SPORTS FLASHBACK 2002: Ste Anne Cavaliers claim first provincial MHSAA crown

The Pointe des Chenes Cavaliers went into the Provincial ‘A’ High School Basketball Championships in Steinbach as the top ranked team. After all was said and done, the Cavaliers went home to Ste Anne as provincial basketball champions, capturing the first provincial title in any sport, for their school.

It was the second year in a row that a Ste Anne team won a provincial basketball title. Last year at the ‘AA’ Boys’ Provincials, the Ste Anne Collegiate Lynx capped off an undefeated season with a provincial title.

The provincial championship win by the Cavaliers put the final touches on an outstanding weekend of basketball hosted by Steinbach Christian High School, as 12 boys and 12 girls teams competed in a busy three-day tournament.

Assisting SCHS in hosting the provincial championships were Landmark Collegiate, Steinbach Junior High and the Steinbach Regional Secondary School, which hosted a number of the games.

Led by tournament MVP Martin Bazin, who scored 18 points, the Cavaliers defeated second ranked Peguis 66-59 in the championship final. Graham Carter, named a provincial all-star for his strong play, also had 18 points, while Nick St Hilaire netted 10.

In the semi-finals, the third ranked Ross L. Gray Raiders lost 53-45 to Peguis. The Raiders went on to win the third place game over St Laurent with a 53-48 victory, as all-star Daniel Cabana poured in an amazing 35 of his team’s 53 points.

By far the best game of the tournament was the championship semi-final between Pointe des Chenes and fourth-ranked St Laurent, which the Cavaliers eventually won 74-73 in overtime.

The most exciting play in basketball marked the end of regulation time to send that semi-final game into overtime. St Laurent took possession of the ball underneath their net, trailing 67-64 with three seconds left. A pass down court and a “Hail Mary” shot from inside the centre line swished through the hoop and the game was tied at 67.

Pointe des Chenes outscored St Laurent by a single point in the four-minute overtime period for a 74-73 win and a berth in the final.

Graham Carter and Nick St Hilaire each had 16 points for the Cavaliers. Craig Boudreau had 29 points in a losing cause for St Laurent.

Topping off the championship weekend for Carter, Pointe de Chenes’ six-foot-two, grade 11 forward, was being named the Manitoba High School Athletic Association’s Rural Athlete of the Week.

Earlier this month, Carter also helped the La Broquerie Habs to win the Provincial Midget ‘B’ Hockey championship in Grunthal. Carter, who broke his leg early in January and was out of action for six weeks, is the younger brother of world ranked cyclists Erin Carter and Murray Carter.

The Pointe des Chenes Cavaliers are coached by Graham’s father, Phil Carter.