In the Regina city semis, the Luther Lions clubbed the McGuigan Mustangs 71-47 as Suzanne Meiers scored 27, Heather Barnsley 8 and Leslee Nicurity 6. Lynette Desjarlais led the Mustangs with 15. Marcella Stadnyk added 7, Tania Hlovosky 4 and Jean Lewic 4. The Mustangs also included Karla Shalley. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Johnson Wildcats smacked the Scott Blues 70-40 as Vivian Kingdon scored 29. The Blues included Rhonda Rein. …………………………………………………… In the Regina final, the Johnson Wildcats defeated the Luther Lions 44-41 as Raelene Stelleck, who notched the winning putback, scored 12. Shelly Anderson added 10 and Vivian Kingdon 9. The Wildcats (coached by Henry Schubach) also included Cindy Mess. Johnson led 30-13 at the half but the Wildcats rallied to knot the score at 32. Luther coach Sandy Nelson told the Regina Leader-Post that “the girls were nervous coming into the game, like anyone would be coming into a city final. By the end of the first half, they had calmed down and started hustling more.” Luther took its first lead at 40-39 with three minutes to play. Luther’s Suzanne Meiers hit a free throw. John’s Cindy Mesa hit a layup to knot the score at 41 with 45 seconds to play. With 18 seconds on the clock, Raelene Stellek notched a putback to give Johnson the lead. Cindy Mesa added an insurance free throw with 2 seconds to play. Stelleck said “I just wanted the ball. We all wanted to win.” Johnson coach Henry Schubach said an early 28-8 lead hurt. “I told the girls to just keep playing in the second half but when the lead started slipping away, it was hard to get back.” Suzanne Meiers scored 14 to lead the Lions. Debbie Salaway added 10. The Lions (coached by Sandy Nelson) also included Heather Barnsley, Leslee Nicurity, Kaisa Moshinski.
In the South playoffs: …………………………………………………… The Regina F.W. Johnson Wildcats clubbed Yorkton Regional 67-35. …………………………………………………… The Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers dispatched the Regina Luther Lions 69-49 as Riva Rowell scored 17. Suzanne Meiers led the Lions with 18. …………………………………………………… In the first qualifier, the Swift Current Ardens earned a berth at provincials by bombing the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 73-43 as Sharolyn Szakacs scored 17. …………………………………………………… In the second qualifier, the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers clubbed the Regina F.W. Johnson Wildcats 57-42 as Lisa Mang scored 23. Vivian Kingdon led the Wildcats with 13.
In the provincial semis, the Swift Current Ardens torched the Saskatoon Nutana Blues 89-56 as Terry Martin scored 21, Ronalee Thistlethwaite 16 and Lise Wilson 12. Allison McLean led the Blues with 29. Wilson told the Regina Leader-Post that “our fastbreak won it for us. We always seemed to have the speed to beat Saskatoon down to the basket and score or get our own rebounds.” McLean said the Ardens “intimidation has worked for them and it will continue to work for them until teams beat them mentally.” Blues coach Shelly Bodnar said “I took one look at the draw and knew we’d have trouble. We’re never played them before but their record speaks for itself. … Our girls played well. We were breaking the press and concentrating on defence. That was enough work in itself and we didn’t have much time to put the ball in the hoop.” The Ardens led 51-26 at the half.
In the other semi, the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers dispatched the North Battleford Comprehensive Viqueens 77-70 as Wanda Shaw scored 22, Lisa Mang 21 and Tammy Dalgarno 8. Colleen Muth led the Viqueens with 25. Korina Waters added 18. Dalgarno told the Regina Leader-Post that “we talked about improving our breakout at the half because we were really struggling. They were allowsing us all kinds of second chances under the basketb and starting our breaks. We just got it together and capitalized.” Toiler coach Mark albert said “they were hard to shake. We managed to win because each player made personal adjustments out there defensively. They knew the problem areas and fixed them.”
In the bronze medal match, the Saskatoon Nutana Blues edged the North Battleford Comprehensive Viqueens 72-71 in overtime as Allison McLean scored 30.
In the provincial final, the Swift Current Ardens defeated the Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 77-38.
The bronze medalist Saskatoon Nutana Blues: Allison McLean; Leigh Sies; Tara Collins; Heather Burke; coach Shelly Bodnar
The silver medalist Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers: Wanda Shaw; Lisa Mang; Reva Rowell; Stacey Coulson; Nicole Swanson; Tammy Dalgarno; coach Mark Albert
The gold medalist Swift Current Ardens: Terry Martin; Ronalee Thistlethwaite; Lise Wilson; Sharolyn Szakacs; coach Marg Brown