Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
GET BUCKETS – Bears player Aaron Hutchison goes up for a layup while Huskies player Martin Kitchen defends Sunday.
Photo by Christopher Reynolds
BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY – Players battle under the boards during the Yukon Men’s Basketball League championship final Sunday. The Bears (white jerseys) beat the Huskies 75-58.
Bears maul Huskies 75-58 to win hoops title
Colin LaForme netted a game-high 29 points to lead the Bears to the inaugural Yukon Men’s Basketball League title Sunday night.
Colin LaForme netted a game-high 29 points to lead the Bears to the inaugural Yukon Men’s Basketball League title Sunday night.
Teammate Aaron Hutchison added 22 points in a dominant 75-58 win over the Huskies at Porter Creek Secondary School.
The Huskies were led by league top scorer Will Chetcuti’s 22 points, while big man Ben Yu Schott had 12.
“This win means everything,” a smiling LaForme told the Star following post-game handshakes.
“To win the first championship in this league’s history is exciting.”
LaForme, the league organizer, said the Bears were able to win by having their core guys show up every game.
“We learned how to move with each other and play with each other,” he said. “I think that’s what led to our success.”
The Bears came out firing, neutralizing the Huskies’ zone defence with early threes from Hutchison, Jason Kelly and Ben Ryan.
In turn, the high-quality shooting from behind the arc opened up lanes for LaForme and fellow big men Kevin Greenshields and Jeff Cressman.
“We came out a lot stronger in the first half of the last game we played,” said Chetcuti, referring to the Huskies’ 61-58 semifinal win over the Timberwolves on Thursday.
“We just didn’t have it tonight.”
The Huskies limped out to an 0-3 season record, before winning six in a row to earn a berth in the finals.
The Bears, who finished the regular season in first with a 6-2 record, edged the Eagles 76-72 in their semifinal matchup.
In the bronze medal game Sunday, the Eagles crushed the Timberwolves 87-54. Sean McCarron had a game-high 24 points, while Dave Thomson drained 17.
A team known as the Xmas Boys beat the Wolverines 61-43 despite a game-high 26 points by Wolverines star Rowen Huggard.
The men’s basketball league was launched in October, ending a hoops hiatus that was approaching a decade.
The league proved to be a hit, and the board has decided to host a winter season beginning in January.
“I think it’s great,” Bears guard Kelly said of the league renewal. “I’m so happy that it’s back. Everyone’s having fun.”
For information or to register, visit the league’s website at http://yukonmensbball.wix.com/yukon/.
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