LUMPS AND BUMPS
Riverview falls to Halifax Grammar in Coal Bowl championship game
Riverview Royals fall short in Coal Bowl Classic final.
NEW WATERFORD — The Riverview Royals couldn’t ground the Halifax Grammar Gryphons who defeated the Coxheath school 89-66 to win the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic championship game on Saturday at Breton Education Centre gym.
It was the first time Riverview reached the basketball tournament’s final in 25 years.
One of the Coxheath team’s coaches, Liam Shaw, said he knows how nerve-wracking it can be playing in front of such a large crowd. The former Riverview Royals player competed at the tournament back in 2002.
“The tournament is definitely a special experience for the guys and one they won’t forget,” said Shaw. “It’s just as fun being on the coaching side of things as it was for being a player.”
Shaw said the New Waterford tournament is unlike any other in Canada. As part of the six-day event, student players are billeted within a wing of the school and hot meals are provided for them on a daily basis by the school cafeteria.
“It’s a unique environment for the kids and they’re staying in classrooms all week and they really become a part of the community. I can’t say enough about the support from the people of New Waterford,” he said.
Shaw said not many would have expected Riverview to make it as far as they did.
“We had a tough schedule all week,” he said. “We’re just proud of the guys for getting to this point. Our guys were tired. (Halifax) could go a little bit deeper than we could and I thought that was the difference.”
Third-year Riverview player Mitchell Mersereau said it was a fun time staying in the New Waterford community and spending so much time with fellow players.
“It’s a lot of commitment and great team-bonding,” he said. “You get to know your team very well.”
The 37th edition of the event featured 10 teams including two Cape Breton schools as well as clubs from across the country.
First-year Riverview player Nolan Skinner said he was a bit disappointed by the team’s outcome but will work harder to get the title next year.
“It was a great experience,” said Skinner. “It was all these activities and fun things to do. It just brought the team together, brought the players together for a great time.” Halifax Grammar player David Waller played Saturday despite battling the flu earlier in the week.
“It was a lot of fun and very welcoming from the whole community,” he said.
Riverview entered this year’s Coal Bowl Classic with an 8-1 record for first overall in the Cape Breton high school league.
The Gryphons were paced by Lydell Husbands with 17 points, while Ethan Marshall-Harris scored 14 and three players — Ryan Munro, Ian Keefe and Jonah Crowther — followed with 11 points each in a balanced attack. Josh Crocker led the Royals and all scorers with 18 points, Mersereau netted 15 and Dylan Quirk added 10.
After a close back-and-forth game, the host Breton Education Centre Bears won the consolation game over the Yorkton Raiders, 69-62.
Dylan Messervey rained in a game-high 23 points for the Bears, while Jason Murphy scored 20 and Robert Odo chipped in 18. For the Raiders, Jordin Rusnack netted 21 and Brady Bjomerud added 11.
On Friday, RHS defeated BEC in semifinal action, 89-64. In the other semifinal match, the Gryphons cruised to a 77-40 triumph over the Raiders.