Final regular season standings (9): Lethbridge (16-0); Grande Prairie (13-3); Red Deer (12-4); Mount Royal (9-7); Camrose (7-9); Medicine Hat (5-11); Grant MacEwan (4-12); SAIT (3-13); NAIT (3-13)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Camrose: Trish Lorenz, Laura Wesley, Leslie-Ann Karl, Kim Mason, Cathy Van Ingen, Chris Larsen, Joanne Wolanuk, Cindy Bruntjen, Ginger Lamoureux, Penny Schneider, Catherine Payne
Grant MacEwan: Patti Pare, Marnie Evans, Trina Metz, Barbara Bentley, Val Skelly, Malaika Barriffe, Leanne Neiman, Carol-Ann Roberts, Najaw Karamujic, Christine Neiman
Medicine Hat: Patti Carnduff, Lisa Kartusch, Crystal Ilg, Tammy Rombough, Brenda Bower, Svava Thorsteinson, Buffy Evers, Tonia Bates, Jackie Donneworth, Tara Murphy
NAIT: Megan Gorman, Erica Price, Debbie Dick, Danielle La Force, Jodie Deford, Naomi Barton, Dana Forfylow, Brenda Kendal, Jennifer Day, Cindy Laing, Natalie Thibeault, coach Gregg Maroupolis, assistant Patti Marcinyshyn, manager Marci Cooper
SAIT: Tamilee Farmer, Heather Altenhof, Katie MacLeod, Michelle Rennie, Marnie Carlson, Charlene Goett, Joanne Gauld, Laurie Abell, Sheila Trew, Lori Stuart
In the semis, the Lethbridge Kodiettes defeated the Mount Royal Cougars 66-65; 68-48 (2g-0). ……………………………………………………. In game one, the Kodiettes eked out a 66-65 win. “Their excitement and emotion took us aback,” said Kodiettes coach Karie Tollestrup. Carrie Kuntz led the Kodiettes with 21. Candice Kliebrink added 18 and Jaylene Baker 10. Jodi Hooker led Mount Royal with 17. Joanne Clark added 11. The Kodiaks looked anything but a 16-0 regular season champ. Kuntz fouled out four minutes to play. They shot 40% from the line and were inconsistent on both ends of the floor. Coach Karie Tollestrup said “we knew that we had to shoot well from the foul line and we worked on it all week. We had opportunities galore to blow it open. We missed a lot of easy shots and you just can’t do that. Offensively sometimes a team will be cold, but defence comes with intensity and tonight we lacked it. You know something is wrong when players are driving around three different people against a zone defence.” Mount Royal had 8 seconds in which to set up a winner but settled for a 40-foot desperation heave from Joanne Clark. …………………………………………………… In game two, Lethbridge completed the sweep with a 68-48 win as Carrie Kuntz scored 18, Laura Bethlehem 12, Candice Kliebrink 12, while Jill Carley nabbed 12 boards. Coach Karie Tollestrup noted that “our team played together as a team. I could see the intensity was there for our girls and I knew right away Mount Royal didn’t have a chance.” Carol Braul led Mount Royal with 16. “Now we just need to go out and capture the ACAC championship and go as the first seed,” said Kodiaks coach Kerrie Tollestrup. “We only shot 30 per cent from the field (Sunday), but we did take 80 shots which helped,” said Tollestrup. “Overall, we did a lot of things better than on Friday. We controlled the offence and played with a lot more discipline.” The Cougars also included Joanne Clark, Charlene Spengler, Jody Hooker, Tracy Wakaluk, Suzan Meyers, Janis Swayze, Julie Shields, Leslie Cadman, Nicolette Dellaviola and Erika Fritz.
In the other semi, the Red Deer Queens defeated the Grande Prairie Wolves 62-52; 62-64; 79-59 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game two, the Wolves evened the series with a 64-62 win as Shawna Grant scored 17. Bonnie Plowman led the Queens with 12. Nadine Traptow added 12 and Alex Mulner 10. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk told the Red Deer Advocate that “the Grande Prairie referee is killing us. We haven’t had a hometown referee do our games for three years. You know we played a zone and they full-court pressed the whole game and we have 25 of 42 fouls. You figure it out.” The Wolves were 15-29 from the line, while the Queens wee 9-11. …………………………………………………… The Wolves included Shauna Grant, Leanne Beida, Loralyn Murdoch, Kyla Wellard, Tanis Outhet, Marie Byrne, Alison Fedchuk, Pauline Balzer, Michelle Foster, Toni Martins, Lee Davies and Karla Kimble.
