Cambridge Bay earns double victories at Nunavut basketball championships

The Cambridge Bay men’s and women’s teams each took first place in their division at the under-19 Nunavut Basketball Territorial Championships in Iqaluit on Sunday.

In both men’s and women’s championship games, Cambridge Bay’s teams defeated their opponents from Iqaluit.

The weekend, three-on-three tournament brought together 125 athletes from seven communities to compete at Inuksuk High School.

“A lot of great basketball has been played,” said Nunavut Basketball Association president Gary Kennedy in a courtside interview. “The players’ sportsmanship and their attitude has been great, playing hard every game.”

They had to play hard, because three-on-three basketball — played on a half court using just one net — is a faster-paced version of the sport that’s usually played with five players on each side using a full court and two nets.

Teams from Pangnirtung, Arctic Bay, Cambridge Bay, Arviat, Baker Lake, Igloolik and Iqaluit competed.

Team Nunavut had already selected its male and female basketball players for the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse from March 8 to 15 prior to the weekend tournament, Kennedy said.

This past weekend, hard work plus teamwork was the winning formula for the top-finishing Cambridge Bay women’s team led by coach Daisy Dyer-Eyegetok.

“These guys worked hard and they showed teamwork,” she said.

Iqaluit men’s and women’s teams each finished second in their divisions. Baker Lake placed third on the men’s side, while Cambridge Bay’s second women’s team won third place in that division.

The teams mixed off court as well, as players added one another to their social media contacts between games.

Connecting with youths from around the territory was a “cool” experience, said Igloolik player Venant Oolateeta.

“That’s the fun part,” he said.

Making new friends was also a highlight for Pangnirtung player Daisy Dialla, whose team headed back home on Monday. After three days of basketball, she said she’s ready for that flight.

“I miss my bed,” Dialla said.