Skagway women’s basketball swept the 73rd annual Gold Medal tournament in Juneau last week. The team was one of several from the Upper Lynn Canal that made it to the finals. Henry Leasia has more.
It was the first time a women’s team from Skagway has competed in the tournament.
The 8-woman team was made up of players who competed together in high school. Skagway resident Kaylie Smith was one of them. She says in past years it has been hard to get enough women together for the Gold Medal Tournament because they had other commitments.
“Around Christmas time we were scrimmaging and a lot more of us were in town this winter and we kind of just decided to try to get into Gold Medal,” Smith says.
Skagway faced off against Haines in the women’s final. After a fast-paced and physical game, Skagway won by nine points. Smith was awarded defensive player of the tournament. Skagway resident Jesse Ellis also received an award for most valuable player of the tournament.
It has been 46 years since a men’s team from Skagway won the Gold Medal tournament. Smith says it feels great to win the title after all this time.
“We had so much community support when we started this. It feels great to represent the town and make them proud and bring home a trophy,” Smith says.
Men’s teams from Haines and Klukwan also made it to the finals of the Gold Medal tournament this year. In the B Bracket—that’s men aged 18 to 32—Haines walked away with a win over Angoon in the championship. It’s the third year in a row they have secured the B bracket title. Klukwan finished second in the C Bracket—that’s men aged 32 to 42—and the Masters Bracket for men aged 42 and over.
