In the quarterfinals, held in Gimli, the top-seeded host Lakers crushed the 8th-seeded Virden Golden Bears 93-54 as Joey Litwin and Dan Kowcan each scored 26. The Lakers led 47-16 at the half.
The 2nd-seeded University of Winnipeg Collegiate Wesmen dumped the 7th-seeded Stonewall Rams 63-51. The Rams attack fell apart when Dave Wilson was forced to the bench with a knee injury. Dave Tindall paced the Rams with 30. The Rams (coached by Bruce Rutherford) also included Tom Wilkins, Dave Wilson, Warner Main, Vince Tycholis, Paul Cooper.
The 4th-seeded Swan River Swan Valley Tigers nipped the 5th-seeded Portage Collegiate Trotters 52-51 as Shawn Anderson scored 22 and Ron Oberlin 19. The Trotters also included Shaun Robinson, Keith Gurke, Trever Shwaluk, Mike Mitchell.
In the last quarterfinal, the 6th-seeded Winkler Garden Valley Zodiacs clubbed the 3rd-seeded The Pas Margaret Barbour Spartans 90-78.
In the semis, the top-seeded Gimli Lakers defeated the 4th-seeded Swan River Swan Valley Tigers 51-48. “That was a big win,” Lakers coach Jerry Jonasson told the Interlake Spectator. “I was really relieved. We never have gone to the finals before. It was a monkey off our back.” Joey Litwin paced the Lakers with 20. Eric Benson added 18. Derwin Kitch led the Tigers with 15. Ron Oberlin added 11 “The game was close throughout,” said Tigers coach Duane Whyte. “We came out with the press and took them out of their rhythm. We came close, but we couldn’t put them away. Losing Shawn (Anderson) early was probably integral to our loss.” Anderson finished with only six points, after averaging 20.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded University of Winnipeg Collegiate Wesmen dispatched the 6th-seeded Winkler Garden Valley Zodiacs 70-66 in overtime. Brian Field paced the Wesmen with 30. Phil Peters led the Zodiacs with 16.
In the bronze medal match, the 4th-seeded Swan River Swan Valley Tigers dumped the 6th-seeded Winkler Garden Valley Zodiacs 64-50 as Shawn Anderson scored 24, Ron Oberlin 16 and Derwin Kitch 14. Tigers coach Duane Whyte thought it was indicator that his troops were three points shy of a provincial crown, having given Gimli a stern test in the semis. The game was decided late in the third quarter, when the Tigers ripped off a 6-0 run to take command.
In the final, the top-seeded Gimli Lakers defeated the 2nd-seeded University of Winnipeg Collegiate Wesmen 71-57 to earn their first provincial title. “I have said it before but I feel we had not only the best five starters but the best eight players in the province,” Lakers coach Jerry Jonasson told the Interlake Spectator. “Against us you can’t key on anybody because of our strong bench.” Joey Litwin paced the Lakers with 20. Eric Benson added 18. Brian Fields led the Wesmen with 22. “We went out and did what we set out to do at the beginning of the year,” said Benson. “I was worried about the first game because of the pressure of being ranked number one. Being named as a (MVP) is a tremendous compliment, but it is the whole team that helps you get that.” Litwin said playing on home court was an advantage. “It helped us a lot. … Mr. Jonasson worked our butts off and it paid off in the end. We all worked together so hard. Winning was just natural. We did what we were doing all season.” Jonasson noted that “at the game there were a lot of alumni players, which I didn’t realize at first. They felt the same feeling I had. We have been in it many times and haven’t been too far off in the past.”
The bronze medalist Swan River Swan Valley Tigers: Shawn Anderson; Tyler Mitchelson; Mark Alderson; Ron Oberlin; Derwin Kitch; Bruce Kirkpatrick; Cam Dahl; Ryan Maksymchuk; Ian Kitch; Craig Zamzow; Kevin Carter; John Mednid; Trent Bailey; coach Duane Whyte; assistant Carey Lasiuk; assistant Al Maidy; assistant Lyn Dugger; manager Rosanne Koch; manager Sandra Sweetser; manager Tracey Watts
The silver medalist University of Winnipeg Collegiate Wesmen: Brian Fields; Scott Place;
The gold medalist Gimli Lakers: Eric Benson; Joey Litwin; Mike Bahniuk; Dan Kowcan; Corey Lott; Shawn Valgardson; Dean Russell; Byron Bahniuk; Jeff Valgardson; coach Jerry Jonasson; manager Wayne Forbes