The MHSAA votes to eliminate the bronze medal playoff.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings dumped the 8th-seeded B provincial champion Selkirk Lord Selkirk Regional Royals 54-20 as Dori McPhail scored 15, Anne Thompson 10 and Nancy Sharrat 10. Susan Johnson led the Royals with 6. The Vikings appeared nervous early and led 8-2 after one quarter but quickly took command, leading 28-5 at the half. The Royals (coach Peter Gerbrandt, manager Elaine Scramstad) also included Kathie Soke, Barb Kuz, Judy Christianson, Patti Reid, Kym Magill, Jodie Soke, Terry Schafer, Donna Posnick, Karen Hurley and Lisa Clemons.
The 4th-seeded Winnipeg Grant Park Pirates edged the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Miles Macdonell Buckeyes 38-31 as Paula Park scored 13 and Susan Kierstead 9. Kathy Dubesky led the Buckeyes with 11. Joanne Hussey added 10. The Buckeyes also included Sandy Donnelly.
The 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Vincent Massey Trojanettes nipped the 6th-seeded Winnipeg Louis Riel Rebelles 38-36 as Debbie Dudar scored 11 and Heather McIntosh 10. Claire Joyal led the Rebels with 15. Cecile Joyal added 7.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Westwood Warriors clipped the 7th-seeded Winnipeg Dakota Lancerettes 48-38 as Jo-Anne Weir scored 21 and Diane Ralph 13. Gisele Scott led the Lancerettes with 12. Lucy Burdz added 11. The Lancerettes also included Donna Leonhardt, Joanne Douma, Sue Roldt, Lizz Ross, Joanne DeWildt.
In the semis, the top-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings thumped the 4th-seeded Winnipeg Grant Park Pirates 47-34 as Anne Thompson scored 16, along with 16 boards, Dori McPhail 14, along with 15 boards, and Nancy Sharrat 14, along with 9 boards. Kathy McPherson led Grant Park with 8. The Vikings used their 1-2-2 full-court zone press to advantage and rolled to a 17-1 first quarter lead. They led 21-11 at the half. Dori McPhail, Nancy Sharratt and Anne Thompson did the most damage on the front of the press, said Vikings coach Stew Farnell. The Pirates attempted to stall early but the Vikings grabbed the early lead and was able to force the tempo. Farnell told the Brandon Sun that “we’ve played better. They are a good team and played well after the first quarter.”
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Vincent Massey Trojans defeated the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Westwood Warriors 37-34 as Heather McIntosh and Dru Marshall each tossed in 13 points. Jo-Anne Wier responded with 14 for Winnipeg Westwood. Dianne Ralph added 12. The Trojans were ahead 22-12 at the half and held on for the win.
In the final, the top-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings defeated the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Vincent Massey Trojans 44-36, despite trailing by 10 in the first half. The Trojans effectively utilized a full-court press to build an 8-6 lead at the quarter. The led 23-14 at the half and 29-28 at the three-quarter mark. Anne Thompson scored 17 and grabbed 7 rebounds, Nancy Sharratt scored 15 and 8 boards, Dori McPhail 6 points and 6 boards. “This is fantastic,” Vikings coach Stew Farnell told the Winnipeg Free Press that “they weren’t letting us play our style of game in the first half and we got behind. … “Our press was ineffective and our offence was terrible because we weren’t running. … But we just ran it at them in the second half and forced our own style. We played our game from then on.” Brandon out-rebounded Fort Garry 24-18 and forced 12 turnovers while only committing 9 themselves. Heather McIntosh led Fort Garry with 12 points before fouling out with 2:30 to play. She also grabbed 10 boards. Debbie Dudar also scored 12 and grabbed 12 boards. The Vikings finished (27-0) on the season. “I told the girls at half-time to start driving for the basket and to hustle more on defence,” Farnell told the Brandon Sun. “I had to settle them down. I never thought for a moment that we were going to lose … although I was sick at half-time.” Thompson began drawing fouls by driving the baseline. Thompson hit a pair of free throws to give the Vikings a 30-29 lead early in the four quarter. With the score knotted at 36, Thompson notched a three-point play to ignite a closing 8-0 run. Vikings assistant Mike Hill said “we were expected to win — all the pressure was on us. We were afraid to do anything.”
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Grant Park Pirates: Kathy McPherson; Paula Parks; Susan Kierstead; Barb Johnson; Ellen Fleishman; Celia Kaufman; Wendy Benyk; Linda Dewick; Linda Lippelt; Gail Neufeld; Maxine Olafson; coach Jack Hunt
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Westwood Warriors: Jo-Anne Weir; Diane Ralph; Jackie Rowe; Kathy Miller; Lori Bryant; Brenda Michel; Karen Klasse; Jan Kristjansson; Lori Hunter; Joan Weir; coach Addy Ryngach; manager Bridget Beckman
The silver medalist Winnipeg Vincent Massey Trojans: Heather McIntosh; Debbie Dudar; Dru Marshall; Nancy Thorne; coach Dave MacNabb
The gold medalist Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings: Ann Thompson; Dori McPhail; Nancy Sharratt; Meyers; Cynthia Scott; Pratt; Debbie Lovatt; Louise Uhryniuk; Beaulieu; Bridgett; Lisa Gamble; Kirsty Henderson; Val Adamski; coach Stew Farnell; assistant Mike Hill; manager Penton.