Chris Clark, of the Dalbrae Dragons, soars to the net as he lays up for two during Friday’s senior boys basketball tournament action against the Cabot Trailblazers.
-by Bill Dunphy
The Dalbrae Dragons and the Cabot Trailblazers combined for 397 points in two games, setting the court on fire and giving a large contingent of senior boys basketball fans smoke inhalation during the six-team Dalbrae Invitational tournament on the weekend.
The two teams opened the tournament on Friday in a 97-96 barnburner, won by Cabot on a free-throw with 4.8 seconds left in the game.
And the two teams ended the tournament on Saturday by burning down the house, the shed, the dog house and the outhouse in a 103-101 championship game, with Cabot scoring on an offensive rebound with 1.2 seconds on the clock.
In both games, the Dragons’ mettle was tested in their ability to come back from deficits after holding leads.
“It stings to lose two close ones to Cabot but they’re a very good team with some dynamic scorers,” said Dalbrae coach Phil Blackwood. “The season is still very young and we’re excited to build off this experience.”
In Saturday’s final, Dalbrae was down five points with 50 seconds left but came back to tie it on a three-pointer by Jack MacEachern and a lay-up by Olan Spears.
Cabot regained possession with 19 seconds left before scoring the winner. “After a timeout we weren’t able to get the shot we were looking for and Cabot escaped with the win.”
Joe Dixon was a wrecking machine for the Trailblazers all weekend, scoring 50 points in the championship game. Spencer BelAir Granville added 37.
Shamus MacLean led five Dragons with double-digit scores, hitting for 35 points.
Spears added 24, with Chris Clark and Noah Dunn each scoring 14. Jack MacEachern had 10 and Jeff MacDonald rounded out the scoring with 4.
In Friday’s opener, Dalbrae led 28-21 and 49-48 by quarters, with Cabot taking over in the third quarter for an 83-70 lead.
A fourth quarter defensive adjustment by Dalbrae saw Cabot draw some fouls and the Dragons start cutting into the Blazers’ lead.
MacEachern ignited the Dalbrae comeback with five three-pointers in the fourth quarter, two field goals and a three-for-four performance on the line. His last three-point shot put Dalbrae up 96-94 with 45 seconds left.
Cabot tied it again on their possession with 26 seconds left, and then got the ball back on a defensive rebound which forced the Dragons to deliberately foul Cabot as the clock wound down.
Cabot’s Brenin MacDonald went one-for-two on one of those fouls with 4.8 seconds left and then ran out the clock for the win.
The tournament also allowed for a young Cape Breton Highlands team to gain some experience against some good teams.
Game two saw Memorial get by the Huskies 62-41.
Leland Murphy led CBHA with 15 points. Also scoring: Kohl Clarey and Noah Doucette, 6 each; Kyle Ingraham, 5; George Schneeberger, 4; Hunter Gallant, 3; Carey Morrison, 2.
Game three saw Dalbrae cruise by Amherst JV 92-63.
MacLean had 40 points under the hoop. Also scoring: Spears, 17; MacEachern, 9; Clark, 8, Dunn, 6; Dawson MacLean, 5; Dylan MacDonnell, 3; Brock Beaton and MacDonald, 2 each.
Cobequid Education Centre JV defeated CBHA 73-36 in game four. Scoring for the Huskies: Doucette and Murphy, 10 each; Clarey, 7; Morrison and Gallant, 4 each; Schneeberger, 2.
Game five saw Memorial down CEC 88-69.
And the final round-robin game had Cabot bludgeon Amherst 125-46.
In the first semifinal, Cabot advanced with a 108-64 win over CEC.
The second semi saw Dalbrae sideline Memorial 75-62.
“We were very excited to get to play Memorial again after losing to them last weekend 66-64 at the tip off tournament at Sydney Academy,” said Blackwood. “We were down two entering the fourth quarter but outscored them 29-14 in the final frame. The home crowd was an enormous help. The gym got loud and we were able to ride the momentum for the whole fourth quarter. Olan played an excellent overall game and led us with 25 points.”
Also scoring: MacEachern, 20; Shamus MacLean, 16; Dunn, 10; Clark, 4.
Before playing the championship, the game for fifth place was held between the Huskies and Amherst, with CBHA pulling off the big 65-58 win.
“Leland (Murphy) wouldn’t allow the Huskies to be denied in this one. He was aggressive getting to the rim and scoring from the outside. Between himself and Kohl Clarey the Huskies have some excellent leaders to help this group of young players,” Blackwood said.
Murphy had 36 points for CBHA. Also scoring: Doucette, 10; Clarey, 9; Schneeberger, 8; Morrison, 2.
Dalbrae next sees action tomorrow (Thursday) at 5:15 p.m. when they host the SAERC Saints. The two teams meet up again in Port Hawkesbury on December 2nd.
