Before many of the Arctic Winter Games boys’ basketball team members stepped on the court wearing their school colours for Superhoops, they were out representing the territory at the 41st Trojan Classic Tournament in Calgary last weekend.

The Arctic Winter Games begin March 15. The boys play their first game of Arctics a day later when they take the court against Team Northwest Territories.

Coach Tim Brady said the Trojan Classic was what the team needed to continue to jell.

“It was a really good competition,” said Brady. “It’s what we wanted. It was the first time we were able to come together and share competitive experiences.

“It’s nice to be able to have time as a team. Travel is important. It’s beneficial for the Arctics competition.”

Team Yukon got off to a strong start. They defeated the Bowness Trojans 88-64.

Against Bert Church, the boys pulled out a 90-88 win in what Brady described as a “thriller.”

“We had good moments,” said Brady. “We showed good resiliency. We pulled the game out at the end and demonstrated what we are capable of when we play wire-to-wire.”

The teams’ play earned them a spot in the finals against a strong Cochrane side. The team lost, but Brady said they competed hard throughout and represented well.

For Brady, the Trojan Classic was a learning experience for the team.

“We won a game handily and we lost a game handily,” said Brady. “You learn from losing.

It’s just another opportunity to get informed about how we want to play.

“Each game gave us a different set of circumstances. It’s about learning and understanding what we need to stop doing to be successful.”

On the court, Brady said the good outweighed the bad.

“We had good moments and struggles, but the good moments, there were more of them,” said Brady. “It was a positive good experience. There is always room for improvement and that’s the case here.”

Off the court, the squad did team and player profiling as well as team-building sessions.

“They learned and understood the differences between all of us,” said Brady. “It helped them become more connected together.

“All the players took away things to help them with basketball and things to help them understand who they are as young men beyond basketball. It was a big highlight.”

Brady said the team-building exercises are designed to make everyone a leader. As well, he said to show vulnerability to teammates makes everyone more accountable.

At the boys’ basketball tryout back in November, Brady told all the athletes in the gym that some of them would be competing for a gold medal come March. The Trojan Classic was just another chapter in the journey.

“We’ve been writing our story since November,” said Brady. “Our goal is to compete, play our game and give gold-medal effort.

“How we get there is about who we are on the court. That will be our story. If the guys maintain a standard of play and effort no one else can be a factor to another story.

“I feel good about where the group is. I like where we are at.”