Finishing up the week in men’s basketball was Team Northwest Territories against Team Yukon fighting for the gold ulu. Northwest Territories won the tip-off and quickly got a 3-point shot. This team clearly goes for the longer shots whereas Yukon started with lay-ups.
The first quarter stagnated for a bit around four minutes into the game with NWT up 9-8. The game got more interesting in the last two minutes of the quarter with both teams fighting for every point they earned. The quarter ended with NWT up 15-12.
Yukon quickly tied the game up at the start of the second quarter with a 3-point shot and got two more within the first two minutes. In an incredible show, NWT was able to tie it up about a minute and a half left in the first half. However, the first half ended with YT up 37-36.
NWT started on offense for the second half. The teams were neck and neck for most of the third quarter, but more 3-points and free-throws kept Yukon ahead. They finished the quarter ahead 67-62.
The start of the fourth quarter brought a closer game. A minute and a half in, the teams were 69 Yukon, 68 Northwest. It was a very interesting, fast-paced game that was very close most of the time. With just two minutes left in the game, Yukon was up by 5. Neither team was ready to give up just yet. Yukon scored one more time plus got a free-throw to win the game 83-74.
Going into this game, half of the top 10 scorers were playing for the gold. Despite the fact that Alaska and Nunavut have played an additional game, Brandon McAllister from the Northwest Territories was in the top five with 68 points entering the final game.
Following the game, Brendan McAllister and Jojo Mercado from Northwest Territories were both in the top five scorers for the tournament. Zachary Michael Mathison and Rex Turner joined their teammates in the top ten. Brittony Pagobo and Miguel Portea from Yukon joined in the top ten.
Both teams fought incredibly hard to earn their places on the podium. They not only shook hands at the finish, but there were many hugs passing between the teams. It was great to see the sportsmanship among these young men. Good game boys, and congratulations!