In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The Vancouver College Fighting Irish defeated the Surrey Queen Elizabeth Royals 51-38. John Beaton bombed away over top the Royals zone, while Bob Beaupre and Dave Hislop crashed the offensive glass. Bob Beaupre led the Fighting Irish with 14. Dave Hislop added 14, John Beaton 10, Jim Williams 6, Jack McLaughlin 3, Bob Noble 2 and Brian Longpre 2. Olli Sovio led the Royals with 20. Vern Brown added 9, Gary Best 7, Henry Sovio 1 and Bowen 1, while Fraser was scoreless. …………………………………………………… The North Vancouver Norsemen crushed the Prince George Polars 65-40 as Bob Trainor shut down Polars star Ron Thorsen. Jim Kardash paced the Norsemen with 23. Klasen added 16, Trainor 9, Bill Nelson 9, Rod Martin 6 and Moore 2. Foster led the Polars (coached by Ken Recker) with 13. Ron Thorsen added 12, Vanderveiden 8, Rickbeil 6 and Wright 1, while Ormond was scoreless. …………………………………………………… The Abbotsford Panthers dusted the Kitimat Chieftains 63-41 as Roger Nissen scored 17, Kirk Bryde 15, Don Edgecumbe 13, Ken Dietcher 8, Wayne Larson 7 and Dave Bingham 1. John Walbergs led the Chieftains with 10. Bob Mack added 10, Bill Hayes 7, Jack Campbell 7, Larry Burnett 6 and Dave Mack 1. The Chieftains (coached by John Drdul) also included Andy Rathgaber, Mike Nesbit, Doug Kernaghan and Joe Calado. …………………………………………………… The Vancouver Lord Byng Grey Ghosts edged the North Surrey Spartans 44-43 as Tim Lockhart hit a left-hand hook with 22 seconds to play. The Spartans led early but the Grey Ghosts rallied after shifting to a press. Asked if he practiced left-hand hooks, Lockhart told the Vancouver Sun: “No, but I will now.” Tim Lockhart paced the Grey Ghosts with 14. Sweet added 12, Stubbs 10, Martin Pinaud 6 and Rick Burton 2, while Lloyd was scoreless and Ted Clark did not play because a knee injury. Don Higham scored 24 to pace the Spartans (coached by Andy Molnar). Gord Smith added 13, Darryl Logan 4 and Dan Howe 2, while Therres, Dudley and Rymer were scoreless. The Spartans (coached by Andy Molnar) also included Jack Falk. …………………………………………………… The Victoria Oak Bay Bays thrashed Trail 43-24 as their 1-3-1 zone and disciplined offence befuddled the Hawks. Dave Morgan led the Bays with 10. Dave Wirtanen added 9, Don Burrows 9, Bill McCormick 9, Baines 4 and Wallace 2. Jim Ward led Trail with 14. Glen Babcock added 5, Neil Fricke 2, Eddy Benedet 2 and Del Puppo 1, while Lee was scoreless. …………………………………………………… The Alberni Chieftains clipped the Kamloops Red Devils 46-37. The Chieftains effectively pounded the ball inside to the double-low post tandem of Dan Bowen and Larry Ferster. Bob Paterson and Brian Marchuk never got a chance to dominate the boards for the Red Devils. Dan Bowen led the Chieftains with 14. Hilliard added 11, Larry Ferster 7, Ken Sander 7 and Waugh 7, while Buckner and Faoro were scoreless. Bob Paterson led the Red Devils with 14. Brian Marchuk added 10, Cowan 6, Cripps 4 and Gerne 3, while Thomas and Carter were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The North Vancouver Delbrook Hilltoppers stomped the Salmon Arm Gold 70-39. The Hilltoppers broke to a 34-8 lead after one quarter as their press yielded major dividends. Crawford led the Hilltoppers with 13. Danny McCarrell added 12, Laycock 11, Jack Hoy 10, Heck 9, Rick Mark 6, Ferguson 4, Finney 2, Burns 2 and Hove 1. Gary Thors led the Golds with 14. D Brooke added 6, Boyko 6, G Brooke 4, Weir 4, Beech 2, Macdonald 2 and Jameson 1. …………………………………………………… The Vancouver David Thompson Trojans nipped the Chemainus Cougars 45-43 as Bill Stebbings dominated the boards, while Jim Chapman effectively broke down the Cougars off the dribble. Jim Chapman paced the Trojans with 15. Bob Johal added 11, Bill Stebbings 10, Metzgner 7 and Paul Pederson 2. Bill Robinson led the Cougars with 16. Gerry Plester added 13, Ron Waller 8, Richard Harbo 4, Rod Francouer 1 and Frank Bayuk 1. The Cougars (coached by Skip Montgomery) also included Pat Watson, Doug McIntosh, Howard Platt, Kelly Cook, Dan Andruff and Doug Smart.
