In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Calgary Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs defeated the 9th-seeded Grande Prairie Tomahawks 85-74 as Ryan Anderson scored 37. Forward Andrew Boone told the Calgary Herald that the Bulldogs “played well but the defence needed some work. We needed to keep our heads up.” Churchill coach Mike Fullerton said his charges “played well and I had a chance to play a lot of players.” Curtis King led the Tomahawks with 21. Andrew added 21. The Tomahawks also included Greg Stouffer, Justin Buchanan. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Edmonton Archbishop O’Leary Spartans defeated the 10th-seeded Red Deer Lindsay Thurber Raiders 93-78. The Raiders led by four early but the Spartans full-court pressure proved the difference. Darryl Heemstreet paced the Raiders with 28. Sarain Soonias added 15, Clint Werner 13 and Darrell Smith 11. Lindsay Thurber coach Dwayne Lalor told the Calgary Herald that his Raiders “finished up strong, but throughout the game, we didn’t play with the intensity needed to win at the provincial level.” Lalor told the Red Deer Advocate that “we started off okay and were up 21-19 after 12 minutes. But then we had a complete letdown and trailed by as much as 25 before turning it around a bit at the end. By then, it was too late.” The Raiders (coached by Dwayne Lalor) also included Chad Cargill, Donovan De Clerck, Jason McNichol, Dion Clifford, Bert Miller, Tyler Edey.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Edmonton Harry Ainlay Titans defeated the 8th-seeded Calgary Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs 66-37 as Mike Melnychuk scored 14. Ryan Anderson led the Bulldogs with 11. The Bulldogs (coached by Mike Fullerton) also included Richard Johnson, Taylor Wride, Ryan Pratt, Bob Gallagher, Ryan Anderson.
The 4th-seeded Taber W.R. Myers Rebels defeated the 5th-seeded Calgary William Aberhart Trojans 72-67 as Lonny Layton scored 20. John Riad led Aberhart with 15. Sean Anderson added 12. The Trojans (coached by Wayne Thomas) also included John Salmon, Andrew Brooks, Luke Harris, Trevor Nychkalo, Kol Armstrong, Nathan Raugust, Cory Paddock, Jamie Nania, Kevin Else, Rob Purcell and Jeff Stewart.
The 2nd-seeded Raymond Comets defeated the 7th-seeded Edmonton Archbishop O’Leary Spartans 93-73 as Clark Holt scored 23. The Spartans included Mike Butlin.
The 6th-seeded Calgary Lester B. Pearson Patriots defeated the 3rd-seeded Edmonton J. Percy Page Panthers 78-73. The Patriots rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half as the Panthers tired. Richi Gill led the Patriots with 41. “He led defensively with pressing and offensively, he was selfless,” Pearson assistant Mike Bester told the Calgary Herald. The Panthers included Graeme Reid, Jeff Mah, Travis Dawson.
In the semis, the Edmonton Harry Ainlay Titans defeated the 4th-seeded Taber W.R. Myers Rebels 99-71. The Titans full-court pressure, depth and intensity wore down the Rebels. Andrew Melnychuk, who paced the Titans with 19, said “it was an unbelievable team effort that resulted in an incredible game. One of our best so far.” Colin Sheen led the Rebels with 21.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Raymond Comets defeated the 6th-seeded Calgary Lester B. Pearson Patriots 92-89 despite nearly squandering a 20-point second half lead with a raft of turnovers. Darryl Salmon paced the Comets with 22. Eddie Richardson led the Patriots with 35. Pearson coach Derrick Mitchinson said the “comeback was predicated on heart and desire. I’m really proud of how they fought back to a position where they could have won.”
In the bronze medal match, the 6th-seeded Calgary Lester B. Pearson Patriots pounded the 4th-seeded Taber W.R. Myers Rebels 94-64 as Richi Gill scored 35. Gill and Eddie Richardson dominated the boards. The Patriots depth and transition offence proved the difference. “We got it all together and came through in the end as a team, not individual stars,” said Pearson guard Neil McFarlane. Lonny Layton led the Rebels with 15. The Rebels (coached by Cheyno Finnie) also included Colin Sheen, Matt Williams, Kevin Fawns, T.J. Nyce, Eric Valgardson, Tyler Tanner, Steve Evanson and Matt Williamson.
In the final, the top-seeded Edmonton Harry Ainlay Titans defeated the 2nd-seeded Raymond Comets 77-69. A disconsolate Comets guard Brad Bourne told the Calgary Herald “this is nothing we can forget about. We just didn’t hit our shots but we gave 110 per cent and I’m sure the town’s still proud of us. I guess somebody had to lose.” Harry Ainlay led by nine at the half but the Comets cut the margin to four down the stretch before getting into four trouble. Raymond coach Jim Ralph said the town “has won so many provincial championships, it will not appreciate second place. It will be forgotten. Second place doesn’t cut it in our town. It was an intense game. But give Harry Ainlay credit. They’re a well-coached and disciplined team.” The game pitted a pair of Ainlay brothers, Mike and Andrew Melnychuk, against a pair of Raymond brothers, Brock and Brett, son of the coach. Andrew Melnychuk led the Titans with 24. Mike Melnychuk added 15. “The Melnychuks are tremendous players,” said Ainlay coach Rob Poole. “They have so much heart and desire and they’re very skilled kids.” Darryl Salmon led the Comets with 24. “Raymond is a great team” said Poole. “There’s no question that the two best teams in the province were in the final. Honestly, I think if we played each other 10 times, it would be 50-50. Those kids over there have so much heart and desire. Playing basketball is such a priority to kids in Raymond. They’ve got that focus. They get so much support from their school and the Mormon church.” Andrew Melnychuk gave credit to the 500 rabid Raymond fans. “Those Raymond fans. They’re crazy.”
The bronze medalist Calgary Lester B. Pearson Patriots: Eddie Richardson; Richi Gill; Neil McFarlane; Troy Layton; Parvinder Bains; Al Devani; Rachid Mohamed; Amit Minhas; coach Derrick Mitchinson; assistant Mike Bester
The silver medalist Raymond Comets: Brock Ralph; Brett Ralph; Darryl Salmon; Todd Fairbanks; Brad Bourne; Adam Jensen; Bryce Coppieters; Jessie Heggie; Clark Holt; coach Jim Ralph
The gold medalist Edmonton Harry Ainlay Titans: Mike Melnychuk; Ian Ferguson; Andrew Melnychuk; coach Rob Poole