REGULAR SEASON
| Concordia | 11-1 | 23-4 | John Dore | ||
| McGill | 8-4 | 18-12 | Ken Schildroth | ||
| Bishop’s | 5-7 | 8-14 | Eddie Pomykala | ||
| Laval | 0-12 | 1-18 | Jacques LeBel | ||
In the regular season, Concordia finished atop the standings with an (11-1) record.
Playoff non-qualifier Laval Rouge et Or: Marc Cleophat, Martin Vallaincourt, Akli Brahim, Phillipe Coutu, Sophal Kuong, Stephanie Lafrere, Jean-Sebastien Michel, Pascal Morin, Radu-Cristian Nicolae, Francois Prud’homme, coach Jacques LeBel
In the semis, McGill defeated Bishop’s 79-63. McGill overcame shaky play to scored 14 unanswered points in the last four minutes, including 10 in the final minute to pull out the win. Doug McMahon led the Redmen with 22 points and 12 boards. Sammy Mendolia added 17 points. “It was a lot closer than we would have like,” said McMahon. “It felt a lot like the semi-final two years ago when Bishop’s came out and beat us in a game we were supposed to win. We should have taken a big lead on these guys in the first half because we know they have the ability to come back. And we let them do it.” Playing without point guard Ricky Varisco, who was sidelined by the flu, McGill took an early 14-6 lead but then allowed the Bishop’s to get their running game on track. The Gaiters took a 39-38 lead with a minute to play in the first half on a bucket by Kris Ruiter but McGill rallied to a 43-39 lead at the half. Robbie Burns hit a free throw to bring the Gaiters within 45-44 early in the second half and then Bishop’s took a 54-51 lead. McGill rallied back to a 57-54 lead before relinquishing two consecutive buckets with six minutes to play. Bishop’s again closed to within two, at 65-63, with four minutes to play but couldn’t buy a bucket down the stretch. Kris Ruiter led Bishop’s with 16. Rob Burns added 11. “They came out hard and really made us work,” said McGill forward Chad Wozney, who scored 12, nabbed 9 boards and dished 6 assists. “They forced us to run and we’re not a running team. We made stupid mistakes and don’t get back on defence fast enough in a running game. We had to dig deep down and pull it out tonight. We had a tough time. We missed a few foul shots, things that have to go down for us to win. We never really saw it slipping away but we could see the hole getting deeper for us at times and it took that much more effort to get out of it.”
In the finals, Concordia defeated McGill 94-83; 97-69 (2g-0).
In game one, Concordia defeated McGill 94-83 as league MVP Emerson Thomas, a fifth-year guard, poured in 24 of his game-high 29 points in the first half at Concordia Gym. “I’d just call this the Emerson Thomas Show, because he put on a clinic in the first half,” said Stingers coach John Dore. “Emerson knew what he wanted to do coming into this game. For some of the guys who deviate a little from time to time, Emerson leads by example, and the others are going to pick up, because that type of thing is contagious. He’s our leader. He’s going to show our guys the way.” The Stingers took a 53-37 lead into the lockers and the game was all but over. Although McGill rallied to within 61-55, it took three consecutive three-pointers to do, including a pair by guard Ryan Schoenhals, who had six threes on the night and led the Redmen with 18 points. The Stingers quickly rebuilt their cushion to 76-57 with 10 minutes to play. Thomas scored four of his teams’ first eight points as Concordia raced to an 8-2 lead and then drilled back to back threes twice in a four-minute span to give the Stingers an enormous first half lead. Forward J.P. Reimer scored 22 for Concordia. Rookie Rob Dawson added 9. “I decided I was going to come out aggressive. There are no tomorrows for me. It’s my last year. All the old alumni, Nick Arvanitis, Dexter John and Robert Ferguson, have been telling me to step my game up and this is the time to do it.” Thomas added 9 rebounds and 6 assists including bullet dishes to Fred Arsenault and Reimer for slams in the second half. Forward Chad Wozney scored 14 for McGill. Hubert Davis added 13.
In game two, Concordia completed the sweep 97-69. League MVP Emerson Thomas paced the Stingers with 33. Maxime Bouchard added 29. The Stingers rolled to a 48-35 lead at the half and opened the second frame with a 20-4 run that the outcome well out of McGill’s reach. “I wouldn’t say this was easier than expected,” said Concordia coach John Dore. “For 18 minutes in the first half, this was a four-point game. McGill had to sit Todd McDougall and Doug McMahon (because of foul trouble) early in the second and then it was a case of us not letting up. But once again, it was Emerson Thomas. He’s the star in the league.” Thomas collected 21 in the first half. McGill’s attack was hampered when all-star Chad Wozney was injured 15 seconds into the match when he broke his nose while taking an inadvertent elbow. Concordia jumped to a 12-4 lead but McGill rallied to knot the score at 18 and then took a four-point lead before Thomas hit back-to-back treys to get the Stingers back on track. “I’m really happy for these guys, especially our first-year guys who haven’t had the chance to experience this,” said Thomas. “For me, it’s a stepping stone. I have bigger fish to fry.” Chris Emergui led McGill with 16. Rick Varisco added 15, Todd McDougall 13 and Doug McMahon 12.
The bronze medalist Bishop’s Gaiters: Kris Ruiter; Robbie Burns; Ryan Thorne; Kevin McGuire; Shane Thompson; Jamie Woods; Mike Lubin; Andrew Southward; Greg Southward; Russ Johnson; Stewart Clark; Matt Carr; Omar Jennings; Brennan Wares; Greg Vertleman; Dan Pfliger; coach Eddie Pomykala; assistant Jeff Harris; manager Roger Thomas
The runner-up McGill Redmen: Chris Emergui; Rick Varisco; Todd McDougall; Doug McMahon; Chad Wozney; Ryan Schoenhals; Matt Watson; Peter Fraser; James Daniels; Sam Mendolia; Hubert Davis; Connor Glynn; Mike Johnston; Mathieu Jarry; coach Ken Schildroth; assistant Nevio Marzinotto; assistant Bernie Rosanelli;
The champion Concordia Stingers: Emerson Thomas; Maxime Bouchard; Ezra Franklin; Justin Padvaiskis; Fred Arsenault; Jean Pierre Reimer; Rob Dawson; Gaetan Prosper; Djemal Burris; Michael Eagleton; Daniel Furlong; Justin Padvaiskas; David Rimple, Johnny Yotis; coach John Dore; assistant Ernie Rosa; manager Mark Bayne; therapist Saro Koresticiyan; therapist Rob Joseph; SID Katherine Grace; athletic director Harry Zarins