Fresh off helping the Terry Fox Ravens win the B.C. AAA senior boys high school basketball championship two weeks ago, Trevor Casey and the Skidegate Saints from Haida Gwaii captured top spot at the Junior All-Native Basketball Tournament (JANT), defeating the Heiltsuk Nation of Bella Bella 66-62 in a riveting final game Friday.
Twenty-two boys' teams and 21 girls' teams representing First Nations communities all across B.C. traveled to Port Alberni to compete in the event. Casey canned 19 points in the final and was named to the tourney's first all-star squad, just as he was at the prep provincials.
After losing 85-82 last Wednesday to the Okanagan Nation Syilx, the Saints played a grueling four games on Thursday -- defeating the Gingolx Sons (Kincolith) 73-36, Lax kw'alaams Hoyas (Port Simpson) 58-29, Ahousaht Wolf Pack (Vargas Island in Clayoquot Sound) 73-57 and the Prince Rupert Friendship House Beavers 76-43 -- for a back-door berth to the winners' side. In Friday's semifinal, the Saints defeated Syilx 79-32 to advance to the final against Heiltsuk.
