Flanked by Corporal Tom MacIntosh (left) and Second Lieutenant Travis Vokey of the CFB Esquimalt men's basketball squad, Corporal Kris Dukeshire, of 17 Wing Winnipeg's Men's basketball team, attempts a jump shot at the 2002 CF National Basketball Championship final game. CFB Esquimalt - representing the Pacific region - went on to win the title.

FEBRUARY - 28 This year's annual Canadian Forces (CF) National Basketball Championships was a carbon copy of last year's tournament as the Pacific region, represented by CFB Esquimalt, narrowly defeated the Prairie region's 17 Wing Winnipeg squad 75 to 71.

This latest victory extends the team's championship winning streak to three and Head coach Warrant Officer Henri Dagenais, attributes the win to his team's depth.

"The guys worked really hard but the difference was I was able to use more bench players," he said. "We knew their bench was too strong so we had run their five starters down and once they were tired, take advantage of that."

Like last year's match, it was either team's game until the last few minutes of play in the final quarter. The Pacific region hung on to even the score by sinking two three-point baskets in the dying seconds of the first two quarters.

The third set ended with the Prairie region in the lead by four points. But just like last year, after playing a tight game with solid offence and defence, 17 Wing Winnipeg fouled three times. With about 40 seconds left on the clock and score sitting at 72 to 68 for the Pacific region, the West Coast squad had the momentum.

The Pacific region sunk three of the six free throws and seconds later, the Prairie region retaliated with a three-point basket bringing them back into striking distance. With 10 seconds left on the clock the Prairie region got the ball, but was unable to move it down court to score.

"The team did really good. They all played hard and did the best they could," said Winnipeg Coach, Corporal Tom MacIntosh. "I think those two, three pointers that Esquimalt got in the last couple of seconds of the first and second quarters were the big turning points."

Five teams representing the Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions took part in the event. They squared off in a round robin and the top four teams advanced to the semifinals. The Ontario region, represented by CFB Petawawa, went undefeated in the round robin and finished in first place with eight points. It was a three-way tie for 2nd place between the Prairie, Pacific and Atlantic region.

In the end, the Prairie region defeated the first place Ontario squad in the semi-finals, while the Pacific team squared off and defeated the Atlantic squad.

CF TRITONS TEAM TO BEAT IN UPCOMING CF BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP