Similkameen women’s team opens at All Native Basketball Tournament with dominating victory

The Similkameen Starbirds had a statement victory in their first game of the 2025 All Native Basketball Tournament, as they seek to win gold in the women’s division category for a third consecutive year.

Led by Madison Terbasket’s 24 points, the smǝlqmíx team defeated the Ging̱olx (Kincolith)’s women’s team 73-30 on Sunday. The dominating win was an opportunity for the team to come together, set the tone and shape their identity for this year’s tournament.

“This one was really trying to get the dust off and get back together,” said Terbasket, who was named player of the game. 

“We haven’t played together in a long time. It was nice that it worked out.”

The well-decorated team is in “Prince Rupert” this week for the the 65th annual competition which began Feb. 8 and is set to wrap up on Feb. 15.

The team has undergone some slight changes since winning in their category in last year’s tournament, with the departure of their head coach and some key players. But even with these changes, the tenacity and ferociousness that the Similkameen Starbirds are known for was alive and well in their win.

“We played well as a team. We played fast, played with pace and we were aggressive. Everybody did a lot of the little things,” said head coach Andrew Gini, following his first win with the team.

Suffocating defence — from double-teaming, to dominating presses, and hustle plays leading to steals and baskets — defined the team’s success on Sunday. They locked the paint down on the defensive end, and their offensive rebounding set up a number of second chance points.

Gini said that the game plan was to be aggressive, both on offence and defence.

“But this was definitely a defence (win) — putting pressure on making the ladies more uncomfortable is our goal,” he said, noting that Terbasket brought the intensity to the game.

Terbasket, who is playing in her fourth All Native Basketball tournament, said the team has been known for its strong defence.

“I think it’s really helpful having Andrew here. He really helped us with that positioning.” 

A delayed flight into town kept one of the team’s star players, Jade Montgomery-Waardenburg — who was the MVP for the women’s division in last year’s tournament — off of the court. But even in her absence, everyone found a way to contribute some scoring to the win, through playmaking and with each player recording at least one point.

“I feel like the girls on our team are really good at picking up that slack and sharing the responsibility,” said Terbasket.

“It helps that Jade is going to be here for the rest of the week. But you saw, Nicola (Terbasket), Reiley (Terbasket), Mikkeila (Ridsdale), they pulled through.”

Other leading scorers were Jasmine Montgomery Reid with 14 points, followed by Mikkeila Ridsdale with 12 points and Sofia Terbasket-Funmaker with eight. The latter two were coming off the bench and maintained the pressure as the starters rested.

The team never trailed in their first outing in the tournament, with Madison scoring the first six points in the game. Nicola, Reiley and Ridsdale played pesky defence that often resulted in steals or turnovers against the Ging̱olx team.

Terbasket-Funmaker offered a big boost off the bench while Madison rested, scoring back-to-back buckets as soon as she checked in.

While this is her third time participating in the tournament, it was Terbasket-Funmaker’s first time playing with the team in five years. 

“In a way, I’m coming out of retirement,” she said.

“I was very nervous. But I think being taller than everyone really helped me out. It really helped me get those boards.”

She said she was excited to be playing with her cousin Madison again, with the last time they played together being in high school.

“Usually, we don’t get put on at the same time because I’m her sub for when she’s tired. … It’s so nice when we do get put on together, because we just get to be so tall,” said Terbasket-Funmaker.

“We’re tall Similkameeners.”

Camaraderie was also a crucial factor in the team’s success on Sunday. They continued their pre-game rituals of applying ochre pigment to the side of their faces, as well as doing a prayer and a smudge.

They cheered each other on with every basket, and in the final quarter, the players on the court were visibly having fun. They were laughing and smiling as they played out the remaining moments of the blowout victory.

“A lot of us are family, so that helps,” said Madison.

“I know that something we always talk to each other about is when we get nervous, angry or in our heads, the best way to deal with it is we really push and lift each other up.”

The team is set to be back on the court on Thursday, when they are scheduled to play two games.