In the regional qualifiers and Regina city playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the quarterfinals, the Balfour Redmen whipped the Archbishop M.C. O’Neill Titans 88-62 as Brenan Schwartz scored 28. Marc Franklin led the Titans with 23. The Titans also included Mike Wurm, Chris Connell, Paul Stellard. …………………………………………………… The Luther Lions clipped the Dr. Martin LeBoldus Golden Suns 90-75 as Dylan Lyons scored 29 and Darwin Smith 29. Shane Ostapowich led the Golden Suns with 19. The Golden Suns also included Chris Womack, Jordan Jakubowski, Greg Buchan, Nick Coucill, Rob Harrand. …………………………………………………… The Michael A. Riffel Royals blasted the F.W. Johnson Wildcats 106-67 as Tyler Wright scored 24. Jon Heathcote led the Wildcats with 19. The Wildcats also included Jason Oglesby, James Davis, David Murray. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Campbell Tartans dusted the Sheldon-Williams Spartans 90-71 as Mike Stefaniuk scored 16. Lee Cherkas led the Spartans with 19. The Spartans also included Jason Drummond, Joel Passmore. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Balfour Redmen defeated the Luther Lions 77-67 as Brenan Schwartz scored 42. Darwin Smith led the Lions with 21. The Lions also included Dylan Lyons, Chris McConnell, Jeff Lindskog, Jason Leggett. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Campbell Tartans outlasted the Michael A. Riffel royals 107-105 as Andrew Gerrand scored 24. Tyler Wright led the Royals with 36. The Royals also included Dave Brown. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Balfour Redmen edged the Campbell Tartans 96-94 in overtime as Jeremy Illerbrun hit a short jumper with 1:30 to play in the extra session. Troy Gordon led the Redmen with 27. Brenan Schwartz added 26. Jemahl Manning led the Tartans with 25. Mark Moroz added 15.
In the regional qualifiers and Saskatoon city playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the quarterfinals, the Bishop J. Mahoney Saints edged the Walter Murray Marauders 72-68 as Dustin Fruson scored 18 and Courtney Kolla 15. Todd Ferguson led the Marauders with 23. Graeme Bell added 13. The Marauders led 40-33 at the half. …………………………………………………… The Holy Cross Crusaders clocked the Marion Graham Falcons 99-50 as Scott Gordon scored 25. Stefano Ciofani led the Falcons with 22. …………………………………………………… The Evan Hardy Souls spanked the Bedford Road Redmen 82-53. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Aden Bowman Bears defeated the Mount Royal Mustangs 82-77 as Rob Bakker and Noel Erickson each scored 18. Geoff Glines led the Mustangs with 35. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Evan Hardy Souls whipped the Aden Bowman Bears 74-55. The Bears included Rob Bakker, Noel Erickson. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Holy Cross Crusaders clubbed the Bishop J. Mahoney Saints 101-82 as Brett Czarnota scored 21 and Mark Roblin 20. Courtney Kolla led the Saints with 28. Jay Bennett added 16. The Saints (coached by Brian Carduner) also included Dustin Frusen, Trev Bazlik. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Holy Cross Crusaders nipped the Evan Hardy Souls 65-63 as Tom Hickey scored 15 and Scott Gordon 14. Calvin Palmer led the Souls with 27. David Robinson added 16.
In the small cities playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the quarterfinals, the Weyburn Eagles dispatched the Swift Current Colts 67-61. The Colts included Jared Harvey, Boyd Koldingnes. …………………………………………………… The Yorkton Regional Raiders stuffed the Estevan Elecs 66-51. …………………………………………………… The Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders stomped the North Battleford Comprehensive Vikings 83-54. …………………………………………………… The Moose Jaw A.E. Peacok Toilers dusted the Prince Albert St. Mary Marauders 83-63. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers defeated the Weyburn Eagles 76-62. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders clipped the Yorkton Regional Raiders 83-70. The Raiders included Geoff Propp, Ryan Wersch, Eric McDowell. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders edged the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 81-79 in overtime. Both teams qualified for provincials.
In the quarterfinals, the 4th-seeded Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls defeated the 5th-seeded Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders 88-73. The Crusaders forced the game into a fast up-and-down style. Kyle Vermette and Mirko Suigir were hitting shots from everywhere, giving P.A. a 15-11 lead. Hardy got its early offence from guard Bob Wicks. Hitting four three-pointers, he allowed Hardy’s posts room to bully P.A.’s smaller men inside. Carlton looked worn down near the end of the half as Hardy built a 48-42 lead. The Souls put the game away at the start of the second frame. P.A. turnovers allowed the Souls to take a 15-point lead 10 minutes in. Three-point shooting by Hardy’s Brad Humbert maintained the spread. Calvin Palmer had led the Souls with 27. David Robinson added 19, Brad Humbert 16, Bob Wicks 15, Kelly Homenick 6 and Jared Regier 5. Mirko Suigirled the Crusadres with 22. Kyle Vermette added 18, Errel Engel 14, Lee Walker 8, Dennis Dalziel, Tyler Kaboloff 4 and Manny Greenwod 3, while Mahir Osmic, Vince Anderson and Craig Dansereau were scoreless. “We didn’t play too well, just well enough to win,” said Calvin Palmer.
