In March, the Alberta Basketball Association staged an “invitational” four team tournament as a pilot for a provincial championship draw to be launched in 1957. It is often held that the winner was the provincial champion but in fact, the provincial playoff system proceeded as normal. The title was won by the Raymond Comets.
Later that year, in mid-summer, the Alberta Schools Athletic Association was formed.
In the semis of the pilot tournament, the Edmonton Victoria Composite Redmen defeated the Raymond Comets 56-51 as Joe Bedford scored 27, Don Kay 11 and Don Munro 10. Jess Gibb led the Comets with 18. Harker added 13.
In the other semi, the Calgary Crescent Heights Cowboys defeated the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams 61-51 as Wally McIntosh scored 33, Tom Hatch 12 and Ron Komix 8. The Cowboys led 20-9, 35-17 and 47-34 at the quarters. Brian Story led the Rams with 13. Jim Furlong added 13.
In the bronze medal match, the Raymond Comets dumped the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams 64-53 as Ron Minion scored 16, Jess Gibb 13, Walker 10, Russ Harker 10, Stettar 8 and Jones 7, while Kirkham, Tollestrup and Vance were scoreless. Peter Jamieson led the Rams with 12. Dick Rempel added 10, Furlong 8, B Strong 6, Nowlin 6, Holland 5, Pizzey 3 and Strong 2, while Stewart was scoreless. The Rams led 24-21 at the half.
In the final, the Edmonton Victoria Composite Redmen defeated the Calgary Crescent Heights Cowboys 54-43 as Don Munro scored 26 on 6-10 from the floor and 14-27 from the line. Bendzan added 8, Joe Bedford 7, Ted Frechette 7. Swynchuk 4 and Kay 2, while Day, Lindberg, Hicks, Hasey, Dudka and McLean were scoreless. The Cowboys led 15-14 after one quarter. The Redmen led 30-27 at the half. The Cowboys led 40-37 afer three quarters. Wally McIntosh led the Cowboys with 18 (also reported as 20). Tom Hatch added 9, Gillespie 6, Komix 5 and McLean 3, while Stooshnoff, Slater, Halvorson, Mudry, McIlhagga and Baldwin were scoreless.
The bronze medalist Raymond Comets: Jess Gibb; Ron Minion; Russ Harker; Ted Jones; Jerome Stettar; Jimmy Walker; Vance; Kirkham; Tollestrup; coach Lyman Jacobs
The silver medalist Calgary Crescent Heights Cowboys: Denis Marson; John Mudry; Bill Gillespie; Jim Baldwin; Wally McIntosh; Al Halvorson; George Stooshnoff; Tom Hatch; Dave Helmer; Allan McIlhagga; Colin McLean; Ron Komix; Slater; Slater; coach Ken McKenna
The gold medalist Edmonton Victoria Composite Redmen: Dave Hicks; David McLean; Ralph Johnston; Joe Bedford; Ted Frechette; Elmer Brendzan; Gary Day; Len Dudka; Peter Hasey; Don Kay; Bob Lindberg; Don Monro; Roman Swynchuk; coach Don Macintosh; assistant Jack Allen; manager Ralph Johnston
In the Calgary city finals, the Crescent Heights Cowboys defeated the Central Memorial Rams x-x. …………………………………………………… Central (coached by Bill Hackett) included Dave Tavender, John Dickson, Morton, Bartlett, Paul, Murphy, Kelba, Jacobson, Alexander, Barbarie and Leveque. …………………………………………………… Western Canada included Tommy McNamara, Gordon Calkins, Fisher, Gary Knott, Bob Saarinen, Taylor, Young, French, Greaves and Gregory.
In the Southern semis, the Raymond Comets dispatched the Cardston Cougars x-x; 73-66 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game two, Raymond prevailed 73-66 as Jess Gibb scored 20, Jerome Stettar 19 and Ron Minion 10. Duane Spencer led the Cougars with 28. Don Pierson added 16.
