REGULAR SEASON
| U.B.C. | 16-0 | 28-4 | Peter Mullins | |||||
| Manitoba | 14-2 | 28-6 | Jack Lewis | |||||
| Victoria | 9-7 | Robert Bell | ||||||
| Alberta | 9-7 | 10-16 | Barry Mitchelson | |||||
| Calgary | 6-10 | 11-16 | Skip Morgan | |||||
| Winnipeg | 6-10 | 12-12 | Vic Pruden | |||||
| Saskatchewan | 6-10 | 10-12 | Don Fry | |||||
| Lethbridge | 3-13 | Robin Fry | ||||||
| Regina | 3-13 | 3-15 | Gene Rizak | |||||
Lethbridge and Victoria join the league.
U.B.C. rejoins the league.
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Calgary Dinosaurs: Dale Galan, Barry Bennett, Bill Newcombe, Wayne Thomas, Clarence Amalung, Bill Lathrop, John Weiland, John Powell, Gary Elliott, Bob Bailly, Warren Meyer, Jim Jones, John Powell, coach Skip Morgan
Lethbridge Pronghorns: Peter Kootchin, Randy Milner, Brian Saunders, Bob Green, Doug McKay, Bill Magierowski, Don McClain, Malloy Hansen, Wendell Cahoun, Steele Tollestrup, Hague, Fletcher, P Hirsche, Dale Pusher, Whitelaw, B Hirsche, coach Robin Fry
Regina Cougars: Jim Sekulich, Don Blackburn, Robert Pyne, John Schepers, Merv Prier, Bernie Brandt, Miles Forsburg, Jack Ebbles, Bob Vinson, Darryl Weick, James MacDonald, Jeff South, Dennis Weick, Gary Dodds, Lane, Bill Martin, coach Stan Fisher
Saskatchewan Huskies: Doug Forsyth, Paul Jacoby, Bill Domres, Jim Herbison, Wayne Dyck, Al Cronk, Bill Hook, Dave Pickett, Tom Gosse, Bob VanderVelden, Don Battiste, Rick Johnson, Thompson, coach Don Fry, manager Greg Luedtke
Winnipeg Wesmen: Barry King, Bob Allen, Ron Unruh, Craig Parker, Rich Macey, Willie Reimer, Wayne Bradshaw, Boehm, Joe Burgess, Bruce Downie, Walter Barg, Richard Stefanyshyn, Terry Sellen, Barry Quick, Neil Buller, coach Vic Pruden
UBC started the season with a convincing win over the highly touted Manitoba, followed by a 107-70 victory over Vic Pruden’s Winnipeg Wesmen. UBC remained undefeated at 6-0 by outscoring two of the Alberta schools 201-130 in a two game series and the two Saskatchewan schools 201-119 in two games. Using their bench strength, coach Mullins and his boys extended their record to 8-0 with wins over the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg. According to Manitoba coach Jack Lewis, “we didn’t get enough shots to win. … With rebounders like MacKay and Sankey, it’s difficult to get possession to take the shots.” “Birds Bomb Alberta Schools For Wins 9, 10, 11” announced the Ubyssey as the locals, on the road, dominated the Universities of Alberta 91-63, Calgary 85-60, and Lethbridge 112-49. They extended their record against WCIAA competition to 14-0, whipping Regina 94-54, Saskatchewan 109-70 and Victoria 76-69. Against Regina, in only half a game, Ron Thorsen scored 25. Against Saskatchewan, playing only three-quarters of the game, guard Thorsen scored 48. Following the games in Saskatchewan coach Peter Mullins said “we played extremely well defensively and also broke very well, we just ran them off the court.” The UBC Thunderbirds completed the WCIAA regular season at 16-0 after disposing Lethbridge by 60 and the Victoria Vikings by 26.
In the postseason semis, Manitoba defeated Alberta 77-62; 80-63 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Manitoba prevailed 77-62 although the Bears had led by a point, 37-36 at the half. Manitoba looked tight early in the contest with all-star guard Terry Ball hitting a dismal 1-9 from the floor in the first half. But Ball turned it around in the second, hitting 7-8 from the floor and 4-4 from the line to finish with 21 points. Centre Ross Wedlake added 12, Iowa-product Cliff Cornelius 14, guard Angus Burr 11, Jon Gurban 2, Ted Stoesz 9 and Bob Town 8. The Bears, who shot well from outside, were paced by Bob Morris 16, Bob Bain 12, Larry Nowak 10, Dick DeKlerk 8, Allen Melnychuk 6, Paul Pomeitlars 8 and Dave Turner 2. Bears coach Barry Mitchelson told the Gateway that “they were quicker than us.” He also noted that the officiating was atrocious and that teams needed to be 20 points better than the Bisons to survive a game in Winnipeg. The Bisons featured two Americans: Cliff Cornelius, a former Iowa Conference all-star and Jon Gurban, a Minneapolis product who transferred from North Dakota for a fifth year of eligibility (allowed in Canada but not the US). …………………………………………………… In game two, Manitoba won 80-61 as Iowa-product Cliff Cornelius and Ross Wedlake each scored 24, Ted Stoesz 11, Bob Town 10, Angus Burr 8 and Terry Ball 3. Alberta was led by Bob Bain 12, Dick DeKlerk 12, Larry Nowak 12, Paul Pomeitlars 10, Bob Morris 6, Dave Turner 4, Bain McMillan 3 and Allen Melnychuk 2. Manitoba had led 37-33 at the half and 6-6 centre Ross Wedlake took over in the second half after the Bears had briefly taken a 48-45 lead. Wedlake finished with 12 rebounds. The Bisons outscored the Bears 28-7 from the foul line. The Bears shot 43% from the floor and the Bisons 35%, Bison coach Jack Lewis said experience was the difference. “We’re a little older than the Bears. When you get rookies playing against five-year veterans, the veterans usually come out on top. But the Bears played good, disciplined ball and their coach should be proud of them.”
