A fast start for four Seminole teams helped pave the way to a solid showing at the Native American Basketball Invitational.

The teams – STOF and the Seminoles in the boys division and Lady NS and Lady Seminoles in the girls division – all made the Gold bracket playoffs after they racked up a 10-2 record in pool play in mid-July at the annual tournament in Arizona that attracts 64 teams in each division.

The Seminoles and Lady NS each went 3-0 in the pool round. The Seminoles cranked out wins against teams from Alaska, Arizona and New Mexico.

Lady NS dominated all three of their games, winning by an average of 45 points. They beat teams from Arizona and South Dakota.

In the boys playoffs, the Seminole Tribe was guaranteed at least one win in the Gold bracket because STOF and Seminoles squared off against each other. STOF won bragging rights thanks to a 59-35 win.

STOF stayed alive the following morning with a 67-51 win against the Cheyenne Dogmen (Montana), but in the afternoon STOF was eliminated in an Elite Eight game with a 69-64 triple overtime loss to Assist Outbreak (Arizona).

Cheyenne Arapaho (Oklahoma) won the boys championship with a 75-71 win against Lower Sioux (Minnesota).

On the girls side, Lady NS won their fourth straight game, 41-35, in a playoff opener against Pueblo Elite (New Mexico). Lady NS’s impressive run came to an end in the next game with a 45-39 loss to A1 Elite (Arizona).

Meanwhile, the Lady Seminoles fell to Team Legacy (New Mexico), 50-42, in the first playoff round.

Yakama Nation (Washington) won the girls Gold championship, 64-50, against NN Elite (Arizona).