The 1968-1969 Men’s Basketball Axemen under the direction of Coach Gib Chapman and assistant coach, Dr. Jim Logue, enjoyed an outstanding season in league and tournament play.
The team managed by Gordon Wamica and David Allen listed Brian Heaney as the lone starter from the previous season, while another returnee, Brian Forsythe, joined with one- year absentees Nar Zanolin and Kevin Curley to provide the teams experience. New faces in training camp included John Lewis, Frank Coolidge, Roy Mercer, Terry Condon, Bill Fletcher, Rick Baton, and Steve Pound.
In early-season play, the Axemen pounded Mt. Allison 114-51, as Brian Heaney accumulated thirty-four points, while Pound and Baton gained seventeen and sixteen points respectively. In the Loyola Basketball Tournament, the Axemen posted a 94- 77 triumph over the host squad as Baton, Heaney and Pound had the impressive numbers. Losing out in the finals, the Axemen did, however, have the tournament’s MVP Heaney and Baton named to the all- star squad.
At the Bluenose Classic the Axemen lost in the finals to New Haven 88- 77, as Baton, Pound, Heaney and Zanolin were the Axemen’s top scorers. Subsequently, at the Waterloo Tip Off Tournament, the Axemen defeated Loyola 85-82, in the championship game as their top three offensive stalwarts again were top producers.
In their twelve-game regular schedule the Axemen posted double victories over Mt. Allison, Dalhousie, St. F.X., U.N.B., St. Dunstan’s and St. Mary’s respectively. Without a doubt, the climax of the season was the Axemen’ s 94-64 win over St. Mary’s to clinch the Conference title. During this last home game in which Brian Heaney -averaging thirty points a game and possessor of eight Axemen records -was honoured.
In National championship play held in Waterloo, Ontario against University of Windsor the Axemen were defeated by the Windsor team 79- 76, a contest in which Heaney scored thirty-nine points.
What an honour it is to induct to Acadia’ s Sports Hall of Fame, the’ 68- ‘ 69 Basketball Axemen, winners of prestigious Invitational Tournaments, Conference champions and worthy challengers for National honours.
