The women’s teams gave the men’s team a run for their money at the CFAY-FCBLY-CFSAY All Star games Sunday at St. Francis Catholic Secondary School in Whitehorse.

The first game saw the CFAY-FCBLY-CFSAY board members edge the women’s 35-plus team 60-58 in a tightly-contested matchup that went down to the wire.

Lianne Fordham, president of Basketball Yukon, participated in the game.

“It was amazing. This is one of our favourite events of the year … this is probably our fifth or sixth year playing it and it’s always such a good time.

“When you think of basketball and you think of women and men, you don’t think they play together well, or it’s going to be dangerous for the women but these guys are so fantastic, they have such great sportsmanship for us and they’re easygoing and fun and kind and let us run them hard and it’s always a great time.”

The top scorer for the women was Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle with 16 points.

The top scorer for the men was Joesel Rombaoa with 17 points.

The second game, between the younger men and women, was another close contest, with the men leading 45-44 at the half. The girls went ahead 54-49 in the third quarter, and the game was tied 65-65 after three. The men eventually triumphed 86-81.

Jessica Cotton and Krista Magee, co-presidents of the Whitehorse Women’s Basketball League, played for the young women’s team.

Magee said the game was “fast-paced. I think we kept up with them for most of the game and we had a good time.”

Cotton added “We put up a good fight.”

Magee said “We were pretty happy with how we played today.

“I think we were trying to go out there and have fun and do our best and I think we did that.”

Cotton added “I think we gave them a run for their money.”

Ritsuko Imai, or Sky as she is better known, was dominant for the women.

The top scorers for the women’s team were Sky and Krysha Rubio with 14 points each.

The top scorer for the men was Nico Sarmiento with 24 points.

The last game of the evening featured a mixed men’s team of players from FCBLY and CFSAY and former Yukon mens’ players versus the Arctic Winter Games men’s team. The men’s team triumphed over the AWG team 75-61.

Top scorer for the men was Ian New with 14 points. Gage Sweeney led the AWG team with 14 points.

A Skills Challenge and 3-Point Shootout also took place between games.

Klye Rubio took first place in the Skills Challenge, followed by Jocas Aguilar in second and Josh Apostal third.

In the 3-Point Shootout, Josh Patrick Rombaoa finished first with 16 points. Luke John Palapal swished in 13 for second place and Vsy Roy netted 12 for third.