Valley teams set sights on regionals with no provincials this year
Expect the intensity to be turned up a notch as high school basketball teams from the Annapolis Valley jockey for position in regional showdowns this winter.
The stakes are higher than usual this time around.
The Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) ruled that provincial championships will not be held in winter sports this year due to ongoing restrictions limiting inter-regional play during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The regular season in an irregular year of season play saw last year’s provincial champions, the Middleton Monarchs, predominantly competing in exhibition games. The teams in the region will be ranked by NSSAF before playoffs commence after March Break.
The Division 2 Monarchs topped Division 1’s Central Kings Gators 82-62 in a home game on Feb. 22.
Dan Bower led the Monarchs in scoring with 24 points, while Noah Bezanson was a close second with 21 and Adam Wentzell netted 17.
Gators winger Lance Keddy was the top scorer of the night, with 25 points to his name when the final buzzer sounded. David MacLean grabbed 14 rebounds and scored 14 points, while Nolan Ogden added 12 points and secured nine rebounds.
Central Kings had better results in a Division 1 conference game against Windsor's Avon View High School on Feb. 26. The Gators won a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle by a final tally of 96-80. The win gave the Gators a 2-2 record in conference play, which was good for a tie for second place.
The Monarchs went on to trump the visiting Division 3 team from Annapolis West Education Centre by 40 points in a 90-50 decision on Feb. 24.
Head coach Greg Bower said Middleton’s win was the result of a “solid team effort.”
“Twelve players scored, we ran many different sets with various combinations of players. We pushed the ball up the floor very well and had some nice fast-break finishes.”
He commended AWEC for forcing Middleton’s players to move their feet on defence to maintain the lead.
“AWEC played well… right to the buzzer, made some great outside shots and worked hard on defence,” said Bower.
Noah Bezanson and Dan Bower led the Monarchs scoring with 16 apiece, Hayden Wilkins added 13, Alex Smith was good for 11 and Keigan Neilson chipped in 10.
AWEC’s Rhys Scranton recorded a game-high 31 points, making seven three-point shots in the process.
Bower anticipates that the Monarchs will advance to regionals as one of the top two teams in their division based on Middleton’s performance this year. He expects to face some tough competition from the Northeast Kings Titans, a Canning-based team the Monarchs are slated to play in an away game on March 8.
Regionals will represent the last shot at a banner for many graduating players in the Annapolis Valley.
“With all the Grade 12s we have, we have been building for this year. However, last year was unforgettable,” said Bower.
The Monarchs played a game that was broadcast on Eastlink TV, went to the coveted Coal
Bowl Classic national invitational tournament in New Waterford, and brought home championship banners from regionals and provincials.
“We will hold onto those things and set our goal on a regional championship for this year,” said Bower.