Twice as nice. After a difficult year of back and forth results, the Kennebecasis Valley High Crusaders of Quispamsis wiped out any doubt they are the class of New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association girls’ AAA basketball. Ask the almost 1,700 on hand Friday night at Harbour Station, home to the Final 12. Ask the Riverview High Royals, too.

Kennebecasis Valley rolled to a commanding 78-49 win over the Royals to earn its second straight NBIAA banner under veteran head coach Moira Gagnon. There were times the Crusaders made it look easy.

The Crusaders entered the game knowing they’d need large efforts from Alana Dowling, Julia Bennett, Delaney Perkins and Rachel Farwell, the Big 4. They got the production needed. Dowling had 15 points. Bennett and Farwell had 14 each and Perkins scored 11. Farwell had a monster night on the boards, hauling down 17 rebounds.

Abby Lacey earned some points in the fourth quarter for Riverview, finishing with 17. Grace LeBlanc had 14 for the Royals before fouling out with 4:04 to play in the game.

The loud Crusader fans chanted Re-Peat, Re-Peat as the seconds ticked away and exploded when senior Charlotte Magee hobbled to a bucket at the buzzer, playing her final high school game with an injury. Head coach Moira Gagnon and her associate Megan McKinley were also part of the Crusaders win in 2016.

Farwell, off to Canada Basketball’s under-19 training camp in March, was named game MVP.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login