Middleton Monarchs dominate at Western Valley Shootout

The Western Valley Shootout, a hoops staple in years past, has returned to high school basketball.

Annapolis West Education Centre hosted the four-team tournament’s return Friday and Saturday with some fast action in a round-robin format that saw the team with the best record walk away with top honours.

On the schedule were the AWEC Wolfpack, Middleton Regional High School, Bridgetown Regional High School, and St. Mary’s Bay Academy from Weymouth.

Middleton proved to be the strongest team with three convincing wins. Bridgetown beat AWEC and SMBA, and AWEC beat SMBA.

“There was some very good basketball played,” said AWEC coach Ryan Scranton. “Annapolis West, Bridgetown and SMBA all have fairly young teams so they were in tough against a Middleton team who are among the best in the province at the Division 2 level.” When Middleton Regional High School Monarchs met up with the Annapolis West Education Centre Wolf Pack Dec. 3, it was fast-paced tournament action with hustle from both teams but some great outside shooting from the Middleton squad as the Monarchs took the contest for their second win of the Western Valley Shootout. MRHS went on to play St. Mary’s Bay Academy from Weymouth in the last game and won the tournament on the strength of their 3-0 record.

Scranton said Western Valley Shootout was a staple of the local basketball scene in the 1990s and 2000s.

“It has not been held for a number of years, so this was the reinstatement of a local tradition,” Scranton said.