In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Halifax Queen Elizabeth Lions dumped the 8th-seeded Dartmouth Spartans 81-70 as David Paris scored 23 and grabbed 9 boards. Stephen Nelson added 17, Jordan Croucher 15 and Chris Wilson 13. The Lions led 38-37 at the half. Colin Crawford paced the Spartans with 23 points and 14 boards. Dave Langille added 16 and Leonard Evans 12.
The 7th-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars stunned the 2nd-seeded Greenwich Horton Griffins 68-63. Cobequid outshot Horton .523 to .326 from the field, and .769 to .621 from the line. David Parker paced the Cougars with 16. Matt Langille added 15 and Scott MacKinnon 23. Chad Clothier led Horton with 21. Rob McCarthy added 14 and 12 boards, while Shaun Johnson scored 10.
The defending champ 4th-seeded Halifax West Warriors edged the 5th-seeded Coxheath Riverview Rural Royals 73-66 as Maurice Carvery scored 22, Colin Franz 17, Allan Williams 16 and Dennis Wright 10. Shane Hussey led the Royals with 22. Michael Wadden added 19.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Halifax St. Patrick’s Fighting Irish dumped the 6th-seeded Dartmouth Prince Andrew Panthers 77-69 as Ian MacLellan and Damon Parchnowitsch each scored 28. Peter Turnbull paced the Panthers with 21. Jeff Sponagle added 15, Jay Stewart 12 and Chris MacKereth 11.
In the semis, the 4th-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars defeated the Halifax St. Patrick’s Fighting Irish 72-67 as David Piers scored 19, including 5-6 from the arc. David Parker and Phil Vreugdenhil each added 11. Damon Parachnowitsch led St. Patrick’s with 29, including 19 in the second half. Ian Maclelland added 19. Cobequid led 38-33 at the half and shot .537 from the floor and .875 from the line. The Fighting Irish also included John Mullaly.
In the other semi, the top-seeded Halifax Queen Elizabeth Lions defeated the defending champ Halifax West Warriors 78-62. The Lions led by 19 at the half and by as many as 24 in the second frame. David Paris led Queen Elizabeth with 20. Jonah Taussig added 18, Stephen Nelson 13 and Jordan Croucher 12. Maurice Carvery led Halifax West with 22. Allan Williams added 17 and Sean Casey 14 before fouling out.
In the bronze medal match,
Halifax West Warriors: Maurice Carvery, Allan Williams, Sean Casey, Dennis Wright, Colin Franz, Andrew McNeil, Josh Raskin.
In the final, the top-seeded Halifax Queen Elizabeth Lions clocked the 7th-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars 101-56 as Jonah Taussig scored 24 and nabbed 11 boards. Point guard Stephen Nelson added 22. It marked the largest victory margin in the 26-year history of the provincials, according to the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation. Lions coach Mike Tanner called it redemption after a one-point loss to Halifax West in 1995 final. “It is a feeling of relief more than anything.” Taussig told the Halifax Daily News that “it was very emotional after what happened last year.” Cougars coach Brent Baker said “I am humbled but not humiliated. Our guards had to expend a great deal of energy to get the ball up the floor. Then they had to run an offence, which was difficult. Our goal was to make it to the provincial finals, so we are very happy. It was a great experience.” The Lions led 30-25 with three minutes to play in the first half but Stephen Nelson, on a combination of steals, passes and thefts, ignited a 40-10 run over the next 10 minutes as the Lions moved ahead 70-35. “He is as quick as a cat,” said Lions assistant Dennis Adams. “If there is a better high school guard in Canada, I’d like to meet him.” The Lions finished the season (49-3). Matt Langille led Cobequid with 18. Matthew O’Toole added 13, while David Piers scored 3.
The bronze medalist:
The silver medalist Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars: David Piers; Matt Langille; Matthew O’Toole; David Parker; Phil Vreugdenhil; Scott MacKinnon; Ryan Loughead; Tim Burley; John Shillington; Pat Ryan; Mike MacDonald; Lloyd Taggert; John Searle; Jeff Rondeau; coach Brent Baker; assistant Kevin Farrell
The gold medalist Halifax Queen Elizabeth Lions: Jonah Taussig; Dave Paris; Jordan Croucher; Stephen Nelson; Chris Wilson; coach Mike Tanner; assistant Dennis Adams