It's one of the most popular girls-only sporting events going today in Yellowknife and the 2018 version hit St. Pat's and Weledeh Gymnasiums for its latest go-round.

The McLennan Ross GO Play 3-on-3 Tournament, hosted by GO Ball, featured dozens of young ladies in the U8-9, U11 and U14 divisions battling it out on the basketball court in the hopes of winning a medal, but also to show off what they've learned so far this season.

Once again, Cygni Brown was part of the organizing team for the tournament as she has been for the past five years,

She said she can tell how much improvement there's been from those girls who have played over the years.

鈥淭he girls who played in U14 this year, some of them were in Grade 2 when they started playing the Go Play nights the year I started working on the organization,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y daughter, who played in U14, was playing in that group all those years ago. They have definitely improved, the intensity is there and their skill level has skyrocketed.鈥�

Beyond all of the game play, Brown said learning how to be good teammates is a big goal of the tournament.

鈥淲hat we're seeing is that they're learning how to play as a team and not focus so much on individuals,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e teach them basketball skills, but also life skills and social skills.鈥�

After the games were done, there was a fun skills competition followed by the closing ceremonies, which featured the award presentations and, perhaps most important, cake.

GO Ball stands for Girls Only Basketball and the program started in Yellowknife as a way for girls to play with other girls as opposed to a co-ed program.

Brown said the impetus behind it was because some girls didn't feel as if they could play at the same intensity as the boys.

鈥淭hey would often be timid and hold back, which meant they wouldn't continue or stick with the program,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e really try to empower the girls in this program to have a voice, to be physical, to get out there and know that their bodies are strong, to be fast and that's why you see a lot of natural talent and hustle. You can't teach them how to have heart.鈥�

The tournament's opening ceremony was on Oct. 12, which included some of the players speaking to the audience about what playing in GO Ball meant to them.

Brown said that was an example of the girls finding their voice.

鈥淎 lot of them were nervous and were worried or fearful or doubtful, but they overcame those things,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey're feeling more confident just by practising being in the open and talking and that's what we want to see in the girls.鈥�

Another part of the opening ceremonies featured the newly-selected Deton Cho Eagles girls high performance basketball team, some of who got their start in GO Ball.

鈥淎 majority of those who came to do demonstrations raised their hand when they were asked if they started in GO Ball,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淭hey were in this program and that piqued their interest to help them grow and play at a higher level. We aren't necessarily trying to create that, but we want to have young girls at this age stay fit, be physical, use their bodies.鈥