"Boys In Red" Bring Home Title...

This is the temporary end of a basketball season for one school in New Brunswick...

And, by that we mean the Canadian province, not the home of Rutgers University...

A little over a year ago, seven members of the Bathurst High School Phantoms ((pictured, thanks Andrew Vaughan/CP)) lost their lives when their van wrecked coming home from a game. The wife of the head coach at the time was also killed in the accident. The event forced high school administrators to re-examine their policies for transporting athletes to and from games.

The Phantoms beat Campobello High by 32 for the win in the Class AA Championship.

Forward Bradd Arseneau, who survived the crash, scored 25 points during the final while wearing the No. 7 of his late friend Nathan Cleland. Arseneau, who was named the game's most valuable player, declined interviews after the game.

His mother, Peggy O'Neil-Arseneau, was thrilled with the outcome.
"I've never seen him play any better," she said. "He carries the spirit of those boys wherever we go. He has certainly told me that."

The crash put an end to the Phantoms season last year, but the program resumed in the fall and ran up an impressive record of 35-3, including 26 consecutive wins heading into the provincial championship.

The players suffered more heartache on February 3 when head coach Alan Doucet collapsed during a practice and had to be rushed to hospital. He was in Montreal for tests Saturday while his team was winning the championship.

The crowd stood and cheered as the clock wound down over the final 30 seconds to the buzzer.
After the game, the Bathurst players spent a long time on the court, as if trying to savour the moment for as long as possible. They cut down both nets before leaving for their dressing room.

"It's a huge deal, coming back from that accident," said forward Brad States. "Obviously, it's huge."

"It was amazing. After the accident we didn't think we were going to get this far but we did," said guard Alex Robichaud. "We did the impossible, pretty much."

Those of us at OSG HQ would agree and congratualte them at the same time.

Not just the team, but the town as well.

Here's the last few minutes, real time, before the horn sounded...
Bradd's mom is in the front of the crowd holding up the sign for support.


Global TV's Ross Lord was in Fredericton...
CBC's Susan King was there as well and caught up with Peggy O'Neil-Arseneau...