The AHSAA moves to add four teams to the provincials.
In the quarterfinals, held in Calgary, the Raymond Comets dumped the Calgary Henry Wise Wood Warriors 72-51 as Phil Tollestrup scored 26, Allen Williams 11 and Steve Hicken 10. The Comets led 38-25 at the half. Don Cottrell paced the Warriors with 19. The Warriors also included Jim Watson, Joe Phillips, Mike McGuinness, Ron Tanner.
The Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds crushed the Lethbridge Catholic Central Cougars 60-33 as Brian Johnson scored 22 and Paul Pomietlarz 19. Brian Saunders led the Cougars with 12. The Cougars (coached by W Johnson) also included John Molyneux, Alex Dudas, Peter McKenna, Steve Mychasiuk, Aurelio Delbello, Rick Campbell, Doug Herbers, Herbers, Richard Pace, Kerluk, Lavarato and Zasadny.
The Calgary Western Canada Redmen clipped the Edmonton Bonnie Doon Lancers 47-36 as Bob Bailey scored 15 and Gerry Diakowicz 14. Gary Campbell and Dave Turner each scored 12 for the Lancers (coached by Johnny Bright) also included Stan Symes, Lorne Smigorosky, Ron Smigorowski, Barry Wright, Greg Stewart, Rick Suter, Howie Farrell and Larry Silvester (who left mid-season).
In the last quarterfinal, the Calgary St. Francis Browns dumped the Red Deer Lindsay Thurber Raiders 65-54 as Tom Forzani scored 21, Rick Balcerzack 11 and Terry Wiswell 11. Brian Murray and Gordon Nelson each scored 16 to pace the Raiders. Wayne Magee added 13, Walt Neilson 11 and Ron MacTavish 6. The Raiders also included Brian Cook, Dale Lawrence, Dale MacIvor, Don Morris, Brian Murray, Grant Neilson and Darryl Reimche.
In the semis, the Raymond Comets pounded the Calgary Western Canada Redmen 88-44 as Phil Tollestrup scored 28 and Al Williams 20. The Comets led 43-13 at the half and hit 37-85 (.435) from the floor. Bob Bailly paced the Redmen with 11. Marvin Crump added 9. The Redmen hit 16-60 (.267) from the floor. The Redmen also included Swan, Glen Mossop, McMillan, MacDonald, Tennis, Jim Lathrup, Bates, Ireland, Cook and Jerry Diakowicz.
In the other semi, the Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds dispatched Calgary St. Francis Browns 71-50 as Neil Morrie scored 20 and Paul Pomietlarz 20. Tom Forzani paced the Browns with 14. John Pirzchalski added 14 and Rick Balcerzack 12.
In the bronze medal match, the Calgary Western Canada Redmen whipped the Calgary St. Francis Browns 77-37 as Jerry Diakowicz scored 15, Bob Bailey 14 and Brian McMillan 14. John Pierzchalski led the Browns with 12. Ed Leonard added 9 and Tom Forzani 1. The Browns also included Rick Balcerzack, Terry Wiswell. The Redmen hit 17-80 from the floor and 8-14 (.610) from the line. The Browns hit 13-70 (.300) from the floor.
In the final, the Raymond Comets defeated thrashed the Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds 72-38 after leading 48-13 at the half. The Comets capped a (35-0) season as Phil Tollestrup scored 25, Alan Williams 17 and Steve Hicken 14. Neil Morrie paced the Thunderbirds with 11. Brian Johnson added 9 and Paul Pomietlarz 9. The Comets let 27-4, 45-13 and 61-26 at the quarters. The Thunderbirds hit 15-54 (.270) from the floor and 8-17 (.470) from the line. Years later, Comets coach Bob Gibb told the Lethbridge Herald that his 1967 and 1968 units were the best ever in Western Canada. “The Raymond High School Comets have won more provincial championships in basketball than any other school, or any other town or city with their combined schools. From 1920 to the year 2000, the Comets, a small Tier 2 school, have been a dominant force in Tier 4 high school in basketball. If there is a synonym for great in basketball, it could be the word Comets. Certainly the word does go together with basketball.” The Comets won the Alberta provincial high school championship twice, the Raymond Sugar Bowl Invitational both years, as well as the Regina Luther Invitational twice, the LCI Invitational twice and the Calgary Highlander Invitational both years. They travelled south of the border and won the Shelby, Montana Invitational and the Conrad, Montana Invitational two straight years. The Comets did not lose a game over the two-year stretch. “Awesome,” said Gibb. “At the Regina Luther Tournament we beat teams from Manitoba, North Dakota, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. At the Calgary Highlander we met the best from Vancouver and won, and at the Raymond Sugar Bowl we defeated the best in Alberta, and teams from Winnipeg and B.C.” Shelby was the Montana State champion when the Comets beat them by eight points. “These Comets had height, they had savvy, they had desire and they had experience. They believed in winning, and that’s what we did. … Those Comets had so many victories and so many championships. They were unbeaten in their day, and they would be unbeaten in any day. If time could stand still, and old men could be 18 again, these Comets would always be winners. They are a team that is still remembered and talked about in high school basketball circles. If any Comet team can be called a legend in their time, these Comets were indeed the Shooting Stars of the past century.”
The all-tournament team featured MVP Phil Tollestrup (Raymond); Alan Williams (Raymond); Bob Bailly (Western Canada); Dave Turner (Bonnie Doon); Brian Johnson (Ross Sheppard); and Paul Pomietlarz (Ross Sheppard). Honorable mentions included Walt Neilson (Lindsay Thurber).
The bronze medalist Calgary Western Canada Redmen: Jerry Diakowicz; Bob Bailey; Brian McMillan; Jim Lathrop; Marvin Crump, Glen Mossop;
The silver medalist Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds: Brian Johnson; Paul Pomietlarz; Neil Morrie; coach John Wydareny
The gold medalist Raymond Comets: Phil Tollestrup; Tim Tollestrup; Alan Williams; Steve Hicken; Steven Zoebel; Dave Keeler; Michael Hill; Robert Zemp; Jerry Laszynski; Bob Myndio; Danny Court; Bryan Wilde; Peter Hague; Reid Heggie; coach Bob Gibb; assistant Brian Dudley; manager Ted Rutkowski