In the other quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Regina Campbell Tartans defeated the 6th-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 75-47 as Dave Penner scored 15, Mark Moroz 12, Andrew Gerrand 9, Jemahl Manning 8, Alan Snowdy 7, Mike Stefaniuk 7, Brynn Robers 6, Paul Maindonald 5, Seth Lang 4 and Trevor Finch 2. Tartans coach Glenn Szabo told the Regina Leader-Post that “defence is an attitude. In the first half, we didn’t have that attitude. In the second half, we did and it started with (forward) Andrew Gerrand diving for loose balls. … Defence becomes contagious. Before you know it, (Alan) Snowdy) goes to the floor for a loose ball. (Mike) Stefaniuk goes down to the floor. Defence is enthusiasm and we got more enthusiastic as the game went on.” Gerrand said “the harder we work and the more intensity we have, the better our press is. There’s really no skill involved; it’s reall all heart.” Chris Mealing led the Toilers with 21. Shaun Muchkowski added 11, Ryan Belsher 5, Matt Gottseliig 4, Tori Sealy 4 and Quenton Randall 2, while Ryan Bruce was scoreless. Sealey said “we’ve never really faced that kind of pressure before. They worked hard and they’re aggressive. The coach prepared us for it but we never expected it to be that hard.” Campbell led 10-0 early and 34-26 at the half. Peacock narrowed the lead to 40-35 before Campbell responded with a 27-4 run. Gerrand said “it was a gutcheck thing. If we’re playing so-so against a team we think we should beat, we get the mindset ‘we can beat these guys’ and we tighten up.” Seth Lang said “we started to work and show enthusiasm. We bore down. We knew the game was close and we wanted to blow it open. We played defence when we had to – which we shouldn’t do. We shoul play it all the way through.”
In the semis, the 4th-seeded Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls stunned the Regina city champion Balfour Redmen 62-56 as Calvin Palmer scored 24, Jared Regier 10, David Robinson 9, Tyler Bergen 7, Kelly Homenick 6 and Brad Humbert 6. Brenan Schwartz led the Redmen with 26. Jeremy Illerbrun added 11, Jon Salgado 9, Troy Gordon 6, Greg Perrins 3 and Elliot Hubick 1. Redmen coach Glen Fekula told the Regina Leader-Post that the Souls slow tempo undid his troops. “It felt like we were playing the Cleveland Cavaliers. We played their pace of game and they kept stickhandling their way to the basket.”
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Regina Campbell Tartans upset the 2nd-seeded Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders 95-56. The Tartans 1-2-1-1 press befuddled Holy Cross ballhandlers from the start, forcing repeated turnovers and yielding a 28-6 lead. Coupled with 60% shooting, Campbell led 47-21 at the half and romped. Mike Stefaniuk paced the Tartans with 17. Mark Moroz added 12, Andrew Gerrand 11, Brynn Roberts 10, David Penner 9, Jemahl Manning 8, David Bellrose 7, Alan Pulga 7, Mitch Moxley 6, Seth Lang 5, Paul Maindonald 2 and Alan Snowdy 1. Moroz told the Regina Leader-Post that “it’s game 43 for us (this season) and we’ve had a million practices. Our practices carry over. We’re not going to get tired, especially now. This is Campbell basketball – when we get the gas pedal down, we want to push it to the floor.” Mark Lord paced Holy Cross with 13. Mark Roblin added 11, Brett Czarnota 10, Steven Berschaminski 6, Tom Hickey 6, Matthew Mitchell 6, Drew Findlay 2 and Steve Sherin 2. The Crusaders also included Scott Gordon. “They dictated early, and we had no answer for their press,” Crusaders coach Barry Rawlyk told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix. “They scored too many layups, but those were a result of their pressure.” Rawlyk told the Regina Leader-Post that the Crusaders “feed off that pressure. We didn’t make good decisions at the beginning of the game. I don’t know what our shooting percentage was, but it’s not anywhere near what we had to make against Campbell.”
In the bronze medal match, the Regina Balfour Redmen defeated the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders 86-82. Jeremy Illerbrun led the Redmen with 27. Brenan Schwartz added 25, Greg Perrins 13, Jim Salgado 10, Jared Yanyk 5, Chris Lupastin 3, Troy Gordon 2 and Elliot Hubick 1. Brett Czarnota led the Crusaders with 18. Steven Berschaminski added 13, Mark Lord 12, Scott Gordon 10, Mark Roblin 8, Steve Sherin 6, Tom Hickie 6, Chris Battiste 4, Jeff Klein 3 and Drew Findlay 2. The Crusaders (coached by Barry Rawlyk, assisted by Doug Nordick) also included Mike Espeseth, Jeff Klein, Matthew Mitchell.
