REGULAR SEASON
| EAST | WEST | ||||||||||
| Toronto | 11-1 | Michele Belanger | Brock | 9-3 | 14-14 | Chris Critelli | |||||
| Laurentian | 11-1 | Peter Ennis | Windsor | 9-3 | Joanne MacLean | ||||||
| Ottawa | 6-6 | 21-15 | Wanda Pilon | Wilfrid Laurier | 6-6 | Gary Jeffries | |||||
| York | 5-7 | Bill Pangos | McMaster | 6-6 | Sue Lindley | ||||||
| Ryerson | 4-8 | Mike Hickey | Waterloo | 5-7 | Leslie Dal Cin | ||||||
| Queen’s | 3-9 | Dave Wilson | Guelph | 4-8 | Karen Lee-Golob | ||||||
| Carleton | 2-10 | Larry Lanthier | Western | 3-9 | Cheryl Kryluk | ||||||
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Carleton Ravens: Tish Anderson, Janet Podleski, Cathy Vezina, Donna Lovitt, Sheila Kaeslin, Andra Smith, Paula Stephenson, Susan Dawson, Kerry McKenzie, Wendy Adams, coach Larry Lanthier, assistant Sue Hindson
Guelph Gryphons: Mary Thompson, Cathy Hamilton, Michelle Dodsworth, Tracy Chesterman, Meg Glaves, Carla Griffioen, Jane Laidman, Liselle Prickett, Patti Turner, coach Karen Golob, assistant Marie Denham, manager Gina Behrens, trainer Jill MacParlane
Queen’s Golden Gaels: Wendy Davison, Tracy Hollingdrake, Trish Brown, Leslie Aldcorn, Meredith Brown, Kim Acres, Teena Bedard, Nancy Coke, Karen Drake, Julie Farquhar, Dani Hawkins, Sharon Maxwell, coach Dave Wilson, assistant Tim Orpin
Ryerson Rams: Michelle McGregor, Barbara Borsutzky, Jennifer Brooks, Susan Davidson, Sharon Jones, Heidi Kaebler, Chris Monfort, Barbara Scott, Vinette Brown, Katie Bonthron, Cathy Swan, coach Mike Hickey, assistant Norm Clarke
Waterloo Athenas: Kim Rau, Michelle Campbell, Charlotte Schwartzentruber, Lori Neudorf, Jane Willet, Sheila Kipfer, Brenda Bowering, Sheila Windle, Karen McCulla, Jennifer Hinton, Kelly McGoldrick, Kelly MacKey, Sandi Connery, Cindy Poag, Corinna Lueg, coach Sally Kemp
Western Ontario Mustangs: Cathy Brewer, Karyn Mitchell, Donna Kay, Dana Sheahan, Tracy Pratt, Tracy Johannson, Pam Fleck, Ildi Lubke, Heather Kirk, Colleen Dunning, Michelle DeLellis, Michelle Seguin, Marnie Bell, Debbie Kramer, Mari Verdun, coach Cheryl Kryluk, assistant Stephen Dooley
In the quarterfinals, held at Ryerson, Windsor defeated Ottawa 55-53 after rallying from a 51-40 deficit with three minutes to play, winning it on a driving layup by Colleen Hogan with six seconds on the clock. Fouled on the play, she added an insurance free throw. “I thought we had started too late this time,” Hogan told the Windsor Star. “If we had waited another 30 seconds, we would be the ones crying now. But this is something we’ve come to expect. We feel the last three minutes of the game is our time. We’ve pulled out wins five or six times this season in the last minute.” Coach Joanne MacLean told the Windsor Star that the Lancers “won the game on pure heart.” With three minutes to play, Windsor switched to a full-court press that completely rattled Ottawa. “They were panicking,” said Maclean. “They couldn’t inbound the ball and they were turning it over frequently. Our kids amazed me with how calm they were. They were always in control.” Hogan led Windsor with 15. Pam McCartney added 9, Alison Duke 8 and Carol Gordon 8. Louise Dube led Ottawa with 20. Elise Adolphe added 12. Ottawa led 32-28 at the half. The Gee-Gees (coached by Wanda Pilon) also included Joanne Runte, Michelle Potvin, Jo-Anne Duhamel, Patty Dumas, Debbie MacInnis, Lynn Vokes, Rachel Sheehan, Caretta Williams, Jacqueline Rasenberg, Karen Spalding, Alana McNamara and Chantal Pombert.
