The fifth annual Yukon Invitational Lights Out Basketball Tournament presented by Kilrich Building Centres got underway on Thursday. It is the largest field the tournament has had with eight men’s teams and six women’s.

Games began at Porter Creek Secondary School as well as F.H. Collins. At F.H. the Filipino Canadian Basketball League of Yukon (FCBLY) tipped off against the Porter Creek Select.

In the first quarter, the FCBLY side could not miss. They were burying their three-pointers and getting out into transition for easy layups.

The Selects were able to get to their spots on offence, but they could not convert on their chances, as their shots clanked off the front and back of the rim.

FCBLY took a 30-17 point lead into the second quarter.

In the second FCBLY continued to build their lead. Their hot shooting continued in the second frame and when they did miss they were able to grab the offensive rebound for easy putbacks, or to restart their offence.

They also locked down on defence. The Selects could not get anything going on on the offensive side of the ball. The shots they were able to take were forced and off balance, always with a hand up in their face.

Unable to get anything going in their half-court sets, the Selects tried to get out on the break and run. However, they began to force their passes and the turnovers started to mount.

It was a 56-24 halftime advantage for FCBLY.

During the break, Selects coach Paul MacDonald could be overheard from his team’s huddle. He encouraged the players to win the third and fourth quarters because the goal of the game was not to win but to grow as basketball players.

It’s always good to get a couple extra games,” said MacDonald. “Our last game was our Superhoops game.”

The PC Selects is known by the Rams during the Superhoops season. The opportunity for the team to play against older players will help their development said MacDonald.

“The strength of playing men, I remember that when I was a kid,” said MacDonald.

“That was my point of emphasis, that no matter what happens, this is just minutes, I want us to have fun and I don’t expect you to win. This is just to get a few more games and just get better.”

In the third quarter, the Selects began to come alive. They tightened up on defence early in the third and got out in transition for some easy buckets. When they had to play half- court offence, they set hard screens to free up the ball handlers to roll off of and get open looks at the hoop.

With more space to operate the Selects were able to cut into the lead, as the ball began to fall through the cylinder.

Part way through the quarter FCBLY got back into rhythm and they began to hit their shots from the inside and outside.

They slowed the game down in their half-court offence and was able to move the ball quickly, getting the selects defence out of position, for some easy baskets.

MacDonald liked the team’s effort in the second half.

“It was really the first two quarters that we lost,” said MacDonald. “We were right with them the other two. We haven’t had a game in over a month, and against some of the best players in town, I was happy with the effort. For some of the guys who want to take basketball further this is a good opportunity.”

In the fourth quarter, the game loosened as both teams started playing the transition game and less in the half court. At the final buzzer, the FCBLY took the game 88-61.

Other scores from the opening night of Lights Out:

In the other men’s division Pool A game, The Tropics squeaked out a one-point victory over the Billy Goats, 69-68.

Men’s division Pool B:

Big Bigness got past the Sundogs 65-55. And the CFSAY Jets cruised past the True North All Stars 72-54.

There were two games in the Women’s Division. In the first game, the Top Guns danced past Footloose 50-35. In the second game, the Terminators lived up to their name, defeating the Yukon Select 90-41.

Games continue today at Porter Creek and F.H. Collins for those wishing to see some high-quality basketball. The championship games will happen at F.H. Collins on Saturday at 7 p.m.