NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 20, 2014
TEAM BC LEADS PARADE OF ATHLETES AT 2014 NAIG OPENING CEREMONY
Five BC Basketball Teams Sweep the Day
VICTORIA, BC – Team BC’s 500 members were the first contingent to enter Mosaic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). “What a great way for our athletes to kick start the Games!” said Lara Mussell, Team BC Chef de Mission. “Being first to enter the stadium definitely raises team morale. We plan to keep that momentum going throughout Games week.”
Team BC hosted a pep rally prior to the opening ceremony that gathered all Team BC members in one place for the first time. They got up, danced, got to know their teammates and cheered each other on. The roars were loud when Team BC’s U19 boys’ basketball team entered the room after their morning victory over Team Florida 82-26. Every BC player saw game action with Matt Lafontaine leading the way with 18 points; Corey Hauck and Joel Richardson both added 4 assists each.
The cheers continued when more good news flooded in—the U14 girls’ basketball team won their first game over Alberta 38-34. It was a close game all the way, tied with two minutes to go and BC’s defense stepped up at the end. High scorers were Summer de Guevara at 15 points and Somer McCarthy with 13 points; Robyn Mooree and Mackenzie Gladstone-Howard were best defensive players.
The game of the day goes to the U14 boys’ basketball team. They played Team Wisconsin in a head to head battle. The score was tied with three seconds left in the game. BC had a baseline out of bound play and got the ball into the hands of Gavin Bruce who drew the foul and hit a free throw to put Team BC up one to seal the victory with a final score of 44-43.
When it was time to wrap up the pep rally, the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council Director, Rick Brant, took the stage to introduce Team BC’s Flag Bearers. Samantha Horth from the U19 girls’ volleyball team was presented with the BC flag and Joel Patsey from the U16 boys’ soccer team was presented with the Team BC flag. The crowd erupted when they proudly waved their flags and it was time to leave for the Opening Ceremony.
More basketball competitions continued in the evening. The U16 girls’ basketball team defeated Team Alberta with a final score of 66-19. Reiley Terbasket was the high scorer with 19 points. Team BC’s entire U16 boys’ basketball team got in on the action in their win over Team Northwest Territories 78-47. Cedric Mack led the way defensively with three blocked shots. More action from Team BC starts tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. with the U16 boys’ lacrosse team.
For sport competition schedules and results including score sheets, go to http://naig2014.gems.pro.
About Team BC
The Partners Council is responsible for managing the Team BC Program for the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). Through the support and oversight of its Team BC Work Group and Provincial Sport Committees, the Partners Council has established a coordinated Team BC program that includes the development of a comprehensive process to select the dedicated team of 500 Aboriginal athletes, coaches, managers, chaperones and mission staff to represent British Columbia at the 2014 NAIG
About the North American Indigenous Games
The North American Indigenous Games is an international multi-sport event, involving North American Indigenous athletes from 13 provinces and territories Canada and 13 regions in the United States staged intermittently since 1990. The 2014 NAIG will take place in the City of Regina on July 20-27, 2014 and will bring together 6,000 athletes and coaches and more than 3,000 host community volunteers and 200 Cultural and Entertainment performers.
About the Partners Council
The Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council (Partners Council) is a consortium of the First Nations Health Authority, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and the Métis Nation BC. The Partners Council has established six regions across BC inclusive of the Northwest, Northeast, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island. This structure brings together sport, recreation, physical activity and health leaders from within each Region to establish committees, set priorities and create annual plans for advancing sport, recreation and physical activity in their communities.
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Media contact: Felicia Greekas, Team BC Communication Manager 250-732-2044 or fgreekas@bcaafc.com
