Whitehorse Daily Star

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BALL FAKE – Yukon basketball player Kiiwaadin Swan fakes a pass while driving to the basket against Alberta at the Western Canada Summer Games on Saturday in Swift Current, Sask. Photo by TEAM YUKON/SARAH LEWIS

B-ball team gains valuable experience

The boys' basketball team that represented the Yukon in Swift Current, Sask. at the Western Canada Summer Games has returned home after going 0-5 and coming in fifth in the tournament.

By John Tonin on August 15, 2019

The boys' basketball team that represented the Yukon in Swift Current, Sask. at the Western Canada Summer Games has returned home after going 0-5 and coming in fifth in the tournament.

Although the boys dropped all their games, head coach Tim Brady said he and the team gained valuable experience as they move forward in their basketball progression.

"We want to maintain a good competitive attitude and look for small victories," Brady told the Star before the team headed to the WCSG. "Can we make two or three stops and get a good shot off? Can we match the intensity and hustle and win a minute, win a half?"

Brady said the team accomplished that goal.

"The goal was to outscore the opponent for one quarter and we did that four or five times," said Brady. "We found a way to compete and we played as hard as we could for as long as we could.

"I was pleased with the effort. There was no giving up."

In the week before the Games, the core group of players, who play with the Wolfpack, competed in the BBall Nationals in Langley B.C. The team went .500 at Nationals and as Brady expected the WCSG was another step up in competition.

"It was a step up in class," said Brady. "We are a small team physically and that was really evident.

"The competition was really good and the Games were an opportunity to experience that and see that next level."

At Westerns, the team played Manitoba first and they fell 120-29.

"We got off to a rough start but we found a way to compete," said Brady.

After the contest, Brady set up a peer review with the Manitoban players to give the Yukon side some feedback.

"Nobody really goes to the opposition and asks to do a peer review," said Brady. "The opposing team told them what they need to work on and what they did well. What plays were difficult or easy to defend. It is a neat thing."

The review was also a good opportunity for the team to build friendships. Brady said the team formed a bond with Manitoba – who cheered them on when they played Alberta.

"They got to know these guys as peers and forged a bond," said Brady of team Manitoba. "They got in our corner and cheered for them."

The peer review was also done with team Saskatchewan. The Yukon dropped their game to Saskatchewan 76-48.

After leaving the Games, Brady said he feels the team is much more performance-oriented after seeing the players from the other provinces.

"We saw the progression," said Brady. "When they play better players in other provinces it's an eye-opener for them. They played players in performance training.

"All the guys (Team Yukon) are much more performance-oriented compared to 14 weeks ago. Now we need to up the skill level and athleticism."

Now back in the Yukon, the basketball players will have a break before training begins again in September.

Brady said the boys have come back feeling motivated to continue their growth as basketball players and that he can begin to tailor practices to help raise their level of performance.

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