In the other Southern semi, the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams defeated the Magrath Zeniths 50-45; 77-42 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game two, the Rams prevailed 77-42 as Bill Pizzey scored 27, Harry Blacker 24 and Dick Rempel 8. Reed Chipman led the Zeniths with 10. Irvine Hovey added 10.
In the Southern final, the Raymond Comets defeated the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams 50-52; 59-45; 56-42 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, Lethbridge prevailed 52-50 in double overtime. A Brian Story putback forced overtime, while Jay Holland hit the winner in double overtime with a minute to play. Harry Blacker paced the Rams with 18. Brian Strong added 11, Dick Rempel 10, Bill Pizzey 9, Jim Furlong 2, Jay Holland 2, while M Strong, Jamieson and Nowlin were scoreless. Ron Minion led the Comets with 15. Jess Gibb added 13, Jerome Stettar 10, Ted Jones 8 and Jimmy Walker 4, while Harker, Vance, Kirkham and Tollestrup were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Raymond evened the series with a 59-45 victory as Don Minion scored 15, Ted Jones 13, Jess Gibb 12 and Jim Walker 2. Bill Pizzey paced the Rams with 11. Dick Rempel added 11, Brian Strong 11, Jim Furlong 6 and Jay Holland 6. …………………………………………………… In game three, the Comets took the series with a 56-42 win while capturing their 8th Southern title in nine years. The Rams 1-3-1 zone contained Jess Gibb but the rest of the Comets ran amok. Ron Minion paced the Comets with 16. Jim Walker added 14, Ted Jones 10, Jess Gibb 8 and Jerome Stettar 8, while Harker, Vance, Tollestrup and Kirkham were scoreless. Dick Rempel led the Rams with 13. Everett Nowlin added 10, Bill Pizzey 8, Brian Strong 8, Jim Furlong 2 and Jay Holland 1, while M Strong and Jamieson were scoreless.
In the provincial final, the Raymond Comets defeated the Red Deer Lindsay Thurber (then Red Deer Composite) Raiders 77-54; 79-69 (2g-0).
In game one, the Comets dusted the Raiders 77-54 as Jess Gibb scored 22, Ron Minion 18, Stettar 17, Jimmy Walker 9, Ted Jones 7, Harker 2 and Kirkham 2, while Tollestrup was scoreless. Frank Bryson paced the Raiders with 20. Carson Macdonald added 10, Floran 8, Dick Trulson 8, Walt Knipe 6 and Foster 2, while Mullin, Delveris and Johnstone were scoreless.
In game two, the Comets completed the sweep with a 79-69 win in overtime. Raider Frank Bryson had forced overtime with a buzzer beating bucket that knotted the score at 64. Jess Gibb opened the extra session with a bucket for the Comets after 30 seconds. Jerome Stettar and Ted Jones promptly added buckets. The Raiders Carson Macdonald answered with a bucket but then Comets closed it out with a 9-3 run. Jess Gibb paced the Comets with 28. Ron Minion added 14, Jerome Stettar 10, Jimmy Walker 8 and Harker 3, while Vance, Kirkham and Tollestrup were scoreless. Carson Macdonald paced the Raiders with 23. Frank Bryson added 16, Floen 13, Dick Trulson 11, Walt Knipe 5 and Mullin 1, while Foster, Delveris and Johnstone were scoreless.
After the season, officials met to create the Alberta High School Athletic Association, which hoped to continue some form of province-wide tourney.
The runner-up Red Deer Lindsay Thurber Raiders: Carson Macdonald; Frank Bryson; Leroy Floen; Dick Trulson; Walt Knipe; Larry Mullen; Jim Foster; Delveris; Johnstone
The champion Raymond Comets: Jess Gibb; Ron Minion; Harker; Ted Jones; Jerome Stettar; Jimmy Walker; Vance; Kirkham; Tollestrup; coach Lyman Jacobs