LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The Thomas Simpson Wolfpack played strong during their annual invitational basketball tournament, going undefeated in the round robin.

TSS Wolfpack's Calen Hardisty, left, goes in for a basket while Brian Camozzi tries to stop him in the opening game against the Fort Nelson senior Huskies. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

They would eventually settle for second place after an edge-of-the-seat grudge match with the tournament's top contender, the Fort Nelson Senior Huskies.

From Jan. 11 to 12, the Wolfpack hosted the competition that brought in two teams from Fort Nelson and a team composed of players from Tulita and Fort Good Hope.

The Wolfpack started the tournament with a significant win over the Fort Nelson senior Huskies team.

"It was a good way to start out the tournament," said Christos Kazyas, one of the Wolfpack's coaches.

Down by eight points in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack went on a run picking up energy and forcing the game into double overtime. With a minute left in the second overtime, Fort Simpson had a two-point lead.

When the Huskies fouled a player the Wolfpack went in for foul shots. Nicolas dePelham sealed the win from the free-throw line bringing the score to 77-74.

It was the first win of the year for the team. It also meant victory over the senior Huskies who had beaten the Wolfpack twice during a tournament in Fort Nelson in December.

"It was a big victory," said Kazyas.

Leading scorer in the game was Teyen Menicoche with 38 points. Nicolas dePelham had 18 rebounds. Both players along with Calen Hardisty earned double doubles.

Keeping up their momentum, the Simpson players won again in their second game against the Tulita T-Wolves.

Leading from the start, the Wolfpack took the game 70-47 against the T-Wolves. Menicoche continued to lead the team in scoring with 25 points while Vince Browning took 14 points and 16 rebounds. Calen Hardisty was four assists away from making a triple double.

"They're very rare," said Kristen Morrison, the co-coach for the team.

Doubles are when a player tallies double digits in points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocked shots.

The Wolfpack brought victory with them again in a game against the junior Huskies winning 61-39.

With the round robin finished, the Wolfpack held the lead followed by the senior and junior Huskies and then the T-Wolves.

In the semi-finals the Fort Simpson team met the junior T-Wolves again on the court using a team effort to win 72-51.

The T-Wolves, who only had seven players including their coach who took to the court, won respect for their performance.

"They worked their tails off every moment of every game. I was really impressed by their effort," said Kazyas.

The game also saw Calen Hardisty cinch a triple double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

"It felt awesome. It was my first time," said Hardisty about the accomplishment.

With the home team entering the finals against the senior Huskies, the energy in the recreation centre became electric. The crowd in the stands were yelling and screaming along with the players on both benches, said Kazyas.

"It was a great atmosphere," he said.

The game wasn't decided until the last minute as the score see-sawed between both teams with no clear leader being established.

To start the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack trailed the Huskies by one point at 42-41.

The score stayed close with the Huskies remaining slightly ahead until they took a series of foul shots with just minutes left in the game giving the Fort Nelson team a final score of 58-52.

The loss was just the result of two evenly-matched teams meeting on the court, said Kazyas. The Wolfpack also had to overcome a number of obstacles with Nicolas dePelham fouling out before the end of the game and centre Lief Amundson being injured at the beginning of the game along with Vince Browning, one of the team's lead point scorers.

Throughout the tournament the Wolfpack used the team's strengths of passing, making shots and organizing a good defence, said Teyen Menicoche and Calen Hardisty.

"We played well," Hardisty said.

Although he led the team in points, Menicoche said he wasn't pleased with his overall performance because there were a few open shots he didn't make.

"They played with excellent camaraderie," added Kazyas about the team.

The team's performance improved with every game, he said. The season is only half finished and there has been a good progression in the team, said Kazyas.

The Wolfpack's next test will be at a tournament in La Crete, Alta.. from Feb. 8 to 9.