It doesn't matter if it's in the Yukon or Alaska, for the past few years it seems the Porter Creek Rams and Vanier Crusaders are destined to meet in sporting finals.

So far this basketball season, that theory has remained intact, as the Rams and Crusaders faced off in the championships game at the annual Don Hather Tournament in Skagway, held this past weekend.

Up against teams from Hoonah, Tok, Skagway, Anderson and Haines, Alaska, as well as Whitehorse's F.H. Collins, P.C. and Vanier went through the two-game round-robin undefeated, including close victories for both teams on Friday, versus Hoonah and Haines respectively.

P.C. guard Sina Kazemi got his team off a good start in Saturday's final against the Crusaders, scoring 14 of his game-high 26 points in the second quarter.

Despite being down at the half by 10, the Crusaders came roaring back with eight points in the third quarter by David Pedersen, to cut the lead to 35-32 going into the final quarter.

Vanier got a pair of buckets down low from Jared Hougen and took the lead, 38-37, with about five minutes left in the game. The teams then traded leads twice, with the Crusaders getting it back for good on two drives down the lane by Sam Johnson.

After that, Kazemi took over, stealing the ball three times in the final one minute and 30 seconds, and converting either a bucket or free throws to ice a 52-42 win for the Rams. Kazemi finished the game 3-for-3 from long-range.

The Rams won the tourney with just seven players, and despite the fact they were missing two of their starters Chad Curlew and Zack Carey.

Head coach Logan Wedge said it was a tough win against a great team, pointing out the Rams played up their strengths when it counted.

'We're very fast and we're pretty gritty too. These aren't really tall kids. Ben Ryan, he's 5'10 maybe, and he was stepping up against these 6'5 guys.'

Kazemi and fellow Ram Tim Beaver were selected to the All-Star team at the tournament, as were Peterson and Erik Gray of Vanier.

The Rams swept the skills competition, with Johnson winning the free throw contest and Kazemi taking top honours in the three-point shooting.

Wedge said Kazemi, who averaged 22 points and six steals per game, was easily the most valuable player of the tournament.

'He stepped up huge in the game against Vanier. Tim (Beaver) played really well also.

'Our key guys, most of them are Grade 11 kids, so it's a pretty young team we have. What's cool, is that we (Wedge and assistant coach Anthony DeLorenzo) have been coaching most of these kids since they were in Grade 8, so it's nice to see them come together like this.'

Beaver averaged 13 points and 16 rebounds throughout the tournament.

Meanwhile, F.H. Collins lost to Hoonah and Tok during the round-robin, but beat Anderson 69-29 on Saturday for seventh place. Wedge said while it's been mostly P.C. and Vanier winning high school sports championships lately, he expects F.H. will catch up over the next couple years, now that they have new coaches in place.

Jamie Shaw has taken over the boy's basketball program for the Warriors.

Still, Wedge expects the toughest competition for the Rams throughout the season will be Vanier, acknowledging the Yukon championship could go to either team. P.C. is hoping to get some added experience for the championship when they take a trip to Edmonton.

'We went to Edmonton last year as well and we didn't do too hot, but this year, with this team, we should do well. It will be nice to get these guys some exposure to college scouts, especially Sina.

'He's not very tall yet, but at least he plays the guard position, and he plays pretty good in the position too.'

Kazemi, Beaver and Carey will represent the Yukon at the Arctic Winter Games in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula in March.

Meanwhile, in girls' action at the Don Hather tournament, Haines defeated Hoonah for the championship.

Vanier finished in fourth place, after falling to Tok 23-21 in the third-place matchup.

Porter Creek was fifth, with a 47-18 win over the Wildcats (a team made up of substitute players) in their final game, and F.H. took seventh place.

F.H.'s May Ngyuen and Kasia Leary from P.C. were named to the All-Star team.