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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A generous decision by a hometown team changed the dynamics of the finals at the Wolfpack Invitational Basketball Tournament.

The Wolfpack's Charles Gargan, right, blocks Alexander Spracklin of the Fort Nelson Huskies while teammate Laurent Isaiah looks on during a round robin game at the Wolfpack Invitational Basketball Tournament in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The annual event, which was held in the village from Jan. 6 to 7, drew five teams for the junior division and six teams for the senior division.

Fort Simpson was represented by the Thomas Simpson School Wolfpack and the Simpson Open team, which both competed in the senior division.

The Simpson Open team, composed of alumni from the Wolfpack and community members, went undefeated in the round robin, besting teams from Tulita, Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Nelson as well as beating the Wolfpack 49-39.

"They showed they've still got it," said Kristen Morrison, one of the tournament's organizers.

The team, however, made the decision to drop out of the tournament before the crossovers in order to give the high school teams a chance to compete, Morrison said.

"We felt that was a really classy move and were impressed that they demonstrated such actions," she said.

The decision gave the Tulita T-Wolves a chance to compete in fourth place.

Going into the playoffs the Wolfpack was in third place with a record of two wins and three losses.

Facing the second-place team, the Yellowknife High Performance Team, the Wolfpack suffered its fourth defeat of the tournament, losing 49-36.

Playing against the first-place Hay River Panthers, Tulita lost in a nailbiter finish 39-36.

The Tulita T-Wolves went on to play the Wolfpack in the semi-finals. The Wolfpack played a strong game, winning 53-31 and taking third place.

Gold in the tournament went to Hay River who won a close game, 37-35, against Yellowknife.

In the junior division the Fort Nelson boys' team took gold followed by the Fort Nelson girls' team in second and the Hay River boys' team in third.

Geoff Buerger, the coach for the Hay River senior team and the principal of Diamond Jenness Secondary School, said the tournament allows athletes to meet like old friends every year.

"We've had a terrific experience," he said.

"The quality of basketball is high."

Buerger said he hopes in the future to see more girls' teams in the tournament.

Hay River brought two female teams, which competed in the mixed junior division.

Buerger said the coaches and athletes appreciated how well planned the tournament was.

"It's a phenomenal amount of work even to put on a small tournament," he said.

Morrison thanked the students and parents of the local athletes who volunteered their time during the tournament as well as the referees, who were all primarily coaches who took on the extra duty of calling the games.

"Things like this wouldn't be possible without volunteers," she said.

The Northern store was also recognized for sponsoring the tournament.

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