The last two times the Burnaby Chiefs and the Skidegate Saints met in the Senior final of the All Native Basketball Tournament, the Saints got off to an early lead.

That was not the case this year as a more mature Chiefs team settled into a comfortable rhythm early for an 8-2 lead in the opening moments.

The perennial favourite Haida Gwaii squad, however, is not easily discounted and despite the Chiefs' oppressive defence and blistering offence clawed their way back to just a two-point deficit at the end of the first.

Burnaby, though, was firing on all cylinders and by the four-minute mark of the second period had opened a 10-point advantage. And each time momentum seemed to be shifting, the chiefs found another gear and led by 13, 44-31 at the half.

Skidegate found a groove in the third quarter and kept pace, but what they needed was stops, which they weren't able to get as Burnaby matched them blow for blow.

At the end of three, the Chiefs were up 15. 

Adding to the Saints' woes, a freak injury to his forehead sidelined 2023 tournament MVP Desi Collinson, who is the sparkplug of Skidegate's offence.

As medical workers attempted to stem the bleeding, Burnaby ran up the lead to 22 points with great ball movement and domination on the boards.

With three minutes left, the Chiefs took their foot off the gas, but seemingly could not miss the mesh as they tacked on another nine points to the gap to win by 31, 88-57. 

Burnaby has very quickly become a fixture of the All Native Basketball universe.

In 2022, their first year at the tournament, they played in the Intermediate Division, dominating the field and taking home the championship over the host Prince Rupert Cubs.

The following year, they had aged out of the Intermediates, but came back as Seniors and still went undefeated until they came up against the skill and experience of Skidegate in the final.

Last year, they again went undefeated, but despite coming out flat in the first half of the championship game, came back and took their first Senior title.

This year they faltered during the week, losing to Skidegate and having to reach the final through the back door. However, tonight (Feb. 13), they put on a clinic, grabbing the lead early and never looking back for their second back-to-back title.