LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Urged on by the cheers of a hometown crowd, the senior boys' Wolfpack repeated a success seen a year ago by winning the Wolfpack Invitational yet again.

The members of the senior boys' Wolfpack flex their muscles after winning their division at the Wolfpack Invitational. Team members include from left, back row: Brandon Tonka, Laurent Isaiah, Charles Gargan, Gordon Thompson, Logan McKay, and coach Alex Campbell; front row: BJ Burrill, coach Kristen Morrison, Dakota Burrill, Alex Roche and Thomas Roche. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Last year marked the first time the Wolfpack won gold at its own tournament in Fort Simpson. The achievement came after a close win over the Tulita T-Wolves 74-71.

This year it was the Fort Nelson Huskies who offered the highest level of competition for the Wolfpack. The team was undefeated going into the finals on Jan. 8 but the game got off to a rough start as players reverted to old habits, said coach Kristen Morrison.

Athletes began playing as individuals and the team lost cohesion, making it easy for Fort Nelson to defend, Morrison said. With the team trailing in points Morrison called a time-out in the first quarter to help the team regroup.

The strategy worked and the Wolfpack finished the quarter leading 16-11. The Wolfpack maintained and slightly increased their lead on the scoreboard finishing the game 63-54 to claim the tournament victory.

Laurent Isaiah, Thomas Roche and Dakota Burrill helped secure the win by playing strong offensively and defensively, Morrison said. Isaiah, along with Gordon Thompson and Charles Gargan, were also defensive threats and controlled the boards, she said.

"Everyone played hard. Everyone played good defense," said Gargan.

Gargan, who played centre, was also on the team that won last year. Gargan said it will be great to be able to look back on high school and say he helped win the tournament twice.

Some of the players were recognized for their performances during the tournament. Isaiah was named the most valuable player (MVP) for the finals while Thomas Roche was named the team's MVP for the tournament. Isaiah was also named the top defender while Burrill won the coach's award.

The senior boys' Wolfpack wasn't alone in its success. The junior co-ed Wolfpack also won its division.

The junior team played against the Fort Nelson Huskies female team three times. The Wolfpack lost the first game 35-21 but came back to win 22-20 and 37-32.

The juniors spent the tournament focusing on three basketball fundamentals: keeping the other team out of the key, allowing their opponents to take long range shots and forcing them to dribble with their weak hand. As the tournament progressed, more and more players learned to implement the three lessons, said Morrison. The team's improvement was dramatic, she said.

The tournament marked the first time the team had played competitively this season, which made their victory in the division all the more impressive, Morrison said. Some of the players received special recognition including Devan Horassi as the team's MVP, Kevin Roche for being the top defender and Willis Ryan who won the coach's award.

The senior Wolfpack's longtime rivals, the Tulita T-Wolves, finished third in the senior division.

The team, which was composed of teachers and coaches from Chief Albert Wright School and four graduates from the basketball program, arrived in Fort Simpson at midnight on Friday.

The T-Wolves went on to play six games on Saturday.

"It's unbelievably hard," said Neil Barry, the team's coach.

It was the first time the athletes had played together as a team apart from a few scrimmages in the days leading up to the tournament.

Barry said it was hard to believe the team played five games and won their sixth against the Yellowknife Hot Shots to finish in third.

"Awesome, it was great," Barry commented about the overall tournament.

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