National Basketball Championships wrap up at the TCC

“I think it’s gone very, very well,” Tournament Co-Director Joe Enevoldson told CFJC Today. “The host committee did a great job, in terms of set-up and having enough volunteers to organize. It’s a huge undertaking, and it’s gone through with very few hitches.”

The National Championships are a chance for Basketball Canada staff to have a look at the top talent from across the country taking on the best competition from each province. According to Enevoldson, the quality of athletes from across Canada is very high.

“It’s a huge tournament for that level of talent,” Enevoldson said. “It’d be safe to say that Quebec might have an NBA guy or two. Form that perspective, the talent level is incredible.”

For the athletes and coaches who represented their home provinces, the tournament format gave them a chance to bond with their teammates.

“The best part is playing the games, getting all the players, and enjoying the game, being with my teammates,” Innocent Ndaitouroum, a member of the Newfoundland U15 squad said.

For Jonathan Janzen, coach for the Manitoba U15 squad, the event was a fun challenge for his young athletes.

“It’s very challenging. The best part is to see their growth,” Janzen said. “Especially during a tournament like this, where it’s over the course of six days, where it’s back-to-back. Just seeing the growth of your players and the team…The guys bonded really well, and to see that, that’s one of the best parts of coaching.

For Enevoldson, the facility itself was one of the stars that emerged from the event.

“It was real, real convenient, having the three courts,” he said. “It worked out really well.”

On the 15U side, Ontario defeated Quebec 84-65 for the Championship. Team BC finsihed5th, defeating Manitoba 104-72 in the placement game.

In the 17U competiton, Nova Scotia beat a terrific Quebec sqaud by a 98-90 score.

by Adam Donnelly

National Basketball Championships wrap up at the TCC

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