Basketball in NS

Basketball was first introduced to Nova Scotia as early as 1895 but in the past thirty years the popularity of the sport has really taken off. The high concentration of universities in the province, the tradition and esteem of the high school programs, and the continued support from a large and knowledgeable basketball community have made the game a staple of Nova Scotia life, culminating with the capital city of Halifax becoming known as the basketball capital of Canada. When you talk about basketball in the Maritimes you can break it down into different levels of competition. There are the club systems throughout the province, the regional and provincial teams, then high school basketball, then you have to look at intercollegiate basketball, and finally pro basketball that was here for a short period of time. Another way of looking at how the sport has come along in the past thirty years is by focusing on the people who have been an integral part in its development. People such as Bob Douglas, Mickey Fox, Ritchie Spears, Brian Heaney, Steve Konchalski, and Bill Robinson, who through different roles have made and continue to make an impact on basketball in this province. Others who will not be discussed as much but whose role was just as important are those who laid the groundwork for all of the aforementioned. People such as Stu Aberdeen who created a legacy at Acadia University and in the process developed some of the best coaches this province has ever seen. Others like Al Yarr, Terry Symonds, and Frank Baldwin, whose tremendous efforts at the minor, high school, university, and national levels earned him the name Mr. Basketball. The foundation that was set by these people has allowed basketball to flourish in Nova Scotia on every level.

In the 1970’s basketball in Nova Scotia was starting to gain popularity and in the minor system, the community YMCA and the Halifax Martyrs started basketball programs that provided children with an opportunity to play. At the high school level the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation took control of administering interscholastic athletics in 1971 and made many changes which improved the league. One of the improvements was to change the provincial format to qualify eight teams instead of just four, which allowed for more excitement as underdog schools had a chance to upset higher ranked t...

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...st in the country the CIAU still decided that Halifax should become the host for the Final 8 tournament. The 90’s brought professional basketball and along with it, increased interest in the game, as participation levels reached new heights. As we move into 2002 basketball is still very much a marquee sport in this province and its rich heritage ensures that it will be treasured for a long time to come.

Young, A.J.(1988). Beyond Heroes: A Sport History of Nova Scotia. Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press.

Douglas, Bob. (2000). Life is a Ball: 50 Years of Nova Scotia Sport. Halifax, NS: Links Publishing.

Morrow, D., Keyes, M., Simpson,W., Cosentino, F., & Lappage, R. (1989). A Concise History of Sport In Canada. Toronto, ON: Oxford University Press.

http://www.basketballns.ca

Saunders, C. (1993, May 2). Hoops: Symonds tourney a cultural event.

The Halifax Daily News, p. 29.

Connolly, P. (1995, December 24). Halifax has earned the moniker of Canada’s basketball capital. The Halifax Daily News.

Bezanson, S. (1984, July 25). Halifax being considered for CBA franchise.

The Chronicle Herald.