rods,” Matthews observed.
“We go out every weekend,” Hillis said.
For Monday, however, the plan was to re-group and re-think prior to Tuesday morning’s match-up. That, and set aside time for some breakfast.
Alberni Athletic Association and longtime basketball player, coach and booster Denny Grisdale said he was pleased with how the new hall has worked out since it opened a year ago.
“There have been lots of tournaments since we opened with the Lemmy Wong Tournament, but nothing as big as this,” Grisdale said.
