| FINAL STANDINGS 1. U.S.A. 2. France 3. Brazil 4. Mexico 5. Uruguay 6. Chile 7. Czechoslovakia 8. Korea 9. CANADA 10. Peru 11. Belgium 12. Philippines 13. Cuba 14. Iran 15. Argentina 16. Hungary 17. Italy 18. China 19. Egypt 20. Great Britain 21. Switzerland 22. Iraq 23. Ireland | CANADIANS Ole Bakken (Glacier, B.C.) Billy Bell (Revelstoke, B.C.) Donald Bloomfield (Montreal, Que.) Harry Kermode (Vancouver, B.C.) Bennie Lands (Montreal, Que.) Pat McGeer (Vancouver, B.C.) Reid Mitchell (West Vancouver, B.C.) Mort Morein (Montreal, Que.) Nev Munro (Vancouver, B.C.) Harry Waxman (Montreal, Que.) Sid ‘Cy’ Strulovitch (Montreal, Que.) Bob Scarr (Vancouver, B.C.) Sol Tolchinsky (Montreal, Que.) Dave Campbell (Vancouver, B.C.) Bob Osborne – coach Moe Abramowitz – trainer |
| POOL A | BRA | URU | CAN | HUN | ITA | GBR | Record | ||
| Brazil | —– | 36-32 | 57-35 | 45-41 | 47-31 | 76-11 | (5-0) | ||
| Uruguay | 32-36 | —– | 50-52 | 49-31 | 46-34 | 69-17 | (3-2) | ||
| Canada | 35-57 | 52-50 | —– | 36-37 | 55-37 | 44-24 | (3-2) | ||
| Hungary | 41-45 | 31-49 | 37-36 | —– | 32-19 | 60-23 | (3-2) | ||
| Italy | 31-47 | 34-46 | 37-55 | 19-32 | —– | 49-28 | (1-4) | ||
| Great Britain | 11-76 | 17-69 | 24-44 | 23-60 | 28-49 | —– | (0-5) | ||
| POOL B | CHI | KOR | BEL | PHI | CHN | IRQ | Record | ||
| Chile | —– | 21-28 | 36-38 | 68-39 | 44-39 | 100-18 | (3-2) | ||
| Korea | 28-21 | —– | 29-27 | 33-35 | 48-49 | 120-20 | (3-2) | ||
| Belgium | 38-36 | 27-29 | —– | 35-34 | 34-36 | 98-20 | (3-2) | ||
| Philippines | 39-68 | 35-33 | 34-35 | —– | 51-32 | 102-30 | (3-2) | ||
| China | 39-44 | 49-48 | 36-34 | 32-51 | —– | 125-25 | (3-2) | ||
| Iraq | 18-100 | 20-120 | 20-98 | 30-102 | 25-125 | —– | (0-5) | ||
| POOL C | USA | CZE | ARG | PER | EGY | SUI | Record | ||
| United States | —– | 53-28 | 59-57 | 61-33 | 66-28 | 86-21 | (5-0) | ||
| Czechoslovakia | 28-53 | —– | 45-41 | 38-30 | 52-38 | 54-28 | (4-1) | ||
| Argentina | 57-59 | 41-45 | —– | 42-34 | 58-38 | 49-23 | (3-2) | ||
| Peru | 33-61 | 30-38 | 34-42 | —– | 52-27 | 49-19 | (2-3) | ||
| Egypt | 28-66 | 38-52 | 38-57 | 27-52 | —– | 31-29 | (1-4) | ||
| Switzerland | 21-86 | 28-54 | 23-49 | 19-49 | 29-31 | —– | (0-5) | ||
| POOL D | MEX | FRA | CUB | IRN | IRE | Record | |||
| Mexico | —– | 56-42 | 39-31 | 68-27 | 71-9 | (4-0) | |||
| France | 42-56 | —– | 37-31 | 62-30 | 73-14 | (3-1) | |||
| Cuba | 31-39 | 31-37 | —– | 63-30 | 88-25 | (2-2) | |||
| Iran | 27-68 | 30-62 | 30-63 | —– | 49-22 | (1-3) | |||
| Ireland | 9-71 | 14-73 | 25-88 | 22-49 | —– | (0-4) | |||
| 17-23 QF | China 42 Switzerland 34 | |
| 17-23 QF | Great Britain 46 Ireland 21 | |
| 17-23 QF | Italy 77 Iraq 28 | |
| 17-23 QF | Egypt (bye) | |
| 9-16 QF | Belgium 2 Hungary 0 | |
| 9-16 QF | Canada 81 Iran 25 | |
| 9-16 QF | Peru 45 Cuba 40 ot | |
| 9-16 QF | Philippines 45 Argentina 43 | |
| QFs | United States 63 Uruguay 28 | |
| QFs | Mexico 43 Korea 32 | |
