Final regular season standings: Lethbridge (18-0); Mount Royal (10-4); Red Deer (9-5); Grande Prairie (8-6); Medicine Hat (4-10); Camrose (4-10); Grant McEwan (4-10); Sait (3-11)
The NAIT Ookchicks dropped out of league play for 1988-89 because they only had six players tryout, ie., Nyoka Providence, Michelle Plaquin, Tara Nelson, Marj Antonio, Tima Otoumagie and Heather Stump. Coached by Gregg Meropoulis, they later added ruby Mauricio, Louisi Marcotte, Shannon Keiser and Janine Auch and played strictly an exhibition schedule.
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Camrose Lutheran: Lori Plontke, Berta Dancy
Grant MacEwan:
Medicine Hat: Celina Prete, Shantal Reed, Karen Luba, Ev Nelson, Laura Laird, Donna Olson, coach Nora Way
Olds:
SAIT Trojans: Kathy Burge,
In the semis, the Lethbridge Kodiaks defeated the Grande Prairie Nordic Wolves 75-61; 76-41 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Lethbridge prevailed 75-61 as Laurie Hockridge scored 23, Lauretta Hazelaar 12, Shelley Kormos 11 and Carrie Kuntz 12. Kodiaks coach John Jasiukiewicz said “we played a good first half but let off in the second. We let the press get to us. They played a scrappy game.” Kodiaks guard Laura Bethlehem said “we didn’t play a very disciplined game. Defensively, we didn’t play up to our potential.” Shelly Comadina led the Wolves with 25. …………………………………………………… In game two, Lethbridge swept the series with a decisive 76-41 victory as Laurie Hockridge scored 17, Shelley Kormos 14 and Laura Bethlehem 12. Kodiaks coach John Jasiukiewicz said “that was the best first half I’ve ever seen them play.” Bethlehem said “defence is what won us this game.” Brenda Arsenault led the Wolves with 15. The Nordic Wolves (coached by Kelly Ohlhauser) also included Shelly Comadina, Leona Tank, Alison Fedchuk, Kim Pomeroy, Jessie Davie, Tracy Housworth, Liz Murphy, Jodi Lecher. Ohlhauser told the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune that “we were just brutal and that’s a fairly charitable description of how we played. Plus, we had absolutely not luck. We got down by 16 after about eight minutes in both games and we just couldn’t buy a hoop. … They shot 38 free throws to our 7 (in two games). But that’s life in Lethbridge and we knew we weren’t going to get any help when we went there.”
In the other semi, the Red Deer Queens defeated the Mount Royal Cougars 58-67; 77-70; 65-59 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, Mount Royal clipped Red Deer 67-58 as Kelly Campbell scored 16, Glenna Cardinal 15 and Shatell Reed 15. Rae-Lynn Goss paced the Queens 12, Elaine Claerhout 11 and Tracy Henger 11. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk told the Red Deer Advocate that “I don’t understand how we can play so poorly in the first half. It’s hurt us on several occasions this season. … We were a little cold and they got up by 10. Then we reverted bak to some of our old habits. We lost our composure on offence a little and got caught standing around. Defensively, we played well but the offence cost us.” The Cougars led 44-25 at the half. …………………………………………………… In game two, Red Deer evened the series with a 77-70 overtime win as Tracy Henger scored 23, Dalane Huber 14 and Laura Anderson 14. Glenna Cardinal paced the Cougars with 15. Wendy Vanderschee added 15. Huber scored the first five points in overtime as the Queens pounded the ball inside. Red Deer’s Alex-Ann Mulner and Shelly Stewart forced a raft of turnovers with their pressure defence. Mulner told the Red Deer Advocate that “Shelly and I work well together. We seem to be like a right and left arm.” …………………………………………………… In game three, Red Deer prevailed 65-59 as Dalane Huber scored 16. Glenna Cardinal paced the Cougars with 13. The Cougars also included Wendy Vanderschee,
In the finals, the Lethbridge Kodiaks defeated the Red Deer Queens 68-51; 59-57 (2g-0).
In game one, Lethbridge prevailed 68-51 as Laurie Hockridge scored 20. Kodiaks coach John Jasiukiewicz said a more lopsided win “would have been nice to see, but I didn’t expect it all. I didn’t plan on us playing this poorly tonight, but I’m not upset. We knew we had the psychological advantage playing at home so I wanted them to be pumped up for a game I want them to be pumped up for a game in Red Deer. If we blew them out tonight and went up to Red Deer I’d be concerned.” Kodiak post Laurie Hockridge was in early foul trouble, while the Queens had Rae-Lynne Goss banging the boards and Tracy Henger hitting from long-range as the teams battled to a 30-30 draw at the half. “We weren’t ready to play today — not mentally prepared at all. It just didn’t feel like a game-day tonight,” said Hockridge. The Kodiaks tightened their defence in the second half and soon led by 14. “We played defence a 100 per cent better in the second half. We were just brutal in the first half and I think that’s what helped us in the second,” said Hockridge. Laura Bethlehem added 12 for the Kodiaks, Loretta Hazelaar 22 and Carrie Kuntz 8. Goss led the Queens with 18. Henger added 9, and Alex Mulner 8.
In game two, Lethbridge completed the series sweep with a 59-57 win as Laurie Hockridge scored 23. Hockridge told the Lethbridge Herald that “I think we played really good. It was probably Red Deer’s best game all season but we were pumped and we knew we weren’t going to lose.” Lethbridge coach John Jasiukiewicz said “I was happy with the way we handled the one-sided officiating. On the scoresheet, the officiating may have looked okay but if you were at the game, you could see it wasn’t.” The Kodiaks led 35-21 at the half. Tracy Henger paced the Queens with 15. Laura Anderson added 13 and Dalane Huber 11. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk told the Red Deer Advocate that “it boiled down to the fact we missed too many easy shots. How may layups did we miss? Too many. I know that. … We worked the offence. They just wouldn’t fall.”
The silver medalist Red Deer Queens: Tracy Henger; Rae-Lynne Goss; Alex Mulner; Bonnie Williams; Dalane Huber; coach Pat Rawlusyk
The gold medalist Lethbridge Kodiaks: Laurie Hockridge; Carrie Kuntz; Laura Bethlehem; Carmen Knutson; Lori Mathews; Shelley Kormos; Loretta Hazelaar; Patricia Murphy; Amber Powelson; coach John Jasiukiewicz; assistant Barb Babott; manager Timythi Jasiukiewicz; manager Ali Jasiukiewicz; athletic director Tim Tollestrup