The Laurentian Voyageurs clipped the McMaster Marauders 48-40. The Marauders (coached by Sue Lindley, assisted by Chris Dooley) included Nadine Crowley, Heather McKay, Megan McKenna, Nancy Hyland, Barb Sturrock, Karen Pronk, Janey Tomasevic, Gloria Tomasevic, Nora Sheffe, Lauren Crich, Cara Solness, Tish Jeffrey and Karla Van Kessel.
The Toronto Varsity Blues defeated Wilfrid Laurier 66-61. Rookie guard Patti Johnston was chosen game MVP for the Blues after scoring 20 and nabbing 5 boards. “It was one of her best games this year,” Blues coach Michele Belanger told the Toronto Star. “It’s really hard to do that when you’re a rookie. But we’ve always known she’s had tremendous ability.” Johnston felt she had to step up in the absence of all-star Samantha Reed (torn ligaments). “We were looking for some leadership.” Laurier led 32-30 at the half. U of T fought back, however, opening the second half with a 13-2 run, including eight consecutive points by Mary Ann Kowal, who scored 22. The Blues hit 26-38 from the floor. displayed why they are one of the top teams in the country with some aggressive play. Mary Ann Kowal had a game-high 22 points for Toronto. Kris Peel led Laurier with 14. Renata Dykstra added 13, Sue Little 11 and Coleen Ryan 10. The Golden Hawks (coached by Gary Jeffries, assisted by Dave Rose) also included Ann Weber, Catherine Foulon, Kim Fritzley, Joan MacDonald, Lorraine Masterson, Dayna Perry, Robin Potter, Erica Yeo and Kelly Lynch.
In the last quarterfinal, Brock defeated York 58-48 as Lisa Osborne scored 18, Yvonne Doodeman 17, Lisa Voisey 8, and Michele Luke 5, while Kathleen Finley nabbed 10 boards. Badgers coach Chris Critelli told the St. Catherines Standard that “we started slowly in the first half. We were a bit flat but came on defensively in the second. We put on a fullcourt press and that turned things around for us. We may have been looking past this game too much. … Finley was awesome, especially on the defensive boards.” The Badgers hit 28-49 from the floor, while the Yeowomen were 20-55. Brock outrebounded York 38-21. York coach Bill Pangos told The Excalibur that “we knew it would be a hard-fought battle. The score was a lot closer than the score would indicate.” York slowed the tempo to a crawl and led by one at the half. But Brock’s pressure forced a raft of second-half turnovers. Pangos said Michelle Sund “played with a lot of guts and determination (despite an injury). She showed a lot of character by playing. The Yeomen (coached by Bill Pangos, assisted by Al Scragg) also included Susan Greenspan, Wanda Pighin, Heather Reid, Susan De Ryck, Liz MacDonald, Donna Head, Wendee Beach, Robin McKay, Evelyn Wayne.
In the semis, Toronto defeated Windsor 79-66. The Lancers led until the final eight minutes when Toronto’s experience and depth took over. Marianne Kowal led the Blues with 35. Blues coach Michelle Belanger was elated. “Our goal was to make it to the nationals. Anything from now on is icing on the cake.” Windsor led 28-16 after one quarter and led by their all-star guard, Colleen Hogan who had 13 points in the half, clung to a 42-36 lead at the break. But in the second half U of T took control, or more specifically, national team member Mary Ann Kowal did. The third-year veteran scored 20 of a season-high 35 points to lead the Lady Blues to victory. “We knew we weren’t playing well in the first half,” game MVP Kowal told Canadian Press. “We weren’t too patient on offence. We decided to settle down and we were really communicating on our offence in the second half.” Windsor’s Hogan, who was held to a mere four points in the second half, after hitting three three-pointers in the first, praised U of T’s play. “I didn’t have many open shots in the second half,” she said. “It was a credit to their defence. And Mary Ann shot the lights out. In my opinion she’s the best player in Canada.” Kowal hit on 13 of her 20 shots in the game and connected on all nine of her foul shots. Samantha Reed added 21, while Patricia Johnston chipped in 10. Colleen Hogan paced Windsor 17. Elaine Janisse added 15 and Pam McCartney 10.
In the other semi, Laurentian defeated Brock 71-48 as St. Martin scored 17, while nabbing 11 boards, Sandy Stevensen 13, Kelly Edwards 11, Ann Rimes 10 and Louise Belanger 10. Yvonne Doodeman led the Badgers with 12. Osborne added 9, Voisey 8, Luke 8 and Finlay 6. Badgers coach Chris Critelli told the St. Catharines Standard that “I think we were a bit intimidated by their height.”
