Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 21, 2007

BAKER LAKE - Baker Lake needed overtime to defeat Cambridge Bay 67-63 in a thrilling final game to capture the 2007 Nunavut boys 18-and-under territorial basketball championship.

The territorial event was held in Baker earlier this month, with 13 teams from across Nunavut competing.

Gjoa Haven defeated Arctic Bay to claim bronze.

Shannon McCarthy and Glenn Ullyot were co-chairs for the event.

McCarthy said it takes a lot of time and preparation to host a territorial championship.

She said a solid effort is needed from the entire community for an event to be successful.

"You have letters and other items that have to go out prior to the event, and there's stuff to do with Sport Nunavut, as well as making sure all the teams and officials get in and all the schedules are put together," said McCarthy.

"The volunteers work very hard during the event to feed the athletes, run the canteen, make sure the scoreboard table is taken care of, clean the school, supply security, and make sure the kids are doing what they're supposed to and not causing damage to the school.

"Then you have cleaning the toilets and the washrooms, so it really is the combined efforts of a whole community to run an event."

McCarthy said organizers are pleased with how the territorial championship went in Baker.

She said everybody pulled together to deliver a fantastic tournament and their efforts did not go unnoticed.

"We had officials in from Alberta and one of them told us it was a first-class tournament by any standard.

"He said it was a great weekend and he was privileged to be in Baker for such an event.

"He also said the hospitality the community showed him was amazing."

McCarthy said the largest crowd of the weekend was at the championship game.

She said she was proud to be a Baker resident during the entire tournament, especially the final game.

"I grew up around sports and I know the things that can happen, or be said, during championship events, but we didn't have a single negative incident.

"The crowd cheered loud, loud, loud during the final game and it was very tasteful cheering."

McCarthy said the athletes put away a ton of food during the weekend, but Baker was well-prepared to meet their needs.

She said one lady from the Baker Lake Youth Athletics Association ordered all the food and other ladies spent the weekend helping her prepare the meals.

"The meals were great, everyone was fed and there was plenty to go around.

"It was amazing to see the admiration for the Baker team and you could feel the pride in the room.

"At the end of it all, our volunteers worked hard and they're the reason why the event went so smoothly.

"It was a true community effort!"