Professional basketball team makes home court debut in Halifax Friday

The Halifax Hoopers are about to play their first home game ever – bringing pro basketball back to Nova Scotia.

The Halifax Hoopers are gearing up to play their first home game Friday, marking the official return of men’s professional basketball to the city.

Brandon Beloti, who plays forward for the Halifax Hoopers, hopes energy will be high when the team hits the hard court at the Zatzman Sportsplex in Dartmouth, N.S.

“Pure energy. Cause as much chaos in the stands as possible, and just let it be known Halifax is where it’s at,” he said.

Augy Jones, the general manager and head coach of the Halifax Hoopers, is a long-time advocate for basketball in Halifax.

“It’s a pretty historic occasion for us to be able to play and bring pro basketball back to our fans,” said Jones.

“It means a lot to me personally and I’m very proud of the product that we have.”

The Hoopers joined The Basketball League (TBL) as one of only two Canadian teams. They will be one of 16 squads in the Eastern Conference.

“We purposely tried to mix up a roster more than having 10 guys from the States. We have four guys that played AUS, four guys that are from Toronto, and then we have four guys from the States.”

After losing two straight games to open the season, the Hoopers have since found their rhythm.

“We got off to a rocky start. But after gelling together, we’ve been on a five-game winning streak,” said guard Antonio Davis. “So, we’re third in our conference. It’s been going really good.”

Being the new team isn’t a deterrent for the players who say they see it as a challenge.

“Look at the stories of storied franchises like in the NBA, like the Raptors or the Magic, when they first came on the scene. It’s almost as if they weren’t taken seriously those first couple of weeks,” said Beloti.

But with the wins in hand, he’s not concerned about the growth of the team.

“We’re starting to build a reputation for ourselves and really bringing the community together. It’s another sports team they can really rally behind. It feels amazing,” said Beloti.

Community engagement is important to both management and players, with a special focus on youth.

“We’re hoping they use this as a stepping stone to continue to go further and maybe further their dreams,” said Clyke.

“I’ve always been taught that basketball is a representation of life,” said Beloti. “It’s one of those things that just brings so many people together. And when you could make those bonds early on, the skills that you learn in basketball, you can carry over to other sports and in life.”

The Hoopers have two games this weekend – Friday’s tip off is at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s at 3 p.m. The team will return to the Sportsplex to face the Tri-City Tide on April 20.

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