| QFs | France 53 Chile 52 ot | |
| QFs | Brazil 28 Czechoslovakia 23 | |
| 21-23rd | Iraq (bye) | |
| 21-23rd | Switzerland 55 Ireland 12 | |
| 17-20th | Italy 35 Egypt 33 ot | |
| 17-20th | China 54 Great Britain 25 | |
| 13-16th | Cuba 35 Argentina 34 | |
| 13-16th | Iran 2 Hungary 0 | |
| 9-12th | Canada 45 Belgium 40 | |
| 9-12th | Peru 40 Philippines 29 | |
| 5-8th | Chile 38 Czechoslovakia 36 | |
| 5-8th | Uruguay 45 Korea 36 | |
| Semi | United States 71 Mexico 40 | |
| Semi | France 43 Brazil 33 | |
| 23rd | Ireland (bye) | |
| 21st | Switzerland 2 Iraq 0 | |
| 19th | Egypt 50 Great Britain 18 | |
| 17th | Italy 54 China 38 | |
| 15th | Argentina 2 Hungary 0 | |
| 13th | Cuba 70 Iran 36 | |
| 11th | Belgium 38 Philippines 34 | |
| 9th | Canada 49 Peru 43 | |
| 7th | Czechoslovakia 39 Korea 38 | |
| 5th | Uruguay 50 Chile 32 | |
| Bronze | Brazil 52 Mexico 47 | |
| Final | United States 65 France 21 | |
Canadian representation was determined by a format in which the national senior champion, the runner-up and three universities play off.
The U.B.C. Thunderbirds opened the intercollegiate segment of the playoffs by defeating the host University of Alberta Golden Bears two games to one. …………………………………………………… In game one, U.B.C. defeated the Golden Bears 62-46. The Thunderbirds took a 33-16 lead at the half and coasted home. Pat McGeer paced U.B.C. with 22. Bill Bell added 14, Forsythe 8, Mitchell 6, Kermode 6, McLean 2, Bobby Scarr 2, Salmon 2, McLean 2, Haas 1 and Munro 1, while Stevenson and Campbell were scoreless. Bill Price led Alberta with 12. Bill Rich added 12, Boyd Oberhoffner 6, Jim McRae 5, Gord McCormack 4, Evan Erickson 3, Duncan Stockwell 3, Gord Maclachlan 2, while Barnes, Bob Strother and Charlie Chinneck were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta defeated U.B.C. 51-46 as Bill Rich scored 23, Bill Price 14, Boyd Oberhoffner 8, Bill Rich 3, Duncan Stockwell 2, Jim MacRae 2 and Evan Erickson 1, while Barnes, Gord MacLachlan, Bob Strother and Charlie Chinneck were scoreless. Bob Haas led the Thunderbirds with 12. Harry Kermode added 10, Bob Scarr 8, McGeer 6, Campbell 4 and Bill Bell 1, while Munro, Mitchell, Stevenson, McLean, Selman and Forsythe were scoreless. Alberta led 31-20 for the half. …………………………………………………… U.B.C. won game three 56-42 after leading 27-17 at the half. Pat McGeer paced U.B.C. with 18. Bob Haas added 14 Scarr 8, Kermode 6, Stevenson 5, Campbell 4, Selman 2, Munro 1 and Bill Bell 1, while McLean, Forsythe and Mitchell were scoreless. Bill Price, playing days after the death of his father, led Alberta with 13. Boyd Overhoffner added 11, Jim MacRae 6, Evan Erickson 4, Gord McCormack 3, Bob Strother 3 and Bill Rich 1, while Barnes, Gord Maclachlan, Duncan Stockwell and Charlie Chinnack were scoreless. U.B.C. hit 21-78 from the floor and 14-18 from the line, while Alberta hit 18-54 from the floor and 16-29 from the line.
