By far, the highlight of the 2024 All Native Basketball Tournament for the Gitxsan Nation was a stunning performance by the Gitxsan Thunder Dance group as they hosted the Opening Ceremonies Sunday (Feb. 11) evening.
On the basketball court, even before the Thunder took centre stage, prospects were looking good for the Gitxsan teams.
Three of the four teams — the women, intermediates and masters — had already won their opening games.
The following day, the Senior men also got into winners’ circle advancing past Massett 71 - 62. Unfortunately for the men, that set up a second-round matchup on Wednesday (Feb. 14) against perennial Senior favourites Gitxaala (Kitkatla) who had won three of the last six titles dating back to 2018.
Gitxaala, led by three-time MVP Jacob Thom with 26 points, crushed Gitxsan 94 - 43 sending them to the elimination bracket where one more loss would bring their 2024 hopes to an end in the ANBT double-knockout format. That loss came the next day against Gitga’at (Hartley Bay) 78 - 66.
Gitxaala would go on to almost make the Final, but were defeated in the semi-final by rival and defending champion Skidegate, who found themselves facing elimination courtesy of the Burnaby Chiefs. In the final, Skidegate looked like they would easily defend their title opening a 40 - 26 lead in the first half.
But the explosive Burnaby offence erupted in the second half completing an unlikely, but decisive comeback 81 - 72.
The Intermediate Gitxsan had a similar path to the sidelines as the seniors, winning one and then losing two in a row. After winning their first game against Gitxaala decisively 83 - 63, they faced Massett losing 74 -52.
Unfortunately, the second-ranked Skidegate Saints also happened to be in the elimination bracket. Although they had a bye into the second round, Skidegate had to face the eventual Intermediate champions from Metlakatla, Alaska who came into the tourney unranked due to a seven-year absence.
While Skidegate had no business being in the elimination bracket, they almost made it all the way through seven elimination games, including their 62 -54 win over Gitxsan. Metlkakatla, though, got the better of the Saints in the semi-final after suffering their only loss of the week to the defending champion Prince Rupert Cubs.
The Intermediate Final was by far the most entertaining of the four championship games. Rupert and Metlakatla are very similar teams characterized by size, speed and ball movement. It made for a lively see-saw battle in the Russell Gamble Gymnasium amplified by the Thunderous roar of the hometown crowd.
Despite two opportunities to win or tie in the last few seconds of the game for Rupert, Metlakatla hung on for the 78-76 win.
Both the Gitxsan Women and Masters fared a little better than their Senior and Intermediate compatriots, each playing four games.
On the women’s side, Gitanmaax made short work of Lytton on the first day. They tripled up the team from down south — who was brand-new to the tournament this year — 62 - 24.
By the luck of the draw, however, that meant they had to face the top-ranked Similkameen Starbirds, who are now undefeated through two full ANBTs winning the Division on Feb. 17 against Hesquiaht. As Gitanmaax had embarrassed Lytton the day before, it was the Gitanmaax who had to bear a humiliating 52-28 loss to the Starbirds.
They would bring it back though with a crushing win over Massett on Tuesday (Feb. 13) 77 - 14.
Their elimination would come at the hands of Gitmidiik on Wednesday in a tight game that was tied after three quarters. In the last 10 minutes, though, the Gitxsan women were only able to muster one basket allowing Gitmidiik to take it 50 - 43.
In Masters play, the Gitxsan were equally dominant as their female counterparts on Day 1 nearly tripling their opponents Gitxaala 85 - 35.
Also similar to the women, the big win put them up against Hydaburg AK in the second round. While Hydaburg was technically second-ranked coming into the week, they should have been number one.
With the addition of superstar scorer and eventual tournament MVP Vinny Edenshaw to the Hydaburg roster and first-ranked Gitmidiik hall-of-famer Justin Adams all but sidelined by injury, the team from Alaska cruised through the field including their devastating 82 - 39 first game, which relegated Gitxsan to the elimination side of the bracket.
They would stay alive for another day, though, defeating the novice team from Terrace 75 - 60.
Their elimination game against Gingolx (Kincolith) was a tough loss, though. While Gingolx ran away with the first quarter scoring 14 unanswered points, the Gitxsan Masters clawed their way back into the game with a 25-point second quarter to go into the second half tied.
The rest of the game was tight with numerous lead changes coming down to the very last minute of play when it would be decided by free throws.
Up 49 - 47 with seconds remaining, Gingolx put Gitxsan’s Collin Jack on the line. He was good on both, tying the game at 49.
But fouls by Gitxsan in the waning seconds gave Gingolx a chance to win it with the clock stopped, which they did, 51-49.
