Final regular season standings (11): Sheridan (18-2); Humber (17-3); Fanshawe (16-4); Centennial (13-7); Mohawk (12-8); Conestoga (8-12) Niagara (8-12); Seneca (5-15); St. Clair (5-15); Algonquin (4-16); George Brown (4-16)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Algonquin Thunder: Marcel Langlois, Gary Gallagher, Irvin Mahon, Roger Barr, David Rothenbury, Allan Brinkert, Stefhen Hoilett, Jean Lachance, Craig Salmon, Enrique Garcia, Oscar Lewis, Des Hickey, Ron Simonson, Gary Paquette and Dave Paterson.
Conestoga Condors: Les Robertson, Alex Yandryk, Lennox Lewis, Greg Benson, Mike Gobel, Blair Kelsey, Reinhard Burow, Dan Maletic, Nieuwenhuizen, Mike Joseph, Henry Yahn, Joey Huot, John Sachs, coach Helmut Tinnes
George Brown Huskies: John Haslan, Winston Allen, Daren Holmes, Joe Lewis, Leo Martin, Shane Marshall, Doug Harvey, Steve Gazmin, Desmond Clarke, Rob Cruickshank, Julian Smith, Joe Arrindell, Dexter Francis, Steve Pilgrim, Anthony grey, Kenroy McColin, Troy Thompson, Randy Avon and Tom Petric.
St. Clair Saints: Scott Irwin, Tony Swift, Sean Fabel, Derek Hearon, Joe Stach, Kris Rock, Jim Martin, Robert Jones, Gilles Bondy, Doug Reaume, Akos Toszer, Russell Wilson, Mario D’Alosio and Meich Blackburn.
Seneca Braves: Mark Otto, Phillip Cargill, Keith Golding, Vasco Yarde, Michael Lobban, Desmond Rowley, Keith Fraser, Neil Condison, Ken Fraser, Curtis Mascal, Courtne Quarrie, Claude Feig, Greg Sandwell, Gavin Abrams, Ian Higgins and Craig Walker.
In the quarterfinals, the Centennial Colts dumped the Mohawk Mountaineers 70-61 as Owen Officer scored 25 and Roy Lawrence 13. Sergio Bolzon paced the Mountaineers with 22, although the Colts used a zone defence to try to keep the ball out of his hands. Mike Dunn added 11 and Richard Gaunt 8. The Mountaineers led 31-30 at the half. Mountaineers coach Barry Hutton told the Hamilton Spectator that “I don’t mind getting beat by a better team but it bugs me that we gave the game away because of mental mistakes. We had them where we wanted them in the second half. We had a seven-point lead and then the guys started getting away from their games and freelancing.” The Mountaineers also included George Rakas, Mike Bibby, Rick Triemstrak, Alex Kendrick, Fred Boychuk, Rob Floris, Sam Di Feo, Mike Atlija, Jim Kislinsky, Nick Servinis, Wayne Wilson, Philip Bisnauth and Danny Lagg.
In the other quarterfinal, the Fanshawe Falcons defeated the Niagara Knights 66-58. The Knights (coached by Peter Rylander) included Frank Greco, Fred Jashanmal, Andrew Mosley, Perry Oroz, Scott Gifford, Colin Reid, Mark Fitzgerald, John Croce, Cal Colorochhio, Larry Bone, Shane Fitzgerald, Andre Hebert, Wayne Williams, Jim Prinsen and Ron Perri.
In the semis, the Fanshawe Falcons nipped the Humber Hawks 71-70. The Falcons exploded to a 21-8 lead but Wayne Ambrose got on track to rally Humber within 25-15 and then Maurice Armstrong drilled a pair of 15-footers to draw Humber within 37-34 at the half. George McNeil gunned Humber to a 51-46 lead in the second half but Fanshawe coach Glen Johnston called a timeout and slowed the tempo to a crawl. “We tried to slow down their tempo and not make them run their run and gun offence,” Johnston told The Coven. “Their players are faster than ours and I figured if we could slow down the game’s tempo or flow, we could win.” The Falcons 6-4 post Emilio Rocca hit a fadeaway to give Fanshawe a 61-60 lead with six minutes to play. “I’m a good outside shooter so I just let it go and it fell for me,” said Rocca. “We came into the game wanting to stop them from running on us.” The Falcons pulled out the win on a pair of free throws from Gary Benjaminsen with 17 seconds to play. A heave by Hawk guard Henry Frazer at the buzzer bounced off the rim,
In the other semi, the Sheridan Bruins defeated the Centennial Colts 69-64. “Centennial had us by five points with two minutes to go and we really had to play well to come back and win it. That was another super game. The guys really put me through a lot with those matches,” said Sheridan coach Wayne Allison.
In the bronze medal match, the Humber Hawks edged the Centennial Colts 59-58. The Colts (coached by Lou Sialtis) included Rob Adore, Owen Officer, Wilton Grant, Joseph Doto, Neal Tyrell, Clive Braham, Robert Nowry, Roy Lawrence, Lawrence Astor, Steve Graham, Wendell Martin, Victor Svirksts, Cleveland Bennett and Carlon Stewart.
In the final, the Sheridan Bruins defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 80-77 in overtime. Sheridan coach Wayne Allison called it one of the toughest games he has been involved in. “It was incredible, just a great game. I’m getting a little too old for that sort of excitement.” The Bruins trailed by 10 at the half. “We did not come out strongly in the first half,” Allison says, “and Fanshawe was all over us. But we got it together in the second half and started playing much better offensively.” Allison says the key to the win was the team’s defence. “They held us in during the first half. Then we started pressing a bit more and finally took control. “There were many times I just walked down the bench shaking my head. The game was a little too close for comfort. Bruce Nelson was just fantastic; he hit on some very important shots for us. He just played a super game. Last year we had so much talent, we were supposed to win. If we won that was expected; if we lost, it would have been a major upset. This year we didn’t have the same level of talent and we were just one of three very good teams in the league. So to win it this time was more satisfying.” The coach admits he was not all that pleased with his club during the early part of the season. “We did not play well at all. There was no desire, no team spirit. There was a lot of half-hearted efforts. But in the second half we turned it around, everyone started playing better and it all clicked.”
The bronze medalist Humber Hawks: Collin Edwards; Phil Hylton; Maurice Armstrong; George McNeil; Wayne Ambrose; Henry Fraser; Lloyd Minott; Matt Carlucci; Richard Rowe; Mike Mohamed; Gary Cooper; Winston Pryce; Justin Liddie; Daniel Ferguson; Barry Hutchison; coach Mike Katz
The silver medalist Fanshawe Falcons: Emilio Rocca; Gord Paddock; John Prailli; Brian De Caluwe; Jeff Farrugia; Andy McGregor; Gary Benjaminsen; Joe Stanczak; Gary Nagle; Scott O’Rourke; Pat Juurlink; Steve Tapajna; Sam Rondinelli; Jeff Kuchta; Wayne Burey; Denny Aubin;
The gold medalist Sheridan Bruins: Martin Johnson; Eugene McCarthy; Hardley Scott; Bruce Nelson; Rudy Donick; Lyndon Lowe; Lyndon Ricketts; Dwight Laughton; Hugh Anderson; Rohan Stephens; Wayne Ferguson; Jamie McIntyre; Mike Codner; coach Wayne Allison