In the regional qualifiers and Saskatoon city playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the quarterfinals, the Holy Cross Crusaders blasted the Marion Graham Falcons 117-58 as Scott McHenry scored 27 and Kevin Hollman 18. Garret Just led the Falcons with 16. Steven Irinici added 9. …………………………………………………… The E.D. Feehan Trojans clipped the Bedford Road Redmen 70-56 as Nathan Dixon scored 23 and Brett Farquharson 18. Kevin Stone led the Redmen with 17. Mark Reimer added 14. …………………………………………………… The Bishop J. Mahoney Saints nipped the St. Joseph Guardians 58-57 as Graham Patola scored 20 and Brett Reid 15. Freddy Liebel led the Guardians with 19. Mike Gartner added 14. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Alex Bowman Bears defeated the Evan Hardy Souls 64-55 as Cody Dyck scored 26 and David Espeseth 16. Shaun Gullacher paced the Souls with 18. David Neufeld added 14. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the top-seeded Holy Cross Crusaders dispatched the 4th-seeded E.D. Feehan Trojans 85-73 as Kevin Hollman scored 35 and Scott McHenry 25. Landon Buckmayer paced the Trojans with 25. Brett Farquharson added 20. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Aden Bowman Bears defeated the 3rd-seeded Bishop J. Mahoney Saints 58-50 as Cody Dyck scored 26 and Alex Loewen 9. Brett Reid led the Saints with 14. The Saints also included Kory Wickhauser. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Holy Cross Crusaders crushed the Aden Bowman Bears 82-64 as Kevin Hollman scored 31, Scott McHenry 14, Brett Boechler 10 and Alex Bains 10. Matt Jacoby led the Bears with 14. Jessie Schwark added 11 and Alex Loewen 11.
In the regional qualifiers and Regina city playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the quarterfinals, the Sheldon-Williams Spartans dusted the Dr. Martin LeBoldus Golden Suns 85-65 as Shea Murphy scored 37. Jared Ralko led the Golden Suns with 16. The Golden Suns also included Braden White, Jordan St. Onge, Thomas Larrivee, Kevin Graham, Joey Werapitiya. …………………………………………………… The Campbell Tartans mauled the Luther Lions 84-49 as Jamal Williams scored 18. Robert Davis led the Lions with 17. The Lions (coached by Drew Hunter) also included Taylor Tiefenbach. …………………………………………………… The Balfour Redmen dispatched the Winston Knoll Wolverines 70-60 as Paul Schubach scored 24. Casey Schneider led the Wolverines with 14. The Wolverines (coached by Steve Burrows) also included jay Roth, Lee Kuruliak, Jordan McFarlen. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Archibishop M.C. O’Neill Titans clipped the Michael A. Riffel Royals 91-76 as Jamie Rensby scored 25. Aaron Silzer led the Royals with 31. The Royals also included Ryan Hogan, Josh Legault, Riley Sisco. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Sheldon-Williams Spartans edged the Campbell Tartans 92-90 as Shea Murphy scored 39. Andrew Giesbrecht paced the Tartans with 35. The Tartans also included Jamal Williams, Kurtis Ferguson, Jeff Campbell, Joel Kullman, Matt Britton, Greg Finch, Steve Herbison. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Balfour Redmen edged the Archbishop M.C. O’Neill Titans 73-72 as Teale Orban scored 22. Paul Gareau led the Titans with 30. The Titans (coached by Jason Neumann) also included Jamie Rensby, Jeff Lukomski, Lindsay Isaak, Graham Masiondz. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Balfour Redmen spanked the Sheldon-Williams Spartans 72-52 as Teale Orban scored 24 and Paul Schubach 23. Luke Jacoby led the Spartans with 16.
In the small cities quarterfinals: …………………………………………………… The North Battleford Vikings defeated the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders 61-57 as Gilbert Madsen scored 27 and Luke Harrison 16. Jim Guidinger led Carlton with 27. …………………………………………………… The Weyburn Eagles stomped the Estevan Elecs 93-54 as Dustin Wilson scored 18. Kris Frisk led Estevan with 16. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers edged the Swift Current Colts 68-63 as Troy Gottselig scored 12. Carter Wagner led Swift Current with 22. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Yorkton Regional Raiders defeated the North Battleford Vikings 69-39. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers dumped the Weyburn Eagles 63-52 as Ian Carlson scored 20. Brian Loden led Weyburn with 25. The Eagles also included Jeff Moser. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers thumped the Yorkton Regional Raiders 59-49 as Clayton Smith scored 11. Kris Heshka led Yorkton with 11. Both qualify for the final provincial draw.
