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Five islanders to play on provincial teams

Five young athletes from Haida Gwaii have been offered spots on provincial basketball teams that will represent BC at the 2014 North American Indigenous Games in Regina this summer.The athletes were chosen after attending two rounds of basketball camps, first in Skidegate, and second in Langley. BC is sending six basketball teams to the Games: male and female teams for under-14s, under-16s and under 19s.Peshaunquet Shognosh, the assistant chef de mission for the BC team, said the athletes' names will be formally announced as soon as the team launches its new website.The teams are hoping to hold at least one training camp, if not two or three, to get ready for the Indigenous Games, which will be held July 20-27. But with athletes coming from all corners of the province, Mr. Shognosh said, it's difficult to organize practice opportunities."We have to work out the logistics of where is the best place to have a camp," he said.Mr. Shognosh, who oversaw the Langley selection camp, said Haida Gwaii is a "hotbed" of basketball skill and it's no surprise that five team members are from the islands.