The win earned the Thunderbirds the right to face the University of Western Ontario Mustangs for the mythical intercollegiate crown in the semi-finals of a national tournament held in Toronto. The other semi pit the Dominion seniors champ Vancouver Cloverleafs against runner-up Montreal YMHA Blues. CABA’s announced intention is to select seven players off each of the finalists to the Olympic team.
A scant two days after whipping Montreal by 24 points in the decisive game five of the Dominion championships, the Vancouver Cloverleafs were edged 47-45 by the Blues in the Olympic qualifying semis. Guard Ron Weber rimmed out a jumper at the buzzer that would have forced overtime. Vancouver led 26-21 at the half but Benny Lands, Mendy Morein and Sid Strulovitch hit key buckets to give Montreal its first lead with three minutes to play. “They beat us. That’s all,” said Vancouver coach Ralph Henderson. Lands led Montreal with 12. Strulovitch added 8, Waxman 7, Bloomfield 5, Morein 4, Tolchinsky 3 and Ditkofsky 2, while Davidon was scoreless. Jack Pomfret led Vancouver with 15. Ole Bakken added 13, Pickell 8, Burtwell 5, Wynne 2, Watson 1 and Franklyn 1, while Henderson was scoreless.
In the other semi, U.B.C. defeated the Western Mustangs 48-40. UBC’s Billy Bell and Harry Kermode neutralized Mustang centre George Wearring in the paint as the Thunderbirds prevailed with speed and floor balance. Bob Scarr paced U.B.C. with 10. Pat McGeer added 8, Bill Bell 6, Kermode 6, Ned Munro 6, Campbell 5, Haas 4 and Mitchell 3, while Stevenson, McLean, Selman and Forsyth were scoreless. Don Scott paced Western with 17. Bob Phibbs added 6, Farley 4, George Wearring 4, Thomas 4, Arnott 3 and Wardle 2, while Dalton and Davidson were scoreless.
In the bronze medal match, the Vancouver Cloverleafs edged the University of Western Ontario 43-40 as Jack Pomfret scored 12, Franklyn 7, Pickel 6, Weber 5, Ole Bakken 4, Wynne 4 and Burtwell 2, while Henderson and Watson were scoreless. Phibbs led Western with 11. Thomas added 7, Wardle 7, Farley 6, Scott 5, Dalton 4 and Wearring 3, while Davidson was scoreless.
In the final, U.B.C. thumped Montreal YMHA 48-34 as Pat McGeer scored 19, Munro 6, Bell 5, Harry Kermode 5, Campbell 5, Haas 3, Mitchell 2 and Forsyth 1, while Stevenson, McLean, Selman and Scott were scoreless. Benny Lands paced Montreal with 12. Ditkofsky added 8, Morein 8, Waxman 6, Bloomfield 6, Tolchinsky 3 and Ditkofsky 1, while Strulovitch and Davidon were scoreless. Montreal led 19-17 at the half. “We were confident and I just reinforced their confidence” said Thunderbirds coach Bob Osborne. “With their team play, drive and confidence it was no coincidence that all these players were successful after basketball. It was a privilege to coach these fellows.”
Each of the finalists was to automatically have seven players chosen for the Olympic team. Organizers also invited Jack Pomfret and Ole Bakken off the Vancouver Cloverleafs to join the team. U.B.C. coach Bob Osborne is named Olympic coach, while Montreal coach Moe Abramowitz, a Montreal institution, former YMHA basketball chair, a 5-4 ballhandling wizard, in his second year as head coach of McGill, is named trainer.
At the Olympic Games, Canada opened with a 55-37 win over Italy. The Canadians overcame an early deficit as Pat McGeer caught fire. He finished with 12. Reid Mitchell added 9, Harry Kermode 8, Bill Bell 7, Murray Waxman 5, Nev Munro 4, Ben Lands 4, Ole Bakken 3, Mendy Morein 2 and Donald Bloomfield 1, while Dave Campbell, Bob Scarr, Cy Strulovitch and Sol Tolchinsky were scoreless. Sergio Stefanini paced Italy with 12. Luigi Rapini added 9, Giancarlo Marinelli 5, Romeo Romanutti 5, Gianfranco Bersani 2, Federico Marietti 2 and Vittorio Tracuzzi 1, while Carlo Cerioni, Giancarlo Primo and Renzo Ranuzzi were scoreless.
