The Yellowknife Eagles basketball program is all done for 2021-22 but not before a couple of teams hit the road for one last shot at the hoop during the long weekend

The Volvo Edmonton Challenge was the event which saw the youngest SA国际影视传媒� U13 SA国际影视传媒� and the oldest SA国际影视传媒� U19 SA国际影视传媒� groups of the program hit the court from May 20 to 22. Both teams competed in the silver division of their respective age categories and both ended up coming away with some success.

The U13 outfit was playing in not only its very first tournament but its first actual official games, period. Head coach Richelle Castillo noticed right away that the girls were in a bit of awe at the whole situation once they took to the court for the first time.

SA国际影视传媒淭he girls were really nervous because the atmosphere was totally different from what theySA国际影视传媒檙e used to,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou walk into this large building with so many courts. I think the nerves got to us in our first game but they adapted and overcame the nerves.SA国际影视传媒�

Those nerves may have been the reason why the girls dropped a 48-18 decision in their opening contest to the Northern Hoops Selects of Edmonton. But they managed to right the ship in game two versus Infinity Basketball from La Crete, Alta., as they were victorious, 25-12. Game three was the big one as the U19 girls cam to cheer on the girls but Outwest U13 of Calgary managed to overcome that as they won, 41-29.

SA国际影视传媒淭he girls were really starting to get used to things by the second game,SA国际影视传媒� said Castillo. SA国际影视传媒淎ll eyes were on us in that third game and you could tell the girls were enjoying it.SA国际影视传媒�

They would end up playing one consolation game against the Warriors U13 from Peace River, Alta., and finished on a winning note by a score of 29-16.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were pleased with themselves when it was over,SA国际影视传媒� said Castillo. SA国际影视传媒淚 think they were surprised with the results SA国际影视传媒� winning two games in Tier 2 in their first tournament together as a team.SA国际影视传媒�

When it comes to the U19 girls, they were playing in the 17U Silver Division and the ages all worked out, said head coach Aaron Wells, even if the team age category looked a bit too old.

SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e 17 on Jan. 1, youSA国际影视传媒檙e eligible to play,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The girls would kick off against Supreme Hoops from Calgary and would end up on the wrong end of a 37-23 decision, followed the next day by a close 53-46 loss to the CABC Queens out of Red Deer. They would find the win column in their second game of that day with a 45-36 triumph over the Grads U17 of Edmonton.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was a back-and-forth first quarter,SA国际影视传媒� said Wells. SA国际影视传媒淲e took the lead in the second quarter and never gave it up after that. There were times where we couldSA国际影视传媒檝e pulled away from them but they always found a way to close the gap.SA国际影视传媒�

The final game against Outwest U17 of Calgary was perhaps the wildest. It went to double-overtime with Outwest prevailing, 48-43, in a game which featured a buzzer-beater for Outwest called off at the end of regulation time and sudden-death in the second overtime period after the first extra frame solved nothing.

So the record for the U19 squad was one win and three losses but Wells said the wins and losses werenSA国际影视传媒檛 the big thing to take away from this trip.

SA国际影视传媒淭he games were closer than they looked,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭his was good for their development and good competition. It was one of those tournaments where we could go back down next weekend and someone else wins and someone else the following weekend. Anyone could have beaten anyone and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why our record doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 really show how well the girls did.SA国际影视传媒