The Team Nunavut basketball girls are satisfied with their first match of the Arctic Winter Games, despite falling to Team Yukon in a close contest Monday night.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e really proud of the girls,SA国际影视传媒� said coach Ashley Donkoh afterward. SA国际影视传媒淭hey played their heart out. This is the first time weSA国际影视传媒檙e all playing together, and me and coach are really, really proud of them. They got back on defence; they hustled on offence.SA国际影视传媒�

Yukon staked an early lead, but the Nunavut girls made a push to tie it up early in the third quarter. After a timeout, Yukon rallied to take back their lead and finished with a 54-45 victory.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think it went really well,SA国际影视传媒� said Nunavut player Cassidy Devereaux. SA国际影视传媒淚t was our first time actually playing together as a team, and I think we work together very well.SA国际影视传媒�

She enjoyed the loud crowd and upbeat atmosphere, saying the team learned what theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to be facing in the next games.

The Nunavut girls did not get much practice time together SA国际影视传媒� just a few short ones squeezed in before the recent tournament in Rankin Inlet.

SA国际影视传媒淚t costs so much money to bring everybody together,SA国际影视传媒� said Donkoh. SA国际影视传媒淪o we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the opportunity that everybody else has. But you can see tonight, we do overcome that and we just try our best and do what we can.SA国际影视传媒�

Baker Lake flagbearer Haley Hachey could be heard calling out plays on the court all game.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think it went pretty well, considering it was our first time playing together as a team,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒�(For) a lot of them, it was their first time playing in a major games, including myself. And the other team has been playing together for a lot longer and practising. There are some things we can improve on.SA国际影视传媒�

Many players on the Nunavut squad have been active for years and were selected for the 2020 Games, cancelled due to the pandemic, explained coach Olivia Ullyot.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese girls have wanted it for a long time,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e been wanting it since the 2020 Games, so this is a big deal for them. And basketball for them is their life. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e on the court, theySA国际影视传媒檙e in the gym all the time. They are living, breathing basketball.SA国际影视传媒�

Ullyot has been coaching in Baker Lake for six years. Several of the players on the team were there when Ullyot first began in her role.

Hachey has been playing basketball since Grade 6.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 a competitive person,SA国际影视传媒� she laughed, adding that sheSA国际影视传媒檚 always trying to push herself past her limit to improve.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think I want to learn how to dribble the ball better, because itSA国际影视传媒檚 very bouncy. And I think we should focus on getting rebounds and playing hard D (defence), but also working on our plays again and trying to work as a team to score some more baskets.SA国际影视传媒�

Devereaux said the team has had some bonding experiences off the court, so now itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to translate that onto the court.

SA国际影视传媒淕etting more comfortable with the offence that weSA国际影视传媒檙e running, running a tight defence and working together well,SA国际影视传媒� are the keys to moving forward, she said.

Donkoh agreed.

SA国际影视传媒淭he girls know that the momentum starts with the defence,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we can get tight defence, get some steals off of that, that leads into offence. So thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to work on for next game.SA国际影视传媒�

Ullyot said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 very proud to be at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games representing Team Nunavut with some exceptional young women.

Flagbearing was SA国际影视传媒榦verwhelmingSA国际影视传媒�

Hachey was also the Team Nunavut flagbearer during the opening ceremonies Sunday, Jan. 29.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was very overwhelming, but it was also an honour because I was representing all of Team Nunavut and leading them in the opening ceremonies,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 just think it was really nice to sort of be the face of Nunavut and lead them throughout the Games.SA国际影视传媒