In the quarterfinals, held in Grande Prairie, the Picture Butte Sugar Kings clipped the Ashmont Falcons 49-40. The Falcons included Jim Wegren.
The Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Celtics dusted the Daysland Darls 86-26 as Mike McDonald scored 32, Clark Cronk 14 and Derek Gaume 14. Dale Sneath paced the Hawks with 21.
The Carstairs Hugh Sutherland Kodiaks defeated the Morinville Wolves 69-57.
In the last quarterfinal, Delburne Centralized Trojans dispatched the Hanna J.C. Charyk Hawks 71-56 as Rick Campbell scored 20, Alan Sabey 19 and Tim Glover 18.
In the semis, the Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Celtics nipped the Picture Butte Sugar Kings 65-63 as Mike McDonald scored 21, Clark Cronk 16 and Derek Gaume 14. Darren White and Mike McDonald each hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to ice it. Celtics coach Patrick McDonald told the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune that “I’m always impressed with young athletes who can perform under pressure. It means a lot of them afterwards. The Celtics lost three starters – guard Gaume, forward Brian Calkins and post Cronk – to fouls in the fourth quarter. But McDonald noted: “that’s the thing. I had a bench this year. They showed a lot of character.” The Sugar Kings hit just 37% from the line.
In the other semi, Delburne Centralized edged the Carstairs Hugh Sutherland Kodiaks (Trojans?) 63-62.
In the bronze medal match, the Picture Butte Sugar Kings dusted the Carstairs Hugh Sutherland Kodiaks (Trojans?) 63-35 as Henry Bergen-Henengouwen and Ed Loman each scored 18. The Kodiaks were coached by Larry Auger.
In the final, the Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Celtics pounded Delburne Centralized 88-46 as Mike McDonald scored 35, including 15-15 from the line, and Derek Gaume 22. The Celtics led 20-13 after one quarter and 44-25 at the half. Celtics coach Patrick McDonald, who won an unusual double 4A girls and 2A boys crown on the campaign, told the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune that “I’m happy for and proud of the kids. To win that big indicates our team was real powerful. WE got instant recognition this year. They’ll remember us now.” McDonald noted of his son’s free-throw shooting: “To me that is more important than the number of points you get. That’s a skill thing. … (As for Gaume), I was impressed with Derek. He sparked the team. He was really going.”
The bronze medalist Picture Butte Sugar Kings: Ward Reiter; Henry Bergen-Henengouwen; Paul Loman; Ed Loman; John Bianchini; John Blimkie; Scott Oikawa; Brian Elaschuk; Wayne Lehto; John Austie; Alan Bartz; Darcy Neher; coach Hank Heerze
The silver medalist Delburne Centralized Trojans: Rick Campbell; Alan Sabey; Tim Glover; Pat Zak; Bob Manning; Wayne Buckland; Pat Nicholson.
The gold medalist Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Celtics: Mike McDonald; Brian Calkins; Terry Donnelly; Clark Cronk; Derek Gaume; Darren White; Tal Pizzey; coach Patrick McDonald; assistant Martin Pardell