In the opening round, held at Pitt Meadows: …………………………………………………… The Vancouver University Hill Hawks savaged the Vanderhoof Nechako Valley Vikings 82-58 as Matt Sauder scored 28 and Pat Onstad 24. Mike Fitzpatrick led the Vikings with 17. The Vikings also included Marcus Toncatto, Vaughn Mueller, Rod Dick. ………………………………………………… The West Vancouver Sentinel Spartans thrashed the top-seeded Oliver South Okanagan Hornets 85-67 as Rob Whiton scored 26 and Steven Dong 23. Sentinel coach Peter Lefaive told the Vancouver Sun “we were up at about six this morning and we were on the road by quarter to seven. The kids were wide awake and ready for the game (8:30 a.m.). We can in here number 16, with everything to win and nothing to lose. It had to be tough for them coming in number one.” Sentinel put constant pressure on the Hornet guards and forced a raft of turnovers. Dan Houle led the Hornets with 18. The Hornets also included Spencer McKay, Pat Dumont, Dennis Shannon. …………………………………………………… The host Pitt Meadows Marauders spanked the Creston Prince Charles Comets 81-50 as Mike Shields scored 15 and Kevin Severinski 15. Dave Belcher led the Comets with 28. The Comets also included Toby Reichert, Chad Nearing. …………………………………………………… The Dawson Creek Bethel Christian Lions dumped the South Slocan Mount Sentinel Wildcats 75-66 as Brent Power scored 23. Lorne Swetilkoff led the Wildcats with 22. The Wildcats also included Ely Chernenkov. …………………………………………………… The West Vancouver Highlanders whipped the Westbank George Pringle Pacers 74-51 as Bryce Somerville scored 19, Rob Pearson 17 and Jim Mielke 16. Highlanders coach Tom Rippon told the Vancouver Sun that “we showed a lack of intensity rebounding in the first quarter but we picked it up in the second.” Paul Van Dijk led the Pacers with 18. The Pacers also included Dean Van Brunt. …………………………………………………… The Victoria St. Michaels University Blues Devils stunned the 2nd-seeded Prince George D.P. Todd Trojans 58-56 as Carl Loreen scored 21. Robert Bryce led the Trojans with 14. The Trojans (coached by Dwayne Washington) also included Allan Reynolds, Mark McKenzie. …………………………………………………… The Vernon Clarence Fulton Maroons clocked the Houston Wolverines 98-66 as Stacey Smith scored 45. Pat (Paul?) Gagne led the Wolverines with 25. The Wolverines (coached by Rich Brise and Bill Barie) also included Paul Gagne, Rob Kopytko, Mike Deschamp, James Bain. …………………………………………………… The Campbell River Carihi Tyees dumped the Langley Aldergrove Totems 86-70 as Ray Stefanyshyn scored 24 and Willie Pakosz 24. Jim Modleski led the Totems with 19. The Totems also included Rod DeGianni.
In the quarterfinals, the Vancouver University Hill Hawks edged Campbell River Carihi Tyees 84-80 as Pat Onstad scored 34. Scott Isbister paced the Tyees with 37. The Tyees also included Ray Stefanyshyn, Willie Pakosz, Dean Riddoch.
The Dawson Creek Bethel Christian Lions clipped the West Vancouver Sentinel Spartans 80-72 as Brent Tower scored 21. Rob Whiton led the Spartans with 28. The Spartans also included Steven Dong, Blair Erb.
The West Vancouver Highlanders clipped the Pitt Meadows Marauders 61-48 as Bryce Somerville scored 18, Mike Drummond 16 and Rob Pearson 11. Highlanders coach Tom Rippon told the Vancouver Sun that “we contested every shot and gave up very little inside.” Marauders coach Rick Goulet said “that’s probably the worst game we’ve played in two months. … The guys were tight. The things we worked on just didn’t happen.” Steve Anderson led the Marauders with 13. The Marauders (coached by Rich Goulet) also included Mike Shields, Kevin Severinski, Scott Carrington.