In the final, the Regina Campbell Tartans defeated the defending champ Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls 68-65. Hardy erased a 39-30 halftime deficit to take a 65-64 lead on a bucket by Calvin Palmer with 30 seconds to play. But Campbell point guard Mark Moroz hit a layup and then was fouled and added two free throws to give the Tartans the win. Moroz finished with 21 points. Palmer scored 37 and almost single-handedly kept Evan Hardy in the game with his post play. But Campbell’s pressure defence and offensive transitions were too much despite a poor night from the perimeter. Brad Humbert added 10 for Campbell. “I said to the guys at the first practice this year that this team was going to win Hoopla,” Tartans coach Glenn Szabo told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. “The grade 12’s led us, showing so much character.” Early in the game, Hardy did not allow Campbell’s famous press to hurt them. Palmer and Brad Humbert combined to give Hardy a 16-14 lead, while Moroz and Jemahl Manning countered for Campbell. It continued to be the Calvin Palmer show, as he single-handedly kept his team in the game. Campbell was able to go on a run near the end of the half, behind Moroz’s 13 first-frame points. Three late Palmer points gave him 19 for the half, and reduced the Campbell lead to 39-30. Hardy struggled to get close in the second half, until a Humbert three reduced the lead to six. Momentum was with the Souls, and they whittled the lead down to three with eight minutes to go. But four turnovers in a row allowed Campbell to regain momentum and a seven-point lead. It looked like the Tartans were on their way to a title. Then Palmer took over, scoring five consecutive points, including a three-point play to give the Souls a 62-60 lead. But Moroz banked home jumpers on consecutive possessions, giving Campbell a 64-63 lead. “I actually did mean to bank them,” said a smiling Moroz. “Coach has been telling me all year to do that, and I did.” Palmer gave his team their last lead with 30 seconds left, but Moroz had the ultimate answer, banking home one final shot, in addition to being fouled. He missed the free throw, but Hardy stepped on the out-of-bounds line on the ensuing scramble to score. Moroz hit two free throws to clinch Campbell’s first title since 1982. Coach Szabo screamed in celebration, and jumped as high as any of his players did all night. “When you’re so tense for such a tight game, you have to let it out somehow,” said Szabo. Moroz told the Regina Leader-Post that the win could only have been sweeter had Balfour been in the final (as they’d been the Tartans in the city finals). “It couldn’t have been better, unless it was against Balfour.” Souls coach Jeff Colquhoun that “at the beginning of the game, we thought we had to stop their penetration. At the end, that’s what hurt us.” Moroz hit two driving layups and two free throws in the final two minutes. Mike Stefaniuk said that coach Glenn Szabo “told us not to get down afrer the city’s. We knew our goal.” Palmer finished with 37 points to lead the Souls. Humbert added 10. Moroz led Campbell with 21, followed by Mike Stefaniuk’s 11 points. “We came up just short, couldn’t pull it out in the end,” said Palmer. “It would have been a great way to end my career, but Campbell played a great game.” Moroz noted, “this is the ultimate feeling I was nervous shooting that first free throw, but there was no way I was missing the next two.” Hardy coach Jeff Colquhoun noted that “you can’t say enough about Palmer and Moroz. They are the two big game players, and they stepped up above everyone tonight.” Moroz paced the Tartans with 19. Mike Stefaniuk added 10, Jemahl Manning 10, Alan Pulga 8, David Penner 6, Andrew Gerrand 6, Alan Snowdy 5, David Bellrose 3 and Brynn Roberts 1. Calvin Palmer led the Souls with 36. Brad Humbert added 10, David Robinson 9, Kelly Homenick 6, Tyler Bergen 2 and Bob Wicks 2.
The bronze medalist Regina Balfour Redmen: Brennan Schwarz; Jeremy Illerbrun; Greg Perrins; Jim Salgado; Jared Yanyk; Chris Lupestin; Troy Gordon; Elliot Hubick; coach Glen Fekula; assistant Rob Thomson
The silver medalist Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls: Calvin Palmer; Kelly Homenick; Brad Humbert; Bob Wicks; David Robinson; Jared Regier; Tyler Bergen; Brad Hardy; Tyler Youngs; coach Jeff Colquhoun; assistant Kirk Homenick
The gold medalist Regina Campbell Tartans: Dave Penner; Mark Moroz; Jemahl Manning; Mike Stefaniuk; Alan Pulga; Andrew Gerrand; Alan Snowdy; David Bellerose; Brynn Roberts; Paul Maindonald; Seth Lang; Trevor Finch; Mitch Moxley; coach Glenn Szabo