Final regular season standings (9): Mount Royal (15-1); Lethbridge (14-2)); Red Deer (11-5); SAIT (11-5); Medicine Hat (7-9); NAIT (6-10); Grande Prairie (5-11); Camrose (2-14); Grant MacEwan (1-15)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Camrose: coach Yvonne Becker
Grande Prairie: Jeanine Hunter, Leona Tank, Adeana Hartnell, Tracey Boutilier, coach Kelly Ohlhauser
Grant MacEwan: Kalpie Raju, Maureen Schrader, Jacquelyn Edgar,
Medicine Hat Kudus: Jeanette Bell, Donna Olson, Patti Olsen, Reva Powell, Susan Matovich, Marilyn Huack, Inna Baczuk, coach Frank Behrens
NAIT: Kathy Prochnau, Kim Ferris, Roberta Drake, Sherry lee, Tracy Guhyle, coach Gregg Meropoulis
In the semis, the Lethbridge Kodiettes defeated the Red Deer Queens 100-43; 81-61 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Kodiettes prevailed 100-43 (also reported as 104-43). “I think what happened was that our speed kind of took their bump and grind away. We took the ball away before they could get physical,” said Kodiettes coach John Jasiukiewicz. Forward Maxine Wensman, who scored 19, said, “I thought they’d be a lot harder than they were. We were expecting it to be a more physical game but we didn’t go inside that much. If we did, they probably would have gotten in more foul trouble.” The Kodiaks exploded for a 20-0 run after the teams opened by exchanging buckets. They led 52-24 at the half and then opened the second frame with a 25-0 run. The Kodiaks defence held Red Deer star Mary Lynn Lang to 8. “The 100 points is nothing,” said Jasiukiewicz. “The biggest thing was our defence holding them under 50 points. We did a real good job on Lang and Karen (Lasuik, Queens’ top scorer with 14 points). … I think this was probably the best all-around game we’ve played this year. Our fastbreak was just great, we filled all the lanes and dumped the ball off to the trailers.” Lana Simpson added 17 points, Amelia De Melo 12 and Pam McLeod 12. “Maxine really had a big game, she controlled the pace of the game. We talked earlier how we needed her to have a big game and she was just ready to play ball tonight,” said Jasiukiewicz. “It was about time,” said Wensman. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk told the Red Deer Advocate that “we weren’t here. They were so nervous, they couldn’t move. There’s no way in the world we’re that bad.” …………………………………………………… In game two, the Kodiettes completed the sweep with an 81-61 victory. Red Deer “played really well. They had nothing to lose and they came out a lot calmer than Friday,” said Kodiettes coach John Jasiukiewicz. The Kodiettes led 41-25 at the half. “We came up cold but we hung through those cold limes. Four games ago we would have panicked when the shots didn’t go in. We didn’t panic, though, the girls started rotating and eventually came up with the baskets. I think that’s a sign of maturity on our part,” said Jasiukiewicz. Rhonda Wensman led the Kodiettes with 18. Lana Simpson added 12, Corinne Wensman 10 and Barb Babbot 10. Mary Lynn Lang led the Queens with 13. The Queens (coached by Pat Rawlusyk) also included Dawn Anderson, Robyn Purnell.
In the other semi, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the SAIT Trojans 60-64; 57-55; 46-44 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, SAIT edged Mount Royal 64-60 as Randi-Lynn Hiebert scored 15. Eve Pollitt led the Cougars with 13. …………………………………………………… In game two, Mount Royal edged SAIT 57-35 as Sue Jickling scored 12. Yvonne Middlekoup led the Trojans with 15. …………………………………………………… In game three, Mount Royal prevailed 46-44 in overtime as Denise McPhee scored 14, Wendy Klassen 11 and Dawn Foster 11. Wendy Klassen notched a putback winner with four seconds to play. The score was knotted at 42 after regulation. Eve Pollitt led the Trojans with 18. The Trojans also included Yvonne Middlekoup, Cindy Coulter.
In the finals, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the Lethbridge Kodiettes 72-64, 47-42 (2g-0).
In game one, Mount Royal prevailed 72-64. Lethbridge led 51-46 midway through the second half but folded their tents down the stretch. “We can’t get up five points like we did and then choke and expect to win a ball game,” Kodiak coach John Jasiukiewicz told the Lethbridge Herald. “We should have put them away. We were absolutely horrid on defence. We weren’t boxing out and they were continually getting three or four shots.” Cougars coach Donovan Martin said Lethbridge “played pretty good. Tonight, they really seem to bring the best out in us. Last week we barely beat, SA1T (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) and they aren’t half as good as Lethbridge.” Sue Jickling led the Cougars with 16. Denise McPhee added 15 and Dawn Foster 14. Lana Simpson led the Kodiaks with 24. Shannon Chipman added 14. “I think Shannon Chipman came off the bench and had one of her best games of the season. Barb Babbott came off as well and shot very well,” said Jasiukiewicz.
In game two, the Cougars completed the sweep with a 47-42 victory. “You don’t win very many championships shooting 28 per cent (from the field),” observed Kodiak coach John Jasiukiewicz. “We played absolutely fantastic defence and worked our offensive game plan to a T but we couldn’t fill it up. I’m really happy with the way the girls played, but there’s not a lot you can do when the ball doesn’t fall for you. It seemed that every shot would go around the hoop three times and flip out. Theirs would go around three limes and fall in.” The Cougars led 24-22 at the half. Dawn Foster and Sue Jickling each scored 13 to lead the Cougars. Pam McLeod led the Kodiaks with 15. Angela DeMelo added 8. Jasiukiewicz said the officiating was inconsistent and that “I think, man-for-man we probably have more talent than them, but they’re more consistent and that’s the key.” Jasiukiewicz told the Endeavour “we ran our game plan to perfection. Our defence played so well but we just came up short shooting.” Kodiak guard Pan Mcleod said “our shots just weren’t going in. The shots they got just seemed to all go in.” Cougars coach Donovan Martin said “to hold Lethbridge to 42 points is great defence on our part. They have great scoring punch.” Jasiukiewicz said his Kodiaks never “shoot well here or in any big gym. There is no background, and our team is used to shooting in a small gym. It’s a matter of depth perception.” Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk told the Red Deer Advocate “we didn’t have the shooting skills to play with them.”
The silver medalist Lethbridge Kodiettes: Pam McLeod, Lana Simpson, Amelia De Melo, Maxine Wensman, Barb Babott, Shannon Chipman; Rhonda Wensman, D Pinnock, Lori Plontke, J Marshall, Corrine Wensmen; C Rommends; coach John Jasiukiewicz
The gold medalist Mount Royal Cougars: Wendy Klassen; Sue Jickling; Denise McPhee; Dawn Foster; coach Donovan Martin