In the quarterfinals, the 7th-seeded Dartmouth Spartans stunned the 2nd-seeded Halifax Citadel Phoenix 66-63. Colley set up MacNaughton’s pivotal layup late in the game to seal the victory after Citadel had taken a one-point lead.
“Our guys defensively played very well,” said coach Jason Wilson, whose squad was just 5-7 in the Halifax Metro League’s regular season and had to advance from a qualifier after losing in the Capital region quarter-finals. “To hold a team like Citadel to 63 points is quite a feat in itself. Our guys really stepped up.” Noah MacNaughton paced the Spartans with 22. Maurice Colley added 18 and Cody Cluett 10. Jayden Nordin and Travis Adams led the Phoenix with 15 points apiece. The Phoenix (coached by Mark Parker, assisted by Shawn Parker), also included Tyler Martin, Tyler Brown, Allistair Knox, Alex Ross, Isiah Thomas, Marques Downey, Liam Mitchell, Noah Yerxa, Liam Johnson, Colin Smith, Will Fiander and Nash MacLean.
The 3rd-seeded Greenwich Horton Griffins clubbed the 6th-seeded Sydney Academy Wildcats 97-70 as Alex Thomas scored 26, Bradley Fuller 25 and Gage Sabean 19. Matt Farrell led the Wildcats with 29. Jordan Fanning-Macleod added 16 and Nathan Cloake 13. The Wildcats (coached by Jonathan Penny, assisted by Joel Leblanc) also included Jalen Borden, Hobie Dennis, Matt Farrell, Jason Hardy, Anthony MacDougall, Kobe Parker-Borden, Patrick Ryan, Shaden Simmons, Steven Small and Christian Walker.
The top-seeded Cole Harbour Auburn Drive Eagles pounded the 8th-seeded host Sydney Mines Memorial Composite Marauders 96-38 as Johneil Johnson scored 23. Treyvon David added 13, Davonte Provo 13 and Greg Manuel 12. The Eagles speed and quickness befuddled the Marauders as they built a 53-10 lead at the half. Mitchell Legatto paced the Marauders with 14. Brennan Herridge added 13. The Marauders (coached by Jack MacNeil, assisted by Bobby Gardiner, Matthew Alderson and Josh Spooney) also included Tyler Spooney, Eddie Power, Bob Jobe, MaEbou Secka, Sam MacNeil, Brandon Williams, Cody Young, Tyler Smith and Ian MacLennan.
In the last quarterfinal, the 5th-seeded Dartmouth Prince Andrew Panthers dumped the 4th-seeded Truro Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars 80-67 as Tauras Smith scored 32. Taran Jordan paced the Cougars with 16. The Cougars (coached by Marc Roberts, assisted by Edwin Reynolds) included Jarod Horsman, Sam Petrie, Ethan Green, Justice Nickerson, Curtis Smith, Andreas Forester, Sam Horsman, Eshaan Haque, Lars Hopp, Clayton Cooke, Chris Fitzgerald and Austin Deuvile.
In the semis, the top-seeded Cole Harbour Auburn Drive Eagles nipped the 5th-seeded Dartmouth Prince Andrew Panthers 83-80. Johneil Johnson paced the Eagles with 27. Davonte Provo added 22. Taurus Smith led the Panthers with 28. The game was tied at 77 with under three minutes to play.
In the other semi, the 7th-seeded Dartmouth Spartans stunned the 3rd-seeded Greenwich Horton Griffins 93-77 as Cody Cluett scored 22. Alex Thomas paced the Griffins with 21.
In the bronze medal match, the 5th-seeded Dartmouth Prince Andrew Panthers edged the 3rd-seeded Greenwich Horton Griffins 91-84. The Griffins (coached by Kevin Veinot, assisted by Jason Clark) included Iain Thomas, Jacob Melanson, Brett Dickie, Jordan Myles, Gage Sabean, Isaac Melanson, Glenn Frasier, Mitchel Tempro, Bradley Fuller, Alex Thomas and Mathew Ingham.
In the final, the top-seeded Cole Harbour Auburn Drive Eagles edged the 7th-seeded Dartmouth Spartans 81-76. The Eagles held on for the win despite having star Davonte Provo taken to a hospital after suffering a concussion with three minutes to play on a drive to the bucket in which he hit the floor. “The guys rallied and closed it out for him,” Eagles coach Lance Sparks said. Provo scored 25. Post Jordan Crawley added 16. “I’m overwhelmed,” Crawley said. “My teammates did it for me. My team’s like my family and I love them to death.” Maurice Colley led the Spartans with 38. Connor McLaughlin added 12. “The 1 seed just makes you a target,” Sparks said. “Everybody came and played us tough. Our semifinal game was tough and the final game was even tougher. I take my hat off to Dartmouth High. They came to play this weekend and at the end of the day our guys stood tall and got it done.”
The bronze medalist Dartmouth Prince Andrew Panthers: Taurus Smith; Ben Kidston, Perdell Downey, Adam Mitchell, Nathaniel Skeete; Marcus Hall, Tyshon Boutlier; Dakeyo Downey; Peter Masimino; Aidan Crowther; Iain MacDonald; Gavin MacDonald; Ian Melanson; Aaron Williams; Max Bullock; Carvell Clayton; coach Brad Martin
The silver medalist Dartmouth Spartans: Cody Cluett; Noel MacNaughton; Maurice Colley; Connor McLaughlin; Issac Burlung, Isaac Downey, Greg Dicks, Scott Kendell, Tyvon Casey, Nick Jennex, Tyler Shaw; Cainyn Johnson; Conner McLaughlin, coach Jason Wilson
The gold medalist Cole Harbour Auburn Drive Eagles: Johneil Johnson; Davonte Provo; Treyvon David; Greg Manuel; Marquis Diggs; Andrew Beliveau; Daniel Sulie; Levi Smith; Kellan Duke; Jordan Crawley; Delvane Tynes; Trey David; Kalum Beaver; coach Lance Sparks