Manager: Robyn (Fraser) Carroll

Coaches: Jason Kavanaugh

Justin Kavanaugh

On February 16th, 2008, the Breton Education Centre Girls High School Basketball Team etched their names in the history books by capturing the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) Division 2 Girls Provincial Title at Amherst Regional High School. The team advanced to the final after defeating Millwood High School and North King’s Education Centre. Heading into the final game versus the home team, Amherst Vikettes, the team knew they had their hands full as they had faced the Vikettes in tournament play earlier in the year in Truro and were outplayed and lost by 14 points. To compound the problem, the Vikettes looked even sharper in Amherst than they had in Truro. Also, the team headed to Amherst with a short roster as one of their most aggressive players, Samantha McKinnon, was still unable to play due to injury suffered at the beginning of the season, their sharp-shooter, Julianna Cunha, had since returned to her native Brazil, and Heather Marsh, one of their best guards, was injured in the Cape Breton Championship game and was unable to play in the final tournament.

The coaches, Jason and Justin Kavanaugh, said it was the girls’ intelligence on the court that made the difference. The team had studied the Vikettes plays in their pre-final games and had been given a crash course just moments prior to the game. Executing their defense perfectly, the team jumped out to an early lead in the 1st quarter that was crucial to the victory. The girls simply ‘shut the door’ on Amherst’s offense allowing only 4 points in the 1st 10 minutes, compared to the Bears’ 22. The half-time score was Breton 38 and Amherst 27.

The Bears knew that Amherst was an excellent team. They had played competitively against some of the best Division 1 teams in the province. They‘d need an excellent game to be crowned the best in the province and they did.

Joanna Gallant, Brittany MacKenzie, and Lauren Gillis played nothing short of phenomenal defense and also managed to out-rebound the opposition. Two of their other players, Colleen Power and Melissa Caume, played like two veterans when called upon during the entire tournament. The poise with which they handled themselves on the court was another key to their wins. Kristin Wilton shot and rebounded well the

entire tournament. Their point guard, Kaleigh McDonald, was another of their girls with the hot hand on the weekend. She slowed Amherst’s momentum numerous times in the championship game as she hit 5 three point shots, 4 of which came in the second half. Both coaches agreed that it was the leadership shown by their two graduating seniors, Chelsea MacKay and Emily Burke, that was the biggest factor in the win. They led the girls vocally on and off the court, and also led by example with their play. Emily was the fastest player in the tournament and she used her speed to her advantage. On numerous occasions the opposition had no choice but to foul her or else give up a lay-up. Chelsea was arguably the best player in the tournament. Every team we played knew who she was and that they would have to stop her. She racked up 85 points in 3 games, all the while being the player the opposing teams were trying to stop.

The BEC girls defeated the 3 time defending provincial champion Amherst Vikettes by a score of 73 to 67.

Summing up the win, the coaches agreed that the girls simply played the best game they had ever played. All cylinders were firing, and firing well. They were focused, determined, and kept ‘their eyes on the prize’ resulting in a Provincial Banner heading back with them. They were the first team to ever win a provincial title in basketball at BEC and were the first team on Cape Breton Island to win a NSSAF Basketball Championship since 1967.

The Coal Bowl Board of Directors are pleased to announce the 2007-2008 Breton Education Centre Girls Varsity basketball team as Honorees for Coal Bowl 2024.