AMHERST - After winning the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation 2012-2013 Division 2 provincial championship in the valley over the weekend the Amherst Regional High School girls and boys basketball teams returned home as conquering heroes and were recognized by students and staff Monday afternoon in the ARHS gymnasium.
"It takes a lot for a team to win a provincial championship, and not often does it happen when you have two who do it on the same weekend. That's what happened here," said Fred Gould, ARHS athletic director during the ceremony.
"This afternoon we're here to celebrate the effort these two teams have put forward this year," added Gould. "They represent all of us every time they play here and every time they travel.
"They represent ARHS and everybody in this gym today."
The event was the first of a new tradition starting yesterday at ARHS.
"We're going to recognize our provincial champions with an assembly after they win a provincial championship," said Gould.
The girls became repeat champions after travelling to Central Kings Rural High School where they beat the Northeast Kings Education Centre Titans (NKEC) 70-28 in the championship game. They also beat Central Kings 75-46, and Millwood 81-39.
The boy's game was much closer. They travelled to Middleton where they beat Central Kings Rural High School 52-51 in the championship game.
"Our senior boys had quite a battle," said Gould. "They made a three (point shot) with a little over a minute left and then played tough defence the rest of the way."
The boys also beat Millwood 74-29, and Kings-Edgehill School 89-54.
The crowd on hand cheered the success of both teams, and then Gould thanked the students, the volunteers, the parents and the coaches.
"The coaches commit to every practice and they travel all over the place," said Gould. "And they commit a lot of time outside of that by lining up games and looking after drives and hotels.
"Without all these volunteers the teams would not be successful."
More photos of the ceremony can be seen on the slide show section at www.cumberlandnewsnow.com
dmathieson@amherstdaily.com
