Nova Scotia Basketball Dynasties – Auburn, Citadel Capture Provincial Titles…Again!
The 2015 Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Division 1 Provincial Champions have been crowned. It is a new, but similar result.
In Truro, Nova Scotia the fans were treated to another classic game, as the two best teams in not only Nova Scotia but in Atlantic Canada went to battle.
Auburn VS Citadel.
The Phoenix looked tentative and Auburn looked very confident in the first Q as they raced out to an early 17-11 lead behind strong play from Levi Smith III (2015) and Greg Manual (Memorial Commit). That is with the exception of Citadel’s Will Fiander (2015) who was the games most consistent player from wire to wire as he hustled, worked and scored to keep his team in it as the quarter closed at 30-22.
Connor Gascoigne (2015) went to work in the paint, Jaydan Smith (2017) came off the bench to make huge shots including the three to cap a 9-0 run and give Citadel their first lead at 31-30.
Both teams battled hard with multiple lead changes, the quarter capping with Antonio Kostakos making three free throws with 1.3 seconds left to give Citadel the 51-47 lead.
As we went into the break the thought might have been about star Auburn guard Johneil Johnson (2015) who was struggling with only three points at the half. Well that being said, having had the privilege of coaching this young man, I knew it was coming, and boy did it come.
Johnson dropped 25 in the second half and completely dominated the game. Not only did he score he dropped assists, grabbed boards and slowed Fiander enough to make a difference.
Johnson on the outstanding head to head match-up with Fiander commented “he’s my guy, we have been playing against each other since we were little and its always been that way”.
Also stepping up huge for the Phoenix dropping with timely three balls was Jack Campbell (2016) as he looked to provide the proverbial dagger.
The Fiander-Johnson matchup continued down the stretch with Greg Manual being a huge factor as well for Auburn, leading in scoring with 29. Check out the game photos and video of the finish to see this classic game.
Johneil Johnson speaks on his amazing high school career of three Provincial Championships “We are just blessed and its about hard work, the work didn’t stop when practice was over, you keep working on your game to get better and better”.
Auburn Drive
- Greg Manual 29pts
- Johneil Johnson 28pts
- Levi Smith III 14pts
Citadel High School
- Will Fiander 25pts
- Jaydan Smith 23pts
- Jack Campbell 22 pts
DIVISION 2
MEN – JH Gillis 61 Amherst 55
WOMEN – Avon View 56 Central Kings 53 OT
DIVISION 3
MEN – Hants North 75 Bridgewater 53
WOMEN – Middleton 57 Delbrae 41
DIVISION 4
MEN – Pugwash 88 Sommet 71
WOMEN – Oxford 65 – 45
Citadel Girls Capture 4th Straight Banner
In Division 1 Girls play the Citadel Phoenix captured their fourth straight banner with a 73-60 win over the host, Horton Griffins.
The game looked like it was going to be close throughout as the Phoenix led 16-14 after one quarter. Then the Griffins got hot from behind the arc in the second Q and opened up a 40-23 halftime lead.
Coach Marson speaks of the half time message “we needed pressure on the ball baseline to baseline and we only needed to make up one point per minute to get the W”. Marson went on to say as they left the locker room, “I said we got this, just play basketball, leave everything you have on the floor for the next 20 minutes and we can’t be stopped”.
Citadel High came out of the locker on fire and exerted strong pressure defense that turned Horton over and allowed them to make up the 17-point deficit by the end of the 3rd quarter knotting the score at 49-49.
As the pendulum had completely swung to Citadel’s favor they continued to work as a team and continued the onslaught by out scoring the Griffin’s by 13 in the fourth Q for the 73-60 victory.Coach Marson credits his entire team’s energy and defensive effort but talks specifically about Courtney Nordin “Courtney put the team on her back and carried them, Horton had no answer for her”.
In speaking about the championship he says “we lost 11 players from last years team and nobody though we could do it again, we used it as motivation and worked hard every day”.
Citadel
- Courtney Nordin 23
- Jasmine Cain 16
- Chelsea Slawter-Wright 13
- Daejiah Johnson 10
Horton
- Jayda Veinot 20
- Haley MacDonald 13
- Maia Timmons 13
