TRHS mens basketball team takes provincial championship banner

SACKVILLE, NB There were mixed emotions at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton on Saturday as the Tantramar Titans mens and womens basketball teams each had a different finish to their NBIAA provincial championship game. But both brought hundreds of appreciative Sackville fans to their feet in excitement.

The Titans men had a thrilling contest against Woodstock High with neither team ever having a decisive edge throughout the game. It was a back and forth defensive battle from the get go, with the lead between one and three points throughout. The Titans led 26-25 at the half.

Woodstick let 54-53 with oneminute left but Tyler Parsons potted a pair of free throws to put the titans up 55-54.

With just 8.6 seconds left, Parsons hit another free throw to make the score 56-54 giving Woodstock once last chance to shoot; but it hit the rim and Tantramar got the rebound to end the game and a provincial championship to celebrate.

Leading the way in stats was game MVP Stephen Bohan who collected 18 points and 16 rebounds, Andrew Steeves and Jacob Strang each added eight points and Tyler Parsons had seven, Marc LeBlanc four, Scott Walton, Scott MacDougall and Clavin Hardie contributed stellar defence to hold Woodstock Shooters at bay throughout.

For the Titan girls, it was a heartbreaking loss as they mounted two comeback bids with both the first and second halves. The Titans trailed 28-13 with eight minutes remaining in the first half and battled back to get it to 34-22 by the break.

Then in the second half, they overcame a 15-point deficit to tie the Stars 45-45 with six minutes remaining. Laura Sloan got Tantramar within two 49-47 with 2:37 left, but the Titans then made just one of six free throws down the stretch. With just 43 seconds to play, Danielle Trenholm, chosen player of the game for the Titans, hit one to give her a team high of 17 points and cut the deficit to 51-48. The Stars then played keep away in the dying seconds to kill the clock and take the championship.