The Matadors from École Mathieu-Martin in Dieppe, New Brunswick, won the 4th Coupe de l’Acadie basketball championship in the senior men’s category on Saturday.
Players from grades 10 to 12 defeated the Jaguars from Center scolaire Samuel-de-Champlain, a school in the Saint-Jean region, New Brunswick, in the final in the gymnasium of École L’Odyssée, in Moncton, by a score of 87-72.
This tournament basketball has grown rapidly in just a few years. The first edition in 2023 had only four boys’ teams.
The event now takes place over two weeks. There are approximately 225 players, boys and girls, from 22 teams from the Maritime provinces.
For a sport, the basketballwhich had been downgraded to the Acadia Games 10 years ago, the competition has become an unmissable event, the organizers hope.
It was a sport that we saw less among French speakers
indicated Saturday Susanne Léger, member of the organizing committee of the Coupe de l’Acadie de basketball.
In recent years, precisely, with a few players and then events like this, it gave young people the taste to want to advance in sport, because they see that it is a sport which is very present in French-speaking secondary schools in the region.
observe-t-elle.
A tournament match between the Olympians and the Matadors.
Photo: Radio-Canada / François Le Blanc
Jonah Crandallthe co-captain of the Olympians from L’École L’Odyssée, is impressed to see how the situation has changed.
We always wanted to have a tournament for the rest of us at school
he explained on Saturday. It’s really special to see all the French schools and schools of all different calibers
.
When I hear that I’m playing against a school from Prince Edward Island, it’s surprising. It’s great to see all the teams
adds the other co-captain of the Olympians, Louis Léger.
We always see that the primary sport for French schools is hockey, things like that, then basketballit’s not really that popular in French schools. I think it can really increase interest for young people
continues Jonah Crandall.
Co-captains Sohan Riedel (left) and Adam Kourouma (right), of the Mathieu-Martin Matadors.
Photo: Radio-Canada / François Le Blanc
On the floor, you have to be careful. Speaking French with opponents is different. You play against English speakers, and there you speak with someone who understands what you are saying
noted Adam Kouroma, the co-captain of the Matadors, before the final match.
Just like Acadia Bowl in football, the Acadie Cup basketball allows young French-speaking athletes from the Atlantic provinces to meet and measure their talents outside the framework of the final of the Acadia Games.
It’s a very good idea. I participated in the Acadian Games for the volleyballthen we won, it was such a great experience. It reminds me a little of that
said Caleb Boudreau, of the Beavers of École Sainte-Anne, to Fredericton.
According to the report by François Le Blanc