In the final, the Lethbridge Kodiaks defeated the Red Deer Queens 61-63; 77-65; 74-62 (2g-1).
In game one, the Red Deer Queens handed the Kodiaks their first ACAC loss by a 63-61 count. The Queens outplayed and outhustled the Kodiaks as they build a 41-30 lead at the half. “After all we have talked about mental intensity, it is ridiculous not to have it,” said Kodiak coach Karie Tollestrup after the game. “We had four defensive boards in the first half and we missed three chances to put it away from the foul line in the late going. I am sick of playing like that.” Red Deer coach Pat Rawlusyk was elated with her troop’s effort. “Even when our two post players got in foul trouble (Nadine Traptow and Bonnie Plowman) we took them out and Tracy Henger took over at the post and got some key late baskets for us.” As well, Queens’ guard Alex Mulner had a big impact, Rawlusyk added. “She brings experience, hustle and drive to our game. If she isn’t scoring, she is helping set up other people.” Henger led the Queens with 19. Nadine Traptow added 14 and Bonnie Plowman 11. Candice Kleibrink led the Kodiaks with 25. Carrie Kuntz added 10 and Wendy Doram 9. Tollestrup said Kleibrink and Doram, along with Melanie Malchuk were on their game, but had little to say for the rest of the team.
In game two, Lethbridge evened the series with a 77-65 win. The Kodiaks trailed by as many as 16 in the second half but stormed back for the win. “It was just an incredible showing of desire and heart and team effort,” said Kodiaks coach Karie Tollestrup. “During the second half run we outscored them 39-6 in one stretch, with a lot of players contributing.” She added that rookie guards Wendy Doram and Lisa Ressler hit key buckets, while Jaylene Baker “had a great game. She led our scoring with 20 points, had some key boards and key baskets.” Candice Kleibrink added 15 and Carrie Kuntz 12. “The first half we worked really hard but we just couldn’t seem to score, the effort was there the entire game.” The Kodiaks hit 67% from the line, while the Queens hit 53%.
In game three, the Kodiaks prevailed 74-62 to capture their fourth consecutive ACAC crown. The Queens took an early 10-1 lead. Kodiaks coach Karie Tollestrup told the Endeavour “I think the tempo of the game was something we had to get going. Once our defence picks up, and our fast breaks start going… Red Deer really struggles against it.” Jaylene Baker tied the score with four minutes remaining in the first half and then Candice Kleibrink hit a pair of free throws to give the Kodiaks their first lead at 34-32. Lethbridge led 42-33 at the half. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk said “we came up and we wanted to pick up the pace but … I don’t know what happened, maybe some of the wear and tear was getting to us. … (In the second half), we have to stay out of foul trouble then we went cold in the second half. We went through a stretch again were we couldn’t buy a basket, everything was bouncing around. When that happens, your defence slows down too and allows them to pick up the pace.” Kleibrink paced the Kodiaks with 20. Carrie Kuntz added 18 and Jill Carley 11. Alex Mulner led the Queens with 20. Nadine Traptow, Tracy Henger and Susan Yackabowski each added 9.
The silver medalist Red Deer Queens: Bonnie Plowman; Tracy Henger; Alex Mulner; Nadine Traptow; Bev Tanner; Cindy Friesen; Susan Yackobowski; Lori Reid; Jodyne Jacobs; Naomi Schlosser; Janice Stevens; Laura Elgersma; Sara Anderson; coach Pat Rawlusyk
The gold medalist Lethbridge Kodiaks: Carrie Kuntz; Candice Kleibrink; Jaylene Baker; Laura Bethlehem; Jill Carley; Lisa Ressler; Wendy Doram; Shauna Kormos; Joanne Smallbones; Melanie Malchuk; Peggy Powelson; Jenny Neufeld; Carmen Knutsen; coach Karie Tollestrup