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Bella Coola U13 girls bring home the Junior All Native Tournament championship banner

At’maakw won the final game against Cowichan Surge 45 to 32
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At’maakw U13 player Kashlyn Mack, right, moves down the court during the Junior All-Native Tournament held in Kelowna. (Photo submitted)

Once again young female basketball players from the Bella Coola Valley have done it, this time bringing home the U13 Junior All-Native Tournament (JANT) banner.

One of the star players was Kashlyn Mack, 13, who played not only with the U13 team but also with the U17s, playing a total of 12 games during the tournament.

Her proud father, Derrick Mack, was there to watch her play and said she scored almost a ‘staggering’ 200 points and earned her nickname Kash Money.

“I was never that good,” he said of his daughter’s athletic ability. “The whole time we were there she wouldn’t eat any junk food either, just kale and spinach. I wasn’t like that when I was young.”

In the championship game At’maakw the Bella Coola Valley team, played against Cowichan Surge winning 45 to 32.

An estimated 870 First Nations youth from 65 teams converged in Kelowna for the tournament March 20 to 25.

It was the first time the tournament happened for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the athletes enjoyed to get together.

JANT 2022 tournament director Tara Montgomery said in a news release the week was a true celebration of the youth and the importance of sport to wellness.

“Over the last week we have heard from young athletes, and their families, community members and coaches how happy they were to all be brought together and with the tournament in general. As a grassroots initiative the Junior All Native Tournament not only exhibits both First Nations excellence in sport and sportsmanship, but also illustrates how our communities support and encourage youth in the face of continuing obstacles. We want to thank all the volunteers and supporters that made this year’s JANT the success that it was.”



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Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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