In the quarterfinals, held in Coxheath, the 4th-seeded Halifax West Warriors defeated the 5th-seeded Halifax Queen Elizabeth Lions 85-82 in overtime as Andrew Cudmore and Jonathan Williams each scored 22. Josh Last paced the Lions with 19. The Lions also included John Williams, Matt Clow, Robbie McCormack, Ryan Tully, Jon Thibault.
The 7th-seeded Halifax Grammar Gryphons stunned the 2nd-seed Yarmouth Vikings 77-65 as Matt Boyle scored 23. Mike Wilson led the Vikings with 16. The Vikings also included Shawn Clark.
The top-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars edged the host and the 8th-seeded Coxheath Riverview Rural Royals 61-57 as Edwin Reynolds scored 27. Jason Comer paced the Royals with 19.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Dartmouth Cole Harbour District Cavaliers defeated the 6th-seeded Halifax Charles P. Allen Cheetahs 83-69 as Vanteo Grant scored 23. Dwayne Simms led the Cheetahs with 16.
In the semis, the Halifax Grammar Gryphons, playing in their first year as a Division I school, upset the 3rd-seeded Dartmouth Cole Harbour District Cavaliers 99-83. “It’s a good feeling to be there,” said coach and former CIAU rookie of the year Shawn Plancke. “We knew from the start of the season if we put the work into it and reduced our deficiencies, we’d have a chance. It was a great first half, a real shootout. In the second half, we started playing defence and that was the difference.” Donal Corkum paced Grammar with 28. Vanteo Grant led Cole Harbour with 26. Paul Glasgow added 21.
In the other semi, the Halifax West Warriors upset the top-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars 55-48 as Jonathan Williams scored 16 and Cordell Wright 15. Edwin Reynolds and Dan MacDonald each notched 14 for the Cougars.
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Dartmouth Cole Harbour District Cavaliers nipped the top-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars 81-80. The Cougars (coached by Brent Baker, assisted by Marc Roberts) included Dan MacDonald, Michael Baxter, Alex Hernandez, Edwin Reynolds, Bryce Thibodeau, Denis Mallais, Geoff Pearson, Sean Higgins, James Ford-King, Ben Grant and Grant MacLeod.
In the final, the Halifax West Warriors defeated Halifax Grammar Gryphons 66-60 as Cordell Wright scored 18 and Jonathan Williams 16. The Gryphons were led by Matt Boyle’s 15 points. Chad Smith added 13. The Warriors captured the title despite having no home gym to practice or play in all season as their home gym was declared unfit. They practiced around the city, often in elementary school gyms. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win a provincial championship before but this one will be dear to my heart,” said coach Mark Parker. “They persevered and they played hard. They deserved it. … This season, we had seven different venues that we practiced at. Full credit to them. They kept their heads up. They say if it doesn’t kill you, you’re going to be stronger because of it, and they were definitely the strongest team, physically and mentally.” Jonathan Williams noted that “I didn’t know if I was happy, or wanted to cry,” while Cordell Wright said “people say there’s no feeling like it and there isn’t. It’s just this big joy that comes over you.” Added Raphael Eghan: “It made three years of work in the gym worth it.”
The bronze medalist Dartmouth Cole Harbour District Cavaliers: Vanteo Grant; Paul Glasgow; Jontia Whynder; Romaine Provo; Joseph Downey; coach Ken Fells
The silver medalist Halifax Grammar Gryphons: Matt Boyle; Donal Corkum; Chad Smith; Dean Jones; Ryrie Vanderwater; Jared Harnish; Jarreau Hayward; Ton Lindley; Chris Barrie; Jack McDonald; Jamie Lo; Ken Unuvar; coach Steve Sumarah; coach Shawn Plancke
The gold medalist Halifax West Warriors: Andre Cudmore; Jonathan Williams; Cordell Wright; Raphael Eghan; Troyce Ashe; Todd Brown; Dana Britton; Godwin Eweka; Dave Hennigar; Mark Howard; Quame Montiey; Adam Nalepa; Mike Olsen; Billy Robinson; Colin Taylor; coach Mark Parker