You are here
Home > Sports > Seminole teams compete in Battle of the Nations

Seminole teams compete in Battle of the Nations

by Kevin Johnson -
The Native Soldiers team at the Battle of Nations is, from left to right, Shae Pierce, Alicia Fudge, Skyla Osceola, Analysse Stockton, Krystle Young and Tasha Osceola. The child is Sky Hope Osceola.
The Native Soldiers team at the Battle of Nations is, from left to right, Shae Pierce, Alicia Fudge, Skyla Osceola, Analysse Stockton, Krystle Young and Tasha Osceola. The child is Sky Hope Osceola. (Wilson Bowers)

A 3,000-mile cross country trip proved to be worth every mile for the Seminole men’s team in the Battle of the Nations basketball tournament.

The all-Native tournament was held April 5-7 in Spokane, Washington. Out of 64 men’s teams, the Seminoles compiled a 7-2 record and finished fourth. The Seminoles won their first two games, but lost the third game, which forced them to keep winning in the losers’ bracket in order to stay alive. They did just that, reeling off five straight wins in the losers’ bracket before being ousted with a loss to Comanche.

Players on the Seminoles were Ethan Cypress, Duelle Gore, Channon Frye, Jerome Wilcox, Bryce Osceola, Hunter Osceola, Xavier Osceola and Eric “Doug” Sanders.

Native Soldiers’ Tasha Osceola guards an opponent at the Battle of the Nations tournament in Spokane, Washington.
Native Soldiers’ Tasha Osceola guards an opponent at the Battle of the Nations tournament in Spokane, Washington. (Wilson Bowers)

The tournament is six years old. This year marked the debut of a women’s division, which featured 32 teams, including the Seminole’s Native Soldiers team. Native Soldiers was knocked out with losses to Leech Lake and Oglala Lakota. The team consisted of six players: Alicia Fudge, Skyla Osceola, Tasha Osceola, Analysse Stockton, Shae Pierce and Krystle Young.

Umatilla defeated Navajo (Mitchell) to win the women’s championship. Turtle Mountain Chippewa won the men’s championship game against Comanche.

Ethan Cypress takes a 3-point shot for the Seminoles.
Ethan Cypress takes a 3-point shot for the Seminoles. (Wilson Bowers)
The Seminoles went 7-2 and finished fourth in the men’s division at the Battle of the Nations. Teammates high five on the basketball court.
The Seminoles went 7-2 and finished fourth in the men’s division at the Battle of the Nations. (Wilson Bowers)
Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson is senior editor. He has worked for The Seminole Tribune since 2014. He was previously an editor, photographer and reporter for newspapers in Southwest Florida and Connecticut. Contact Kevin at kevinjohnson@semtribe.com.
Top