Bronze medal caps off banner year for Shelburne senior girls basketball team

The Shelburne Regional High School (SRHS) Rebels were the bronze medal winners at the School Sport Nova Scotia (SSNS) Division 3 Girls Basketball Championships in Springhill on March 4 and 5.

The Rebels went into the provincial tournament ranked third. In their opening game they defeated Dalbrae Academy 62-52 to advance to semi-final play against Oxford, where they were defeated 65-49. In the bronze medal game against Pugwash, the Rebels won 54-43. Forward Halle Williams had a team high of 20 points for Shelburne.

The Rebels also captured the Western Region SSNS Division 3 championship this season. It was the first regional title won by the SRHS senior girls in 13 years.

“I think it was a matter of our kids coming together and playing our best basketball at the right time, at the end of the season,” said coach Nick Gray. “We had to beat teams that we lost to in the regular season to do well in the playoffs and to win regionals and the bronze. So I think it was a matter of us staying positive and playing together as well for a full 40 minutes at the right time, at the end of the year.”

Gray said the Rebels went into the regional tournament, held at Annapolis West Education Center on Feb. 18, needing to win the semi-final game against New Germany to make it to provincials.

They won by 13 points. “In the regional final we had to beat Annapolis West. We were down 10 points with six minutes left and were able to come back and win 66-59. We outscored them 21-4 in the fourth quarter. That was just a matter of the kids playing with positivity and believing in themselves,” said Gray.

Rebels guard Chloe Goucher had a team high of 35 points in the regional championship game.

With seven Grade 10 players, this year's Rebels is a fairly young squad, said Gray.

The Rebels posted an overall season record of 16-13, going 12-12 in regular-season league play and 4-1 in the playoffs.