In the last quarterfinal, the Victoria St. Michaels University Blue Devils edged the Vernon Clarence Fulton Maroons 63-60 as Carl Loreen scored 23. Stacey Smith led the Maroons with 17. The Maroons also included Dean Collingridge, Troy Harasym.
In the semis, the Vancouver University Hill Hawks defeated Dawson Creek Bethel Christian Lions 84-79 as Peter Duffy scored 22, including five field goals after Bethel Christian had tied the game in the fourth quarter. Matt Sauder added 22. Bethel Christian was led by Wendel Blois’ 20 points.
In the other semi, the West Vancouver Highlanders defeated Victoria St. Michaels University Blue Devils 83-75 as centre Rob Pearson scored 34. Highlanders coach Tom Rippon told the Vancouver Sun that “I’ve got a good lead line for you: St. Michaels starts spring rugby early.” St. Michaels was led by Gareth Rees’ 20 points.
In the bronze medal match, the Dawson Creek Bethel Christian Lions dispatched the Victoria St. Michaels Blue Devils 78-75 as Reinhardt Haukenfrers scored 25. Carl Loreen led the Blue Devils with 20. The Blue Devils (coached by Bill Greenwell, assisted by Ian Hyde-Lay and Goose Grant, and managed by Paul Moreau) also included Dave Gordy, John Graf, Gareth Rees, Steve McLellan, Dave Craig, Jason O’Byrne, Richard Schutte, Mike Van Lijf, Jamie Florczak and Kelly Greenwell.
In the final, the Vancouver University Hill Hawks became a two-time winner of the provincial AA crown with an 80-72 victory over the West Vancouver Highlanders after leading 22-16, 40-39 and 59-55 at the quarters. The final was tied seven times but University Hill remained in control throughout as Matt Sauder scored 23, Pat Onstad 20, Peter Duffy 17, Steve Anderson 12, Chris Greenwood 6 and Chris Frye 2. West Vancouver was led by Rob Pearson 30, Mike Drummond 26, Todd Mielke 10, John McLeod 2, Tony Lewis 2 and Bryce Somerville 2. University Hill coach Jim Miotto told the Vancouver Sun that the provincial crown hadn’t seemed likely at the start of the season. “I tell you, at the beginning of the season, I had my doubts about these guys. We got off to a very slow start. …But it was really a mental problem. This team has had three different coaches in the last four years. I think the turning point for them was when we began to have some faith in each other. It’s only in the last third of the season that they’ve been playing to their potential. I kind of gave in a bit. But so did they.” University Hill star Matt Sauder noted that Miotto “had his idea of how to play we had ours. We came to a compromise and it seemed to work. Team unity was something we had before but as soon as we saw eye to eye with him, we had more success. … We were confident. We thought we would win the championship, even before South Okanagan got knocked off. All of us play a lot of ball and we’re ready to shoot all the time. University Hill has had a tradition of run-and-gun teams for a while now. West has played good defence but we have five shooters who spend a lot of time playing against college-age guys.” Highlanders coach Tom Rippon said “we got off to a bad start and never really quite recovered. After the beginning, we shot well. They were very deserving of the win.” Hawks coach Jim Miotto told the Maple Ridge News that poing guard Peter Duffy “was definitely one of our most consistent players. He was the floor general, while Pat Onstad and Matt Sauder also played really well tonight. … We were very relaxed and were able to control the tempo from the beginning. I also thought we were very good defensively.”
The bronze medalist Dawson Creek Bethel Christian Lions: Brent Tower; Wendel Blois; Reinhardt Haukenfrers; Wes Whitford;
The silver medalist West Vancouver Highlanders: Rob Pearson; Mike Drummond; Jim Mielke; John McLeod; Tony Lewis; Bryce Somerville; coach Tom Rippon
The gold medalist Vancouver University Hill Hawks: Matt Sauder; Pat Onstad; Peter Duffy; Steve Anderson; Chris Greenwood; Chris Frye; coach Joe Miotto