In the quarterfinals, the Vancouver College Fighting Irish defeated the Port Alberni District Armada (then the Chieftains) 51-37 as Bob Beaupre scored 17, John Beaton 12, Dave Hislop 11, Jack McLaughlin 6 and Brian Longpre 4. The Fighting Irish dominated the paint. Dan Bowen led Alberni with 14. Brock Hilliard added 10, Larry Ferster 6, Ken Saunders 6 and Ken Waugh 1. The Chieftains also included Bob Bucknor, Oscar Faoro, Terry Oscarson, Rob Horner, Rick Krawetz, Dan Milligan and Rod Horner.
The Victoria Oak Bay Bays clipped the Vancouver Lord Byng Grey Ghosts 51-37 as Dave Wirtanen scored 14, Dave Morgan 12, Don Burrows 10, Wallace 2, Baines 2 and Bill McCormick 1. Bays coach Gary Taylor told the Vancouver Sun “these kids just amaze me. I can’t believe it. But they’ve been doing this all year, winning games on scrap and heart. … (Wirtanen) holds us together.” Tim Lockhart scored 11 to lead the Grey Ghosts (coached by Pete Merson). Lloyd added 9, Don Sweet 8, Rick Burton 4, Stubbs 3 and Martin Pinaud 2.
The North Vancouver Delbrook Hilltoppers edged the North Vancouver Norsemen 35-29. The Norsemen slowed the tempo to a crawl but the Hilltoppers pressure, and a defensive switch, moving Rick Mark onto Jim Kardash, shut down the Norsemen. Danny McCarrell led the Hilltoppers with 10. Jack Hoy added 8, Hove 8, Rick Mark 4, Heck 3 and Crawford 2. Jim Kardash scored 12 to lead the Norsemen (coached by Ed Pedersen). Klasen added 8, Bill Nelson 5, Rod Martin 3 and Trainer 1.
In the last quarterfinal, the Vancouver David Thompson Trojans clipped the Abbotsford Panthers 52-45 as Bob Phillips scored 16, Bill Stebbings 14, Paul Pederson 8, Jim Chapman 7 and Bob Johal 7. Chapman and Pederson rank the break effectively, while Stebbings and Phillips controlled the boards. Wayne Larson led the Panthers with 12. Roger Nissen added 9, Dave Bingham 7, Don Edgecumbe 6, Ken Dietcher 6 and Kirk Bryde 5.
In the semi, the Vancouver College Fighting Irish defeated the Victoria Oak Bay Bays 38-23 as its pressure defence wore down the Oaks. Fighting Irish coach Gene Rizak had his troops prepared for the Bays press, using Bob Beaupre and Brian Longpre to handle the ball. Beaupre, Dave Hislop and John Beaton dominated the boards. Longpre was effective in containing Bays guard Don Burrows. Dave Hislop led the Fighting Irish with 11. Bob Beaupre added 10, Beaton 7, Brian Longpre 5, Jack McLaughlin 3 and Bob Noble 2, while Jim Williams was scoreless. Dave Wirtanen led the Oak Bays with 7. Don Burrows added 5, Baines 4, Dave Morgan 3, Bill McCormick 2 and Wallace 2.
