INUVIK
A record number of players and teams turned out for this year's 3-on-3 basketball tournament and clinic, with five communities represented.

Frank Elias, left, gets chased across the East Three Secondary School gym by River McDonald in an exercise at the basketball clinic Jan. 22. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo

There were 110 participants and 29 teams, according to event organizer Lorne Guy, blowing the previous record of 70 participants right out of the water.

In the weeks leading up to the clinic, Guy had been worried his absence last year - and resulting lapse of the event - would discourage attendance this time around. But the enthusiasm for the game proved just the opposite.

But that's not the end of the basketball season at East Three Secondary School.

The regional 5-on-5 tournament taking place next weekend will also bring together teams from all over the Beaufort Delta, as well as some homegrown talent.

Adam Wright is the coach for the junior boys team at the school and helped organize the upcoming tournament. He said the main reason they started it was to get students used to game situations so they wouldn't get obliterated when they went to tournaments in Yellowknife.

"Now it has grown into something else," he told the Drum.

"The adult side is huge. We've had a team from Cambridge Bay say they're going to come here instead of going to Yellowknife this year, so this could really become the tournament for the northern part of the territory."

As much as the adults have stepped up their game, Wright said he was particularly impressed with his team. They have been practising several times a week at 7 a.m. at the school, something he said he expected to be more of a problem for Grade 7 and 8 boys.

"We have 16 boys on the team and I get 16 boys coming to practice at 7 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday," Wright said.

"I'm really impressed. I've got parents telling me how proud they are of their kids, how they're setting their own alarms and getting up and getting ready."

Wright credits basketball's increased profile at the school with motivating students to not only participate, but to excel.

"Basketball is my favourite sport," said Tyson Mistakenchief.

"I'm looking forward to the tournament, seeing new teams, meeting new people."

Fellow player Lane Voudrach agreed. Wright said Voudrach is all heart on the court, making him one of the best players on the team.

As for Wright's own involvement beyond coaching, he said the level of play has increased so much in the past few years on the adult side that the "teacher team" disbanded.

"Last year, there was a team from Tuk in the finals, and I think the whole community turned out to support them," he said.

"Packed stands for the game, that to me says even more than the players. It's not just a basketball game, it's an event, and I think it's great. The kids just love it."