In the provincial quarterfinals, the 5th-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers dumped the 4th-seeded Regina Sheldon Williams Spartans 88-74 as Clayton Smith scored 22. Shea Murphy paced the Spartans with 28. Peacock built a 10-point lead early by bombing from the perimeter. But the Spartans rallied back to within one at the half before the Toilers again caught fire from the perimeter and romped. The Spartans (coached by Ray Jacoby) also included Luke Jacoby, Sean Forsythe.
In the other quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears edged 6th-seeded Yorkton Regional Raiders 58-54. The Raiders took an early six-point lead on a Kris Heshka slam and several Jordan Ponak treys. But Matt Jacoby went to work in the paint in the second half as Bowman rallied and led by three after three-quarters. Ponak nailed another trey and Sebastien Bachmann notched a putback rebound as the Raiders tied the score but Bowman pulled it out in the end. The Bears led by just one at half and three after three quarters. Early in the fourth, Yorkton actually led. But guard Cody Dyck scored six of his 23 points in the final seven minutes to lead the Bears to a win. “This is fun time,” Dyck told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. “Grade 10 you’re a little hesitant. Grade 11 is a little better. Grade 12 you’ve got to have fun with it.” Dyck scored nine points in the first quarter, after which the Bears led 20-12 and looked like they’d pull away. Yorkton used its superior size and excellent perimeter shooting to rally. Bowman had little answer in the paint for 6-5 forwards Kris Heshka and Alan Kyle, and when they collapsed their defence, Jordan Ponak, who hit five three-pointers to lead Yorkton with 15 points, burned them outside. Yorkton moved ahead 48-46 two minutes into the fourth quarter; its first lead since 10-9. Their lead lasted exactly 25 seconds. Dyck calmly came down on the ensuing possession and nailed a three of own, retaking the lead 49-48. The Bears held it the rest of the way. Dyck scored three more points. Jessie Schwark and Matt Jacoby each hit critical jumpers, while the Bears held Yorkton to four points in the last five minutes. Bears coach Rod Friesen felt the Raiders got nervous towards the end. “They started missing shots, and they started not taking shots. We never stopped playing. I don’t think we ever doubted we could win the game. Guys played with no fear.” The Raiders also included Ryan Moore.
In the semis, the 2nd-seeded Regina city champion Balfour Redmen dumped the 3rd-seeded Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears 91-79. The Redmen broke open a tight affair in the fourth quarter when Henok Berhe ignited a run with a trey and football quarterback Teale Orban scored 13 of his 35 points in the final frame. Balfour had trailed 62-60 heading into the fourth quarter. “We just decided to go after every loose ball,” Orban told the Regina Leader-Post. “When the ball’s on the floor, it’s ours, not theirs. We just played a lot tougher in the fourth. We were down two (after the third), but we just said: ‘Two points is nothing. We’re going out there and we’re winning this game’.” Coach Glen Fekula said “Teale had a tremendous fourth quarter. He has that will to take the ball and say, ‘Let’s see what I can do.’ He had a lot of help from the other guys, too.” Bowman led 67-66 with 6:33 left before the Redmen went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes. After Cody Dyck cut the lead to 76-69, a three-pointer by Kevin Tamaki and an Orban bucket got the lead into double digits — and it stayed there. “We missed a couple of big shots and turned it over a couple of times,” said Dyck, who scored 20. “They boarded well. That’s how it goes.” Adam Jaleta added 22 points for the Redmen.
In the other semi, the top-seeded Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders dumped the 5th-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 84-59. The Crusaders dominated the second half as reserve Chris Bodnar delivered a raft of perfect feeds to set up his teammates on the break. Bodnar said the Crusaders had the right attitude from the start, refusing to take the small school lightly. “They were a big, physical team. We had to play our style of game,” Bodnar, who scored 17 in the first half and finished with 20, told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. “Their size overpowered us at the start. But then we got comfortable.” The Crusaders took an 18-15 lead after one quarter and extended it to 52-31 at the half. Ian Carlson paced the Toilers with 21.
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears defeated the 5th-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 66-59. Bowman led 13-9 after one quarter and maintained a slim margin to the final buzzer. Cody Dyck and David Espeseth each scored 19 to lead the Bears. Brent Larson paced the Peacocks with 22. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t repeat, but it’s been a good experience,” said Bowman forward Jessie Schwark, who played some of his best ball of the year this weekend. “It’s nice to finish with a win.”
