Kennebecasis & Colonel Gray Win Prestigous Dairy Town Classic
For the fourth year in a row @NorthPoleHoops was invited to be a part of the Dairy Town Classic and again it was well worth the trip.
In a three day tournament that hosted 6 girls and 6 boys teams from the Atlantic Region the talent and play was outstanding and as always there were talented players/teams watched and discovered.
In the boys championship game, Top 5 Kennebecasis Valley (regoinally) played Cobequid Education Centre who has climbed into the top 10 teams in Atlantic Canada.
In a hard fought game that was the story of two halves CEC raced out of the gate and opened up a 45-37 lead. The Cougars displayed excellent defense and were led by 2015 PG Jarod Horsman who ran the team flawlessly and distributed the ball between major scoring threats Chris Fitzgerald 2015 and Curtis Smith 2015.
In the third quarter, the KVHS Crusaders found their groove from behind the arc with Alex Loughery getting them going with back to back threes; Chris Spurrell and Ethan O’Neil contributed greatly to the 35-point quarter that allowed the Crusaders to take a 72-66 lead.
In the fourth quarter CEC got back to playing D with Andreas Foerster and Jarod Horsman intensity controlling the flow. The Cougars were able to tie the game at 77 midway through the quarter on a scoring spurt by Chris Fitgerald and Isaac Upham.
At this point Ben Tait took things into his own hands and willed Kennebecasis to the win by scoring 11 of his 14 in the Q. Kennebecasis held on for a 91-88 win in one of the better basketball games I have seen this season.
Top Performers and Awards
KVHS: Ethan O’Neil 19, Alex Loughery 17, Ben Tait 14, Chris Spurrell 13, Jack Tilley 12
CEC: Curtis Smith 24, Chris Fitgerald 23, Jarod Horsman 14, Isaac Upham 12.
DEFENSIVE AWARD
Curtis Smith; Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars
ALL STARS MENS
- Zach Middleton, Moncton Purple Knights
- Ethan O’Neill; Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders
- Ben Tait; Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders
- Chris Fitzgerald; Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars
- Jarod Horsman; Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars
MVP MENS
Jack Tilley, Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders
On the girl’s side Colonel Gray and Citadel High went to battle as the number 2 and 3 ranked teams in Atlantic Canada.
To this point in the 2015 season each team had only lost one game and the skill, heart and desire to which these players played the game, it wasn’t hard to figure out there elite level status.
The game put two styles of play against each other as Colonel Gray were more of a jump shooting team who could attack the basket and the Citadel being a slashing team who could make the three. All styles prevailed in another very exciting game that saw Colonel Gray come out on top 76-73.
Colonel Gray jumped out to a 42-38 halftime lead behind the sharp shooting of Kendra Craswell 2015 who dropped 5 three balls and had 17pts at the half. While Citadel was lead by Courtney Nordin 2015 with 15 in the first half.
In the third quarter Jenna Mae Ellsworth (#1 recruit in Atlantic Canada) took complete control of the game and pushed her team to a 66-54 lead on back to back threes mid way through the fourth.
As it looked like Colonel Gray was going to cruise to the win Citadel had different thoughts as they locked down defense got the game to a 73-71 score behind the versatile scoring of Courtney Nordin who had 29 for the game. The Colonel Gray Colonels made two free throws and escaped with a 75-71 victory in the second outstanding game of the day.
Top Performers and Awards
Colonel Gray: Jenna Mae Ellsworth 36, Kendra Craswell 17, Bailey Andrews 11
Citadel: Courtney Nordin 29, Jasmine Cain 14, Bailie Campbell 11
DEFENSIVE AWARD:
Chelsea Slawter Wright; Citadel Phoenix
ALL STARS LADIES:
- Kennedy Baird, Sussex Sonics
- Jennifer Newman; Riverview Royals
- Kendra Crasswell; Colonel Gray Colonels
- Courtney Nordin; Citadel Phoenix
- Daeijah Johnson; Citadel Phoenix
MVP LADIES
Jenna Mae Ellsworth; Colonel Gray Colonels
Visit www.dairytownclassic.net out there website for more information the 2016 Dairy Town Classic.