In the other semi, U.B.C. defeated Victoria 96-74; 97-56 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, U.B.C. prevailed 96-74 as Ron Thorsen scored 30, Bob Molinski 21, Terry MacKay 17, Derek Sankey 15, Alex Brayden 7, John Hawkins 2, Jack Hoy 2 and John Mills 2, while Joe Kainer and Rod Matheson were scoreless. Mike Taafe led the Vikings with 16. Brumwell added 11, Al Glover 11, Skip Cronck 8, Tom Hatcher 7, Corky Jossul 4, Stan Piper 4 and John McKeachie 2. U.B.C. led 41-28 at the half. …………………………………………………… In game two, the Thunderbirds completed the series sweep with a 97-56 win as Bob Molinski scored 23, Ron Thorsen 21, Alex Brayden 14, Terry MacKay 12, along with 14 boards, Derek Sankey 9, along with 15 boards, Joe Kainer 4, Jack Hoy 4, Rod Matheson 2 and John Mills 2. Corky Jossul paced the Vikings with 13. Skip Cronck added 11, Tom Hatcher 8, Tom Child 7, Brian Brumwell 7, John McKeachie 5, Barry Burch 2, Stan Piper 2 and Al Glover 2, while Mike Taafe was scoreless. The Vikes committed 23 turnovers.
In the finals, U.B.C. defeated Manitoba 82-74; 91-68 (2g-0).
In the opener, U.B.C. defeated Manitoba 82-74 in overtime despite trailing 36-32 at the half. Bob Molinski paced the Thunderbirds with 27, including 14 on free throws. Ron Thorsen added 23, while nabbing 8 boards, and Derek Sankey 17. Terry Ball paced Manitoba with 22. Cliff Cornelius added 20, along with 12 boards, John Laven 10 and Ross Wedlake 6. Manitoba committed 28 fouls and U.B.C. 14. Manitoba had 18 turnovers and the Thunderbirds 7. UBC outrebounded Manitoba 43-37.
In game two, the Thunderbirds pasted the Bisons 91-68. U.B.C. shot .514 from the floor while Manitoba shot .431. The title was U.B.C.’s eighth in nine years. The T’Birds’ shot .755 from the line, were called for 13 fouls and grabbed 35 rebounds. The Bisons shot .739 from the line, were called for 19 fouls and nabbed 31 rebounds. U.B.C. was paced by Bob Molinski 24 on 9-13 from the floor. Terry McKay added 21, along with 15 rebounds, and Ron Thorsen 20. Thunderbirds coach Peter Mullins told the Ubyssey that “everyone did their job out there tonight and some of our scoring spurts were the best we’ve had all season.” The Bisons were led by Ross Wedlake’s 17 points and 11 rebounds. Cliff Cornelius added 14 and 8 rebounds, and Bob Town’s 11. Manitoba coach Jack Lewis noted that “Friday night it could have gone either way. The kids played great both nights but Saturday, the T’Birds were just too hot from the floor.” U.B.C. led 40-30 at the half.
The co-bronze medalist Victoria Vikings: Mike Taafe; Brian Brumwell; Al Glover; Skip Cronck; Tom Hatcher; Corky Jossul; Stan Piper; John McKeachie; Tom Child; Barry Burch; Baker; coach Robert Bell
The co-bronze medalist Alberta Golden Bears: Bob Morris; Bob Bain; Larry Nowak; Dick DeKlerk; Allen Melnychuk; Paul Pomeitlars; Dave Turner; Bain McMillan; Brian Johnson; Jack Schwartzberg; coach Barry Mitchelson; assistant Andy Skujins; manager John Milligan; manager John Shubert
The runner-up Manitoba Bisons: Cliff Cornelius; Ross Wedlake; Terry Ball; Ted Stoesz; Bob Town; Angus Burr; Jon Gurban; John Loewen; Ralph Schoenfeld; Gord Puttaert; Bruce Dobbin; Frank Cooney; coach Jack Lewis; assistant Hank Tatarchuk; manager John Brown
The champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds: Alex Brayden; Terry MacKay; Derek Sankey; Bob Molinski; Jack Hoy; John Mills; Joe Kainer; Ron Thorsen; Stan Callegari; Rod Matheson; John Hawkins; Don Thomas; coach Dr. Peter Mullins; manager Bruce Jagger; assistant manager Derek Swain