It was a perfect weekend for the men’s basketball Hurricanes at the 2023 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Championships in Fredericton, New Brunswick, hosted by the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies.

The ‘Canes, the second seed, cruised through their semi-final game on Saturday, defeating the Crandall University Chargers, 90-74, before defeating the host and top-ranked, STU Tommies, on Sunday in the championship game, 97-78.

Saturday (Semi-Finals) | Hurricanes 90, Crandall 74

It was a tight matchup early between Holland College and Crandall, with the Hurricanes holding the sight lead after the opening quarter, 25-24.  They would extend their lead to 47-35 at the half, and 59-51 after three. 

Jalen Menzies led the way with 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and six steals while Kyree Thompson had 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block. Marcellus Taliaferro came off the bench with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a block. Jack MacAulay added ten points, five rebounds, and two assists in the win.

The ‘Canes advanced to the finals with the win, facing the STU Tommies, who had defeated the Mount Allison University (MTA) Mounties in their semi-final game.

Sunday (Championship Game) | Hurricanes 97, STU 78

In front of a jam-packed Lady Beaverbrook Gym and a raucous Tommies fan-base, the Hurricanes blew the game wide open in the third quarter to pick up their first ACAA title since the 2018-19 season. The ‘Canes trailed 21-18 after one and trailed by as much as 12 in the second quarter before fighting back to enter the half tied at 43-43 thanks to a Chris Cheatham coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer. The ‘Canes would score 38 points in the third quarter to open an 81-61 lead heading to the fourth.

Kyree Thompson scored 27 points in 25 minutes while also adding five rebounds and five steals. Jack MacAulay and Logan Rempel both had 17 points and eight rebounds in the win.  Jalen Menzies had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals, and an impressive chase down block. Marcellus Taliaferro added eight points and seven rebounds and Chris Cheatham had six points, three rebounds, and five assists as both players provided help off the bench.

With the championship, their eighth in team-history (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023), the ‘Canes will now represent the ACAA at the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship in Calgary, Alberta on March 16-19, hosted by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Polytechnic (SAIT) Trojans.

For information on the 2023 CCAA National Men’s Basketball Championship, visit www.ccaa.ca.

Earlier in the championship, the ACAA announced Jalen Menzies to their first All-Conference team, while Logan Rempel and Kyree Thompson were named to the second All-Conference team.  Thompson was also announced as the 2023 ACAA Rookie of the Year.

Connect with the men’s basketball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

It was not the championship the women’s basketball Hurricanes were hoping for as they fell to the third-ranked, Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics in the semi-finals on Saturday, 74-67.  The Hurricanes entered as the number two seed.

The ‘Canes fought hard all game but fell just short to the eventual champions. The ‘Canes led 19-17 after the first, trailed 39-38 at the half, and 56-48 after three. The ‘Canes would lead 61-59 with just under five minutes to play and were tied 65-65 with just over three minutes to play but couldn’t secure the win.

Lauren Armstong led the way with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and four steals. Karla Benitez added 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Molly Steadman recorded 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks off the bench while Lisa Bolander added eight points and five rebounds.

The Mystics would go on to defeat the Mounties in the championship game to claim the title.

On Friday, Karla Benitez and Lisa Bolander were named to the ACAA first All-Conference team, while Lauren Armstrong was named the 2023 ACAA Rookie of the Year.

Connect with the women’s basketball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

For more information on the 2023 ACAA Basketball Championship, visit www.acaa.ca.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, please visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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