In the bronze medal match, Brock defeated Windsor 86-79 as Lisa Osborne scored 33, player of the game Lisa Voisey 22, Michelle Luke 14, Yvonne Doodeman 10 and Kathleen Finlay 7. Windsor led by 22 early but Brock rallied to within 48-37 at the half. But then Elaine Janisse sprained her ankle and the Lancers offence went south. Badgers coach Chris Critelli told the St. Catharines Standard that “we started out like we were stunned, still worried about Laurentian. When we got our defence together, everything turned around.” Allison Duke led Windsor with 25. Colleen Hogan added 23. The Lancers (coached by Joanne MacLean, assisted by Jim Minello and John Corlett) also included Carol Gordon, Missy Balo, Cathy Hoffman, Sue McCormick, Tracey James, Tracey Rose, Mary Ellen Costea, Sonia Vorkapich, Elaine Janisse, Margaret Piggott, Pam McCartney, Allison Duke and Colleen Hogan.
In the final, Toronto defeated Laurentian 75-71. The Lady Blues’ victory ended the Vees’ one-year reign as Ontario champs and marked U of T’s fourth provincial championship in five years. Blues coach Michele Belanger savored the win. “We just went into the game to have some fun. But we played with a lot of composure and a lot of pride. We didn’t want to lose the game.” U of T was led by national team member Mary Ann Kowal who was named the most valuable player of the game and of the tournament. Kowal hit for 33 points including a perfect 10-10 from the foul line. For Kowal especially, the victory marked a week of ups and downs. Her sister-in-law from Sudbury died earlier in the week and Kowal didn’t know if she would be participating in the provincials. “I didn’t expect to shoot so well,” Kowal told the Toronto Star. “But we didn’t want to lose to them.” Even though the Lady Blues carried a 46-28 lead into the second half, it appeared victory was going to elude them. Laurentian fought back and took a 68-67 lead with less than three minutes left. Some clutch foul shooting by Kowal (six for six) in the final minute, however, gave U of T the title. “We had a slow start,” said Vees’ guard Sandy Stevenson. “But we beat them handily in the second half. Maybe it was because we already knew we had our ticket to Lethbridge.” Stevenson, who led Laurentian’s scorers with 23 points, also said the Vees were hurt when Chantal St. Martin and Anne Rimes fouled out. “Those are our two strongest posts,” she said. Nicki Berswick added 15 for the Blues, Samantha Reed 12, Brozic 6 and Martina Stripe 5. The Blues led 69-68 with two minutes to play and won it by parading to the foul line, when Berwick kept draining free throws. Belanger told the Varsity “I really didn’t think we were going to win. I didn’t expect this at all. I knew the team was tired and 1 just wanted to play a good, close game. Then we came out and took the lead. … Everybody had a strong game today. They really settled into their game. The scariest part was they weren’t really doing anything fancy in the first half. We were just playing our game the way we should play it.”
After the season, Mike Hickey resigned as coach at Ryerson to move to Ottawa to open a restaurant. “I’ve been involved in basketball for the past 14 years,” said Hickey. “I think it would be good for me and my family to take a break and smell the tulips in Ottawa.”
The bronze medalist Brock Badgers: Lisa Osborne; Yvonne Doodeman; Michele Luke; Cheryl Hoekstra; Lisa Voisey; Heather Kurtz; Vicki Laekeman; Anna DeTullio; Audrey Winter; Marianne Groat; Kathleen Finlay; Sheri Laekeman; coach Chris Critelli; assistant Lynn Polson; assistant Carolyn Foreman; athletic director Garney Henley; SID Mike Pelino
The runner-up Laurentian Voyageurs: Sandy Stevenson; Chantal St. Martin; Anne Rimes; Shirlene McLean; Kelly Edwards; Sheila Ivan; Christine Stapleton; Sherry Thirkill; Lisa Andrews; Katy Daichendt; Liz Pentland; Jennifer Adams; Louise Boulanger; coach Peter Ennis; assistant Angie MacDonald-Tekonemi; athletic director Peter Ennis; SID Stu Duncan
The champion Toronto Varsity Blues: Susan Barzo; Nicki Berswick; Anna Brozic; Susan Dabovic; Denise Galipeau; Margaret Hudson; Patricia Johnston; Mary Ann Kowal; Jillian Matte; Samantha Reed; Kathy Soce; Martina Stirpe; Joan Stock; Debbie Labarrie; Sue Barzo; coach Michele Belanger; assistant Jim Henderson; assistant Tom O’Brien; assistant Theresa Burns; athletic director Gib Chapman; SID Paul Carson