For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the lights were on for the Kilrich Building Centres’ Lights Out Invitational Basketball Tournament, held over four days at four high school gymnasiums in Whitehorse.
The seventh iteration of the tournament hosted athletes from the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Alaska to compete in the Yukon’s capital from Jan. 25 to Jan. 28.
With a final score of 86-73, the Shooting Suds won against JPR Cleaning Services to become the champions of 11 teams listed in the men’s division.
Out of six teams in the women’s division, the Shark Shooters beat We Just Be Hoopin’ in the finals. It was a physical match that ended 64-57.
Two teams from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School — STF 1 and STF 2 — battled for the top spot out of the eight youth boys’ teams. STF 1 took the lead with a final score of 79-49.
Out of the four youth girls’ teams, the F.H. Collins Secondary School combined team won the division with a score of 26-20 against the team from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School.
Tournament coordinator Lianne Fordham said the girls’ division was filled with players preparing for the Arctic Winter Games. Their coach asked that those players sit out, so the two F.H. Collins teams merged and the Arctic Winter Games athletes stuck around to cheer but didn’t play.
Fordham said it was a “real cool” opportunity to see girls in sport supporting each other.
Fordham said the gathering has become the third-largest tournament in the Yukon. According to Fordham, it comes after the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament, which had a record 56 teams register from communities throughout the Yukon and neighboring jurisdictions in 2023, and the Dustball Slo-pitch Tournament, which had 58 teams participating in its 41st edition last summer.
— With files from Stephanie Waddell and Matthew Bossons
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
