After coming away from the 2018 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) with silver ulus respectively, two Yellowknife basketball players are ready to showcase their skills at the college level.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's sad ... there were definitely some tears shed,SA国际影视传媒� said Hayley Tait, who participated in her second AWG with the girls team. SA国际影视传媒淎lthough knowing I could represent the NWT for one last time was a good feeling,SA国际影视传媒�

Patrick Yatco, riding a high into the AWG after almost setting the Canada Summer Games record for most points scored in a game during the 2017 games, agreed the second place finish at the AWG with the boys team was a tough way to end his high performance career.

SA国际影视传媒淭he gold medal game was the best moment of the tournament,SA国际影视传媒� said Yatco, who was also participating in his second AWG.

With their AWG careers behind them, both Tait and Yatco have shifted their focus to finding a spot on a collegiate roster.

The process of finding a place to play college basketball started while the two were juniors at St. Patrick High School. Yatco and Tait were scouted separately: Tait by Quest University in B.C and Yatco by Grand Prairie Regional College (GPRC) in Alberta.

However, their initial offers didn't last.

SA国际影视传媒淭hings didn't work out for me after GRPC changed their coaching staff,SA国际影视传媒� said Yatco. SA国际影视传媒淭hey really didn't have a spot for me ... the new coach said all of their athletes coming back were guards and forwards.SA国际影视传媒�

For Tait, unforeseeable events led Quest to retract its offer.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey cancelled their whole athletic program,SA国际影视传媒� said Tait. SA国际影视传媒淭he school was too small and didn't have enough money to sustain any of their varsity programs.SA国际影视传媒�

Without a place to play college hoops, yet still hungry to compete, both guards said it took a lot of willpower to try and keep their competitiveness.

SA国际影视传媒淭here was a time when I really didn't think I was going to get scouted again,SA国际影视传媒� said Tait. SA国际影视传媒淚 didn't even want to play anymore, but I got encouragement from my dad and my coaches and it brought my compete level up.SA国际影视传媒�

Yatco also received encouragement from his coaches, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey kept telling me 'put in the work and we will help you through it',SA国际影视传媒� said Yatco. SA国际影视传媒淚 owe a lot to coach Aaron Wells. He really saw my potential and has pushed me to reach my goals.SA国际影视传媒�

With the external help, both Tait and Yatco are looking to capitalize on the opportunity to continue their amateur basketball careers.

Tait will be a red-shirt freshman at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) for the 2018-2019 U Sports season. She attended a camp earlier this year, which ended up with her being offered a position on the team.

Tait said trying to perform in front of her new coaches was nerve-wracking.

SA国际影视传媒淚f I had a bad session and they didn't think I was good enough then that would have been it for me,SA国际影视传媒� said Tait. SA国际影视传媒淚t was scary, but I got used to it.SA国际影视传媒�

Yatco said he is determined to earn a spot at Lethbridge College in Alberta. He is going to compete at a tournament in Lethbridge this summer with the hope of being offered a spot on the team.

With the help of coach Wells and coach Matt Craig, Yatco said he's going to keep competing for that spot.

SA国际影视传媒淯ntil the tournament I will be going to camps, working hard and searching for more schools,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to play for Lethbridge, but at this point I'll be happy red-shirting anywhere.SA国际影视传媒�

Having been around the point guard for close to five years, Wells said in his opinion, Yatco has the capability of playing basketball at the next level.

SA国际影视传媒淗e's super-fast and has tremendous basketball smarts,SA国际影视传媒� said Wells. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, in order for him to get more opportunities he's got to put on some more muscle and he knows that.SA国际影视传媒�

Wells also said during his time coaching Yatco, he has seen a change in the guard's maturity level.

SA国际影视传媒淗e wants to put in the work and that's the biggest difference,SA国际影视传媒� said Wells. SA国际影视传媒淗e is working on his game and he wants to play basketball at the next level.SA国际影视传媒�

Wells adds there are disadvantages for NWT players like Yatco who want to play collegiate ball, the biggest being where they come from.

The other is the growth of basketball in Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淓ssentially these players grow up playing in the beer leagues, playing two or three times a week ... it's competitive but it's bad basketball,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen (Patrick) went to the college camp in Grande Prairie, he had to compete with players from Philadelphia. Even smaller schools in Canada are starting to attract players from the statesSA国际影视传媒�

Yatco acknowledges scouts from southern colleges will look him over because of where he is from.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all know that no scout is going to come up here but that doesn't mean it's over,SA国际影视传媒� said Yatco. SA国际影视传媒淲e can still contact coaches and go down south to compete. We are the ones who need to show ourselves off.SA国际影视传媒�

Tait agreed there is a stigma around basketball in the North, but that doesn't discourage her.

SA国际影视传媒淜nowing people are doubting you makes you want to work harder and prove them wrong,SA国际影视传媒� said Tait. SA国际影视传媒淚'm good enough, I made it and now scouts shouldn't overlook future players from the NWT just because they don't come see us play.SA国际影视传媒�

Tait said it's unfair for the players who put in the effort and want to get noticed by southern colleges.

SA国际影视传媒淲e definitely have good players,SA国际影视传媒� said Tait. SA国际影视传媒淏ut, I think a lot of talented players are of the mindset where they know they aren't going to be noticed ... so they don't put in the extra work to go to the next level.SA国际影视传媒�

At UNB, Tait said she will be studying kinesiology. Yatco said he is hoping to pursue a career in accounting or business.

Both said they are looking forward to playing the game they love at the next level.