HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS
Check our sports pages to see who is winning the playoffs.
Jason Callaghan fired a gamehigh 28 points to pace the Sydney Academy Wildcats to an 86-71 victory over the Riverview Royals to capture the Highland Region Division 1 boys’ basketball championship at RHS gym on Thursday.
The Wildcats swept the bestof-three series, 2-0, and went undefeated at 13-0 in the Cape Breton High School Basketball League in regular season and playoffs. It was the seventh league title in a row for Sydney Academy, who are 28-3 on the season overall. They’ll host the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Division 1 boys basketball championship, March 1-3.
Jaiden Davis followed with 24 points, Michael Clarke scored 14 and Dylan MacKinnon netted 12 for Sydney Academy, who were up 36-32 at halftime.
For Riverview, Josh Crocker and Ethan Merlin scored 19 apiece and Coby Tunnicliff chipped in 13. The Royals will play the No. 3 team in the Halifax metro area in an upcoming qualifier for a spot at provincials.
In Sydney Mines, the Memorial Marauders girls completed their upset of the Riverview Royals with a 68-51 victory, Thursday. The second-place Marauders (6-4) swept the firstplace Royals (7-1) in their bestof-three final.
Alisha McNeil rained in a game-high 30 points for the Marauders, while Sarah Taylor scored 12. Memorial parlayed a 40-25 advantage at the half to victory.
Riverview replied with 17 points from both Nalini Maharaj and Hailey MacLeod.
Memorial moves on to the NSSAF Division 1 girls championship in New Glasgow, March 1-3.