Fantastic finishes beckon for February

It’s always one of the most anticipated of weeks in Prince Rupert, the opening weekend of the All Native Basketball Tournament. A combintaion of March madness and Mardi Gras, wrapped around long held traditions.

The hotels fill up, the streets are busier with traffic and the local stores find that the doldrums days of February suddenly are quite as grey anymore. There’s a definite buzz in the air as the tournament week arrives and this year is no different than any other.

The long time fixture on the Rupert calendar gets underway this weekend, with the opening game on Sunday at 2:30.

First Nations from across the Northwest will assemble at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre much as they have year after year, taking part in an event that is one part basketball tournament and one part cultural exchange where they can renew friendships and rivalries.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled in for Tuesday night at 7:30, a riveting spectacle that always brings together some of the best athletes and traditions of the competing communities.

The tournament continues to evolve from year to year and this one sees it become more wired to the world than ever before. With a very resource laden home page that will tell you all you need to know about this year’s tournament than you could ever ask for.

From its history to the different draws scheduled, from message boards to a hall of fame section, the website is a pretty invaluable resource for the event, it even includes a live streaming audio feature that will provide coverage for all of those unable to make it to Rupert, of all of the activities at the Civic Centre Gym and Arena through to the finals on February 17th.

The Daily News kicked off their coverage on Wednesday with a preview of some of the week’s events.

Excitement builds as ANBT looms
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Page one

Four finals, all down to the last minute.

To not think of last year’s All-Native Basketball Tournament in the category of “best ever” simply would be wrong. It was the first time in almost a decade that every single final game was within 10 points, and three of them were within five.

But that hasn’t stopped the ANBT committee from thinking that an encore is very possible.
“I think the level (of basketball) is going to be the same,” said ANBT chair Clarence Martin.
Unfortunately, the Hydaburg Intermediates team — the 2006 defending champs — will not be attending, and neither will the 2005 senior men’s runner-ups, Ahousaht.

But it’s not just basketball that will be on everyone’s minds when the tournament officially tips off at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

This year’s opening ceremonies, set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday inside the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre gymnasium, will have a different feel as the ANBT pays tribute to one of the pioneers of the tournament — the late Russell Gamble.

“Three families will be involved,” said Martin. “Bella Bella (where he was born), Kitamaat, because his wife is from there, and Kitkatla, where he grew up.”

Gamble played in the first go-around of the tournament from 1947-53 (for more on that tournament, see our supplement in today’s paper) and was instrumental in ensuring the tournament continued to prosper when it returned in 1960.

Gamble was named to the B.C. Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

The ANBT committee and the entire North Coast community will pay tribute to his legacy on Tuesday evening at the opening ceremonies.

“What’s going to happen ... the immediate family is still in mourning, so Bella Bella and Kitamaat will pay tribute,” said Martin, pointing out how numerous people were unable to make it to Gamble’s memorial back in November due to poor weather conditions.

“After all the tributes, the Gamble family will respond.”

Normally, all 54 teams march into the gymnasium during the opening ceremonies, but this time, each team will send a representative who will march in behind the three families.

At that time, the gym will be renamed the Russell Gamble gymnasium. The Jim Ciccone name for the civic centre will remain.

Fred Gamble, Russell’s brother, is this year’s inductee into the ANBT Hall of Fame.

As for the tournament itself, the ANBT continues to embrace the digital age, as Entel will once again maintain a website with daily updates on scores.

But a handful of games will also be webcast.

“The (plan is) also to provide play-by-play with cameras around the gym floor,” said Martin.
The internet cafe inside the civic centre will also be back this year.

In addition, the tournament has made it easier for fans to pay for tickets at the door.

“We’re going to have a debit machine set up in the office (at the civic),” said Martin. “So they can pay for their tickets through debit, and they’re not carrying so much money around.”

On the court itself, all eyes will be focused on whether or not Hydaburg can establish a new record — seven consecutive titles. But it won’t be easy, as the Alaskan juggernaut is missing both Matt Carle sr (coach) and jr (player).

But don’t expect the ANBT to cheer for or against Hydaburg when the time comes. They just want to see a similar scenario to 2006 — great basketball.

“We’ve never really seriously thought about it,” said Martin. “If it happens, it happens.”
Daily coverage of the tournament begins Mon. Feb. 12 in the Daily News.