NEW WATERFORD, N.S. — The New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic, one of the most prestigious high school basketball tournaments in the country, is usually a once-in-lifetime experience for visiting players.
But not for Rhys Stevenson. The Northumberland Nighthawks senior player suited up for the Westville school at the Coal Bowl Classic last year and will once again play in the tournament this year.
“It was such a surreal feeling to play in Coal Bowl last year, I never thought I’d be here again as a player,” said Stevenson. “When our coach told us we were coming back, I was extremely excited and I'm just enjoying every minute of it.”
It’s not very often visiting teams return to the Coal Bowl Classic for a second-straight time, but the opportunity wasn’t something Nighthawks head coach Mark Stinson was prepared to turn down.
“When we were asked if we wanted to come back and bring our girls team with us, I immediately jumped at the opportunity,” said Stinson, following his team's 93-70 win over the host Bears on Monday.
“We had a really good time at the tournament last year and our players enjoyed it — everything about this tournament and town is fantastic.”
Stevenson, a six-foot-seven centre, recalls playing his first game at the tournament last year. He remembers feeling nervous, especially playing in front of the large crowd.
“We’re from a small town and we don’t really get people coming out to our games — basketball isn’t that big back home,” said Stevenson.
“The New Waterford community is great, they’re so welcoming and even when there’s a whole gym cheering against you, you still feel like home.”
Along with team bonding, Stevenson, the lone graduating player on the club, said the best part of the tournament is being able to play against teams from across the country.
“It really gives us a chance to experience competition that we’ve never experienced before,” said the Stellarton product. “You get the chance to meet players from across Canada and really bond with all the teams — it’s something special.”
Last year, Northumberland faced Breton Education Centre in the tournament round robin, with the Bears downing the Nighthawks 79-65, ending the team’s chances of advancing to the semifinals.
Stevenson was pleased with his team’s win over the Bears on Monday and considered it revenge from last year’s loss.
“We’re very fortunate to get the chance to come back here and show the fans what we can really do,” said Stevenson. “We have a good team and we’re really looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Stinson, who played in the Coal Bowl Classic with the New Glasgow Panthers in the mid-1990s, believes the tournament will be the highlight of his players’ basketball careers.
“It’s something they will never forget — I know everyone says that, but it’s the truth,” said Stinson. “I have a great group of kids on this team and they deserve to experience this, and I know they’re going to love the week.”
Northumberland, which has an overall record of 16-8 this season, will return to the court on Thursday when they play the Winston Churchill Bulldogs of Lethbridge, Alta, at 9 a.m.
The club will play its final round robin game on Friday at 11 a.m. against Juvénat Notre-Dame Islanders of Saint-Romuald, Que.