Canada improved to 2-0 by thumping Britain 44-24. Great Britain included Frank Cole, Trevor Davies, Alex Eke, Malcolm Finlay, Colin Hunt, Ronald Legg, Stanley McMeekan, Robert Norris and Lionel Price.
In their third game, the Canadians fell 37-36 to Hungary on a buzzer beating hoop by Istvan Timar-Geng. Hungary led 20-17 at the half as the teams traded the lead. Only Pat McGeer seemed on form for the Canadians, who played so poorly that Canadian fans in the stands jeered in disgust. In the gloomy dressing room after the match, McGeer told his teammates: “Look fellows, we’re not up to the top bracket yet – if we win our next two games, we’re in there. This is a good lesson.” Coach Bob Osborne’s only comment was “the winners played a great game.” Canada lost both Ole Bakken and Dave Campbell to fouls in the third quarter. Istvan Timar-Geng paced Hungary with 10. Tibor Zsiros added 9, Istavan Lovrics 8, Laszlo Novakovszky 8 and Tibo Mezofi 2, while Antal Bankuti, Janos Halasz, Geza Kardos, Gyorgy Nagy and Ede Vadaszi were scoreless. Pat McGeer paced Canada with 11. Nev Munro added 9, Bill Bell 6, Ole Bakken 4, Dave Campbell 3, Reid Mitchell 2 and Bob Scarr 1.
Canada then all but eliminated itself from medal competition by dropping a 57-35 decision to Brazil. Brazil included Braz, Algodao, Alfredo da Motta, Ruy de Freitas, Alfonso Evora, Alexandre Gemignani, Nilton Pacheco and Massinet Sorcinelli. Pat McGeer paced Canada with 8. Billy Bell added 5, Reid Mitchell 5, Ole Bakken 4, Doodie Bloomfield 4, Harry Kermode 4, Nev Munro 3 and Murray Waxman 2, while Dave Campbell, Bennie Lands, Mendy Morein, Bob Scarr, Cy Strulovitch and Sol Tolchinsky were scoreless.
Canada closed out round-robin pool play by nipping Uruguay 52-50. Canada led 34-28 in the physical affair, which saw two fist fights break out, including one in the third quarter which saw Benny Lands tossed for punching out an opponent. On the ensuing play, Harry Kermode was tripped and a Uruguayan player threw a punch at Mendy Morein, who swung back. Uruguay scored its first 18 points on free throws. Canadians Ole Bakken, Bob Scarr, Pat McGeer and Dave Campbell all fouled out and Canada was eventually left with only four players on the floor. Harry Kermode paced Canada with 14. Pat McGeer added 10, Donald Bloomfield 7, Bob Scarr 7, Dave Campbell 5, Nev Munro 5, Ole Bakken 3 and Bennie Lands 1, while Mendy Morein and Cy Strulovitch were scoreless. Adesio Lombardo led Uruguay with 26. Uruguay also included Martin Acosta y Lara, Nestor Anton, Victorio Cieslinskas, Nelson Demarco, Miguel Diab, Roberto Lovera, Gustavo Magarinos, Carlos Rosello and Hector Ruiz.
Canada tied with Uruguay and Hungary for 2nd place in its pool with a (3-2) record. But on the basis of point differential in games between the trio, Canada (+1) is placed third, and Hungary (-17) fourth, while Uruguay was placed second with (+16) and moved on to quarter final round.
In the 9-16th quarterfinals, Canada whipped Iran 81-25. Iran included Kazem Ashtari, Asghar Ehssassi, Fereidoun Esfaniary, Hossein Hashemi, Hossein Karandish, Houshang Rafati, Ferydoun Sadeghi, Abolfazl Salabi, Hossein Soroudi and Hussain Jabbar Zadegan.
In the 9-12th playoffs, Canada edged Belgium 45-40. Belgium included Georges Baert, Augustin Bernaer, Henri Coosemans, Francois De Pauw, Henri Hermans, Alexander Hollanders, Henry Hollanders, Emile Kets, Leon Lampo, Julien Meuris, Gustave Poppe, Rene Steurbaut, Louis Van De Goor and Armand Van Wambeke.
In the 9th-place match, Canada defeated Peru 49-43. Peru included Guillermo Ahrens, Carlos Alegre, Virgilio Drago, Alberto Fernandez, Arturo Ferreyros, Eduardo Fiestas, Rodolfo Salas, Luis Sanchez, Rodolfo Soracco and Juan Vizcarra.