In the other semi, 5-10 Jim Chapman, son of Art Chapman and nephew of Chuck Chapman, both of whom had dominated national senior A play in the 1930s and 1940s, scored 15 points to lead the Vancouver David Thompson Trojans to a 49-36 victory over the North Vancouver Delbrook Hilltoppers. Bob Phillips added 12, Paul Pederson 11, Bill Stebbings 4, Bob Johal 4 and Metzgner 3. Trojan guards Jim Chapman and Paul Pederson got on track in the second half as David Thompson took command, while Bob Phillips and Bill Stebbings dominated the offensive glass. Trojans coach Mike Potkonjak told the Vancouver Sun that “we’re used to playing in those close ones and I knew that if we got ahead, we’d go like gangbusters.” Jack Hoy led the Hilltoppers with 15. Rick Mark added 9, Danny McCarrell 5, Hove 4, Ferguson 2 and Heck 1.
In the bronze medal match, the North Vancouver Delbrook Hilltoppers clipped the Victoria Oak Bay Bays 60-47 as Jack Hoy scored 18, Rick Mark 11, Heck 11, Hove 9, Danny McCarrell 9 and Ferguson 2. Dave Morgan led the Bays with 17. Dave Wirtanen added 8, Paul Baines 7, Heinz Lisay 6, Don Burrows 6, Dave Green 2 and Bill McCormick 1. The Bays (coached by Gary Taylor, manager Ken Sutson) also included Chris Hall, Dave Wallace, Rory Walters and Terry Karpiak.
In the all-Vancouver final, the Vancouver College Fighting Irish defeated the Vancouver David Thompson Trojans 56-41 before a crowd of about 5000. Coach Gene Rizak and assistant coach Bob de Julius’ Irish squad finished 29-2 on the season. Rizak was in his first year as a coach, having replaced Brother Frank Finch at the helm after he’d been transferred to Salinas, California. The final was also a rubber match. Thompson was only the Canadian team to have defeated the Irish during the regular season when they’d won 39-36. The next night, however, Vancouver had responded by whipping them by 24 points. In the championship game, Vancouver David Thompson’s Bob Phillips controlled the game early, leading his team to a 22-19 lead. Rizak let his team pick their checks and point guard Jack McLaughlin attempted to contain Jim Chapman. Eventually, Vancouver College’s defence stiffened and the Irish rallied. McLaughlin drove for a layup to give Vancouver College its first lead since the opening bucket of the game, a 29-28 margin. Bob Beaupre began driving the lane. Brian Longpre finally found his range and Vancouver simply wore down Thompson’s point guard, Bob Phillips. Said Thompson coach Mike Potkonjak. “It was just a matter of time. They overpowered us.” Beaupre finished with 13, Longpre 12, John Beaton 12, McLaughlin 8, Bob Noble 6 and Dave Hislop 5. Bob Phillips led the Trojans with 14. Jim Chapman added 8, Bill Stebbings 6, Bob Johal 6 and Paul Pederson 4, while Metzgner was scoreless. The Fighting Irish finished (29-2) on the season, losing only to David Thompson in midseason and to Seattle O’Dea. Rizak told the Vancouver Sun “I didn’t say anything at halftime. Bob said leave them alone. They’ll come back.” Rizak let his players pick their checks. McLaughlin said “I’d like to take a shot at checking Jim Chapman.” Assistant Bob de Julius said “think back in this tournament and remember how many times Chapman shot, missed, then grabbed the rebound and scored. We just told Jack to block him out.” With 2:30 to play in the third quarter, McLaughlin drove around Beaupre’s screen for a layup to give the Fighting Irish a 29-28 lead. They then romped.
The bronze medalist North Vancouver Delbrook Hilltoppers: Crawford; Danny McCarrell; Laycock; Jack Hoy; Heck; Rick Mark; Ferguson; Finney; Burns; Hove;
The silver medalist Vancouver David Thompson Trojans: Jim Chapman; Bob Philipps; Paul Pederson; Bill Stebbings; Bob Johal; Metzgner; coach Mike Potkonjak
The gold medalist Vancouver College Fighting Irish: Bob Beaupre; John Beaton; Dave Hislop; Jack McLaughlin; Brian Longpre; Rob Noble; Jim Williams; Dennis Kelly; John Mills; coach Gene Rizak; assistant Bob de Julius; manager Charlie Hancock; manager Bob Young