In the quarterfinals, held in Grande Prairie, the host St. Joseph’s Ceinahs nipped the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Clipper Queens 41-39. The Clipper Queens led 5-4, 19-14 and 34-27 at the quarters. Sharon May paced the Clipper Queens with 16 points and 16 boards. Jenny Webking scored 10 and Angela Orr 8. The Clipper Queens (coached by Doug Kempt) also included Karen Stetar, Wendy Watson, Glenna Cummings, Susan Gellany, Lillian Wong, Shelly Hironska, Kris Buhrman, Val Vickers, Jodi Gibson and Mary Hewitt.
The Lethbridge Winston Churchill Griffins clubbed the Sherwood Park Salisbury Sabres 61-24 after leading 18-6, 36-10 and 55-15 at the quarters. Susan Tokariuk paced the Griffins with 18. Cheryl Theodore added 14, Wendy Marsden 13 and Dian Colwill 8. Griffins coach Cliff Walters said Marg Kemeri and Colwill dominated. Kemeri nabbed 11 boards and Tokariuk 16. The Sabres included Cathy Clayton, Charlotte Evjen.
The Calgary Bishop Carroll Cardinals dispatched the Edmonton Jasper Place Rebels 42-35 as Marcelyn McGinn scored 16. The Rebels included Carola Meyer, Shelaine Kozakavich.
In the last quarterfinal, the Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds dumped the Calgary E.P. Scarlett Lancers 47-40. Malinda Davidson led the Lancers with 20. The Lancers (coached by Tom Sorenson) included Karla Karch, Kendra Brothers, Cathy Brather.
In the semis, the Lethbridge Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs dispatched the Calgary Bishop Carroll Cardinals 41-34 as Susan Tokariuk scored 23, while nabbing 14 boards. Cheryl Theodore added 10 points and 16 boards.
In the other semi, the Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Ceinahs defeated the Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds 48-36.
In the bronze medal match, the Calgary Bishop Carroll Cardinals defeated the Edmonton Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds 49-40 as Tish O’Connell scored 14. The Thunderbirds included Val Hampton, Bonnie Grosland, Laurie Armistead, Corrine Leach.
In the final, the Lethbridge Sir Winston Churchill Griffins captured their second consecutive provincial crown by defeating the Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Ceinahs 57-41 as Susan Tokariuk scored 23 on 9-22 from the floor and 11 boards. Cheryl Theodore added 17, along with 12 boards. Wendy Marsden scored 10, while Marg Kemeri nabbed 11 boards. The Ceinahs led 11-3 early but the Griffins rallied to knot the score at 11 after one quarter. The Griffins led 21-19 at the half and 38-27 after three quarters. “The girls took over in the second half and put the Churchill stamp on both backboards,” said Griffins coach Cliff Walters. “They put real tough pressure on us with a press in the first quarter, and our overall player of the game had to be Diane Colwill for the way she brought the ball up against that pressure. Susan took over and she owned the second half. Marg was super on defence and our ‘Little Big Man’ Wendy Marsden, did her usual super job on their star, Paula Gorman, allowing her only eight points.” Colleen Blimke led the Ceinahs with 10. Diane Boulet added 8 and Paula Gorman 8. Walters told the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune that “never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be able to put together a second half like we did tonight. They had a real desire to this thing. I don’t know if it was them that let up or us that poured it on.” Ceinahs coach Patrick McDonald said “we had a couple of excellent chances to put them away. It could have been 15-3. They came right back and converted. I thought we had them on the ropes, we didn’t put them away.” The Ceinahs were in foul trouble by the second quarter and guard Paula Gorman injured her knee and missed most of the second half. Walters said “that little Gorman, what a super player. That hurt them the most, losing her.”
The bronze medalist Calgary Bishop Carroll Cardinals: Tish O’Connell; Marcelyn McGinn; Sue Thorne; Cyndy Short; Ingeborg Pot; Theresa Edwards; coach Ernie Lakusta
The silver medalist Grande Prairie St. Joseph’s Ceinahs: Paula Gorman; Arlene Hesse; Cheryl Hesse; Louise Vant Erve; Colleen Blimke; coach Patrick McDonald
The gold medalist Lethbridge Sir Winston Churchill Griffins: Diane Colwell; Susan Tokariuk; Wendy Marsden; Cheryl Theodore; Margaret Kemeri; Monica Zambori; Margo Dzuren; Karen McCune; Allison Manning; Denise Houghton; Margaret Tokariuk; coach Cliff Walters