C.K. boys lead five Valley teams to NSSAF hoop provincials from qualifiers

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

It took an extra week, but the Central Kings D-2 boys’ basketball team is off to NSSAF provincials this weekend after winning a qualifier on home court.

The Gators, losers to Bridgewater in the Western Region final, got 24 points from Dustin Poirier in a 79-52 victory over Kings-Edgehill Saturday in Cambridge.

Kings-Edgehill then punched its ticket to provincials with an 85-82 win over Eastern Shore, which had stayed alive with a 64-46 win over Forest Heights. Sam Hsaio hooped 43 points to lead Kings-Edgehill to the win.

In first-round action, Central Kings defeated Forest Heights 62-32 and Kings-Edgehill topped Eastern Shore 80-71.

In a D-2 boys’ qualifier at Milford, West Kings also advanced to provincials with a 63-57 win over SAERC in the “final chance” qualifier.

Previously at the tournament, Barrington defeated host Hants East 79-53 and West Kings opened with a 70-41 win over SAERC. Barrington qualified with a 76-67 overtime win over West Kings, and SAERC defeated Hants East 75-67.

The D-2 boys’ provincials are this weekend at Breton Education Centre in New Waterford.

Division 2 girls

In D-2 girls’ qualifier action last weekend, Middleton and Central Kings joined regional champion NKEC in the provincial field after claiming the two available berths from a qualifier played in Middleton.

Middleton, losers to NKEC in the Western Region final, opened with a 77-27 win over Barrington, with Carly Gillis scoring 19 points and Kailee Hebb 17. Central Kings topped Hants East 53-46, with Robyn McNeill leading all scorers with 28 points for C.K.

Middleton then qualified with a 58-35 win over Central Kings, and, after Hants East topped Barrington 79-35, the Gators topped Hants East 84-40, with Ashley Holland (16), McNeill (14), Lauren Morse (12) and Colleen Mayhew (11) all hitting double figures.

The D-2 girls’ final tournament is in Amherst. NKEC is looking at either the second or third tournament seed going in.

Division 1 boys

Horton will host the D-1 boys’ provincials, looking for their second consecutive provincial title. The host Griffins are the top seed, followed by Citadel, Cole Harbour, Halifax Grammar School, Park View, C.E.C., C.P. Allen and Glace Bay.

The tournament will feature games at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; with the championship semifinals at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday evening and the championship at 3 p.m. Saturday. Horton is set to play at 6 p.m. Thursday against Glace Bay and, with a win, would advance to the 6 p.m. semi Friday.

Division 1 girls

The D-1 girls’ provincials are at Citadel High in Halifax, with Horton, the Western Region champs, likely going in as at least the third seed.