In the final, the 2nd-seeded Regina Balfour Redmen upset the top-seeded Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders 98-91. The teams traded the lead until the final quarter with Balfour’s Adam Jaleta dominating the blocks, while Holy Cross’ Chris Bodnar and Kevin Hollman gunned from the perimeter, drilling four treys in the first half. The score as knotted at 50 at the break. With Paul Schuback and Henok Berhe continuing to feed Jaleta in the paint, while Teale Orban drained a midcourt trey, the Redmen built a nine-point lead after three quarters. Bodnar tried to shoot the Crusaders back into it but Balfour’s superior strength and size prevailed. With the buzzer about to sound at the end of the first half, Holy Cross star Kevin Hollman chucked up a three-quarter court shot that was straight on target, but came up one foot short. The teams went into the locker room tied 50-50. With the buzzer about to sound at the end of the third quarter, Regina Balfour star Teale Orban chucked up a three-quarter court shot that was straight on target. He had the distance, and one bank off the glass later, the Redmen seized the momentum. Orban’s shot sent the Redmen went into the fourth quarter leading 79-70, and the Crusaders never recovered. The Redmen, with Orban’s prayer at the centre of it all, went on a 21-3 surge late in the third and early in the fourth to pull out the win. “We knew we couldn’t let them make a run,” said Grade 12 Cross guard Brett Boechler. “They played great. We had to play well to beat them, and they just played better than us.” Orban, who scored 23, including nine during the critical run, told the Regina Leader-Post that “I knew when I made that shot that this was our game. I had a feeling that I knew they weren’t going to score anymore. I know they did (score again) but they weren’t ever going to lead again.” Through nearly three quarters, neither team could take much of a lead. Adam Jaleta or Henok Berhe would hit a shot for Balfour, only to see Chris Bodnar, Scott McHenry or Hollman answer for the Crusaders. Cross came from six down early in the third to take its last lead — 68-66 — before Balfour took over for good. Orban couldn’t miss. Jaleta, who had a game-high 29 points, was a force inside. Meanwhile, Hollman and Boechler struggled from the perimeter, and nothing came easy in the paint. Mere moments after being up two, the Crusaders were down 87-71 with less than eight minutes to play. “Basketball’s a game of runs,” said Jaleta. “When you have that, you’ve got to go at it.” Cross mounted a furious comeback, cutting the lead to seven with two minutes to go, but turnovers on three consecutive possessions — two of which the Crusaders felt were questionable traveling calls — ended their chances. Bodnar had 22 points to lead the Crusaders. Kevin Hollman added 20. Balfour coach Glen Fekula felt his team won the game by matching the Crusaders’ work ethic. “I don’t think a lot of teams have done that this year. We talked about still being with them in the fourth quarter. If that happens, you see it a lot everywhere, the favourites start tightening up and things don’t come quite as easily.” Crusaders coach Barry Rawlyk noted that “their athleticism is really obvious. They match up well with us. That’s a tremendous team. We went flat for a little bit, and that’s tough to recover from. You can’t do that against such a good team. It’s a disappointing loss at this point of the season, but in spite of that we enjoyed a magnificent season. We have to look at all of it, and not just this game. This one hurts.” Orban later added that “You have to have the luck and the right trajectory with a shot like that. You have to throw it up but I think God wanted me to make that shot. …You couldn’t have planned this ending any better. It’s perfect to win my last game in Grade 12. I might never play basketball again and this was the perfect atmosphere. This is the way to go out. There aren’t many guys who can say they won their last game of basketball. I can.” Jaleta noted that “this is exactly the way I wanted to go out. I never won a city or provincial championship in high school until this year. To go out like this is incredible.” Paul Schubach contributed 25 points to Balfour’s cause and Henok Berhe had 14. Holy Cross’ only two losses on the season were to the Crusaders. “We went through a bit of a slump in the middle of the season but I knew the team we were capable of being,” Jaleta said. “We knew when we had to pull together and we had a great coach. We knew as a team that we could do it.”
The bronze medalist Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears: Matt Jacoby; Cody Dyck; Alex Loewen; David Espeseth; Jessie Schwark; Cory Dallin; Adam Proznick; Joel Goy; Drew Davidson; Drew Mitchell; Rejean Chabot; Adrien Friesen; coach Rod Friesen; assistant Paul Jacoby; assistant Adam Wilson; manager Brock Storey; manager Brandy Sokoloski
The silver medalist Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders: Chris Bodnar; Brett Boechler; Kevin Hollman; Scott McHenry; Alex Bains; Charles Puno; Josh Farthing; Simon Haimanot; Jeff Griffith; Brayden Elliott; Adam Vangool; Colby Pocock; Andrew Kudel; coach Barry Rawlyk; coach Brett Czarnota; manager Ryan Epp
The gold medalist Regina Balfour Redmen: Adam Jaleta; Henok Berhe; Paul Schubach; Teale Orban; Kevin Tamaki; Will Hornsberger; Rick Kullman; James Walker; Adam McMurtry; Drew Canham; Curtis Read; Justin Simaluk; Kyle Kindred; Lance Aldcorn; Taylor Orban; coach Glen Fekula; assistant Scott Babcock; trainer Hailey McCrystal; trainer Crystal Kowalyk