In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons clubbed the 8th-seeded “B” division champ Dauphin Clippers 67-32. Ken Opalko paced the Maroons with 31 with a stellar display of perimeter shooting. Gord Fidierchuk led Dauphin with 22. The Maroons took command with an opening 16-0 run. The Clippers (coached by Larry McDougall) also included Jamie Simpson, Keith Hiatt, Dan Slobodzian, Jim Ryz, Greg Southam, Noah Beardy, John Ochitwa, Ryan Whetter, Bob Novakowski and Ron Hrecka.
The 5th-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings stunned the 4th-seeded Winnipeg Grant Park Pirates 42-33 as Bob McCreath scored 12 and Bruce Meyers 8. The Vikings led 10-6, 22-13 and 30-25 at the quarters. Ted Fardoe led the Pirates with 16. The Pirates also included Chris Rogers, Richard Chernoff, Gary Rodgers.
The 3rd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers defeated the 6th-seeded Winnipeg Windsor Park Royals 54-34 as Graeme Hall, who’d been sidelined most of the season by mononucleosis scored 19, Steve Limin 11 and Terry Erskine 10. Lorne Duncan led the Royals with 21. Jeff Tiller added 8. The Royals (coach Brian Thompson, manager Todd Reichardt) also included Gord Hemming, Ray Trump, Wes Stowell, Doug Ringer, Marcel Gagne, Rick Dusik, Neil Innes, Geoff Pion, Rod Steeves, Al Duncan and Gregg Danchuk. The Pipers led 18-13 after one quarter and 34-21 at the half before the Royals rallied within 35-33. “We’ve done the same thing all year,” Pipers coach Nick Laping told the Winnipeg Free Press. “We usually get up and then let up. The guys started shooting from the outside and they (Windsor Park) were missing. Windsor Park took advantage and scored four consecutive times to cut our lead to two points. When they came that close the guys started getting the ball to Hull. He’s tough in close and he got us going again. He was sick most of the sear and he’s just beginning to come into his own. He’s a super player.” Royals coach Brian Thompson said “the guys played as well as they could. I’m really pleased with them. We have a young team and they didn’t crack under the pressure. The key to the game was in, the third quarter. We got to within two points, then missed a couple of inside shots. If we had made them, it might have changed the outcome.”
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Fort Richmond Centurions defeated the 7th-seeded Winnipeg West Kildonan Wolverines 69-48 as Bill Rhoda scored 16 and Norm Kehler 14. Garry Ruff led the Wolverines with 14. “Our problem was a bad case of nerves,” Wolverines coach Louis Barsanti told the Winnipeg Free Press. “The boys were shooting poorly because of it. That was the major difference. We usually shoot about 43 per cent from the field. Tonight, we only shot about 27 per cent. They pressed us and it is the first time this season a team has been successful using the press against us. We gave the ball up a lot but I’d say it was due to their play. It wasn’t a case of us giving the ball away. They forced us to make turnovers by playing good ball.” The Wolverines (coached by Louis Barsanti) also included Sylvester Sodja, Paul Woloschuk, Rick Flett, Ed Liebfried, Kevin Lucas, Leonard Juras.
In the semis, the top-seeded Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons dispatched the 5th-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings 45-39 as Ken Opalko scored 29 and nabbed 10 boards despite outstanding defence from Viking Don Jackson. “That Jackson must be the most under-rated player in Manitoba,” Maroons co-coach Benjy Levin told the Winnipeg Free Press. “That’s because he isn’t seen much,” added Maroon co-coach Angus Burr. Vikings coach Aubrey Ferris said his troops got “a little tense. Everyone had to be aware of Opalko. By covering him inside, it left the outside open. We didn’t want to do that but that is what happened. Jackson (Don) was doing a good job on him. But he is so good that he is going to get the ball sometimes, and when he did, our outside men were not there.” Vic Neufeld added 6 for the Maroons. Vikings coach Aubrey Ferris told the Brandon Sun that when Opalko “scores 29, you’re holding him down. He’s the best high school player I’ve ever seen.” The Maroons led 14-6, 23-21 and 32-31 at the quarters. Then Opalko took command “We went for five minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter. We got the first point to up 33-31 and before we scored again, we were down seven. In that minute stretch, Opalko had four tuffs. Our offence sagged right down. We lost the boards,” Ferris said. Don Jackson led the Vikings with 14. Bob McCreath and Gerry Taylor each added 10. The Maroons outrebounded the Vikings 28-26.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Fort Richmond Centurions defeated the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers 73-65. Little distinguished the pair until the final quarter, when the Centurions pulled away down the stretch. “I think it had a lot to do with poise,” said Centurions coach Terry Ball. ‘That little No. 10, who is in Grade 10 (Corey Lewis) kept us in the game. He stayed cool and slowed the pace. So did our other guard, Bill Rhoda. They just didn’t lose their cool.” The Centurions led 37—36 at the half and 52-51 after three quarters. Bill Rhoda paced the Centurions with 19. Norm Kehler added 14, Corey Lewis 12 and Ken Russell 12. Graeme Hall led the Pipers with 22. Terry Erskine added 20, Steve Limin 10, Doug Steinhauer 8 and John Girard 6. Ball said of the Maroons, who the Centurions would face in the final, “they have one real good ball player on their squad. We have at least seven. I think this time we’ll make Opalko play defence. No one has made him do that yet.”
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers dusted the 5th-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings 58-43. Vikings coach Aubrey Ferris told the Brandon Sun that “we played 13 kids against the Pipers. We weren’t watching the scoreboard. Our possible five starters for next season played half the game.” Don Jackson led the Vikings with 16. Bob McCreath added 8. The Vikings (coached by Aubrey Ferris) also included Shane Corley, Neil Thompson, Gary Taylor, Leonard Chambers, Bruce Stobbe, Bruce Meyers and Rich Pass.
In the final, the top-seeded Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons defeated the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Fort Richmond Centurions 62-61 as Ken Opalko scored 34 and grabbed 15 rebounds. Centurions coach Terry Ball told the Winnipeg Free Press after the semis that Daniel McIntyre relied on one good player, while the Centurions had a full team. “It kind of got to us when he said that,” said Opalko. “We have 11 guys on the team who play well. They all deserve credit for this championship.” Opalko added that the Maroons were fired up by comments from Centurions coach Terry Ball to the effect that they relied on a single player while Fort Richmond had a team full of good players. The game was tied at 18 after one quarter. But the City North Conference champs took a 36-30 lead at half time and stretched their lead to 12 in the third quarter before Daniel McIntyre rallied as Maroons coach Angus Burr moved Opalko outside and the 6-4 vet started hitting. “The guys sure pulled together,” said Burr. “In those last 25 seconds, all we wanted to do was move the ball over centre and hold on to it. They just held together and played a terrific game.” Burr also praised Gary Schultz, who scored 10, with “doing a fine job” despite playing with an injured leg, which he hurt in the second quarter. Daniel McIntyre out-rebounded Fort Richmond 32-23. Norm Kehler led the Centurions with 18 points, freshman Corey Lewis added 14 and Bill Rhoda 10, while Norm Stork grabbed 8 boards.
The all-tournament team featured: MVP Ken Opalko (Daniel McIntyre); Lorne Duncan (Windsor Park); Bill Rhoda (Fort Richmond); Norm Taylor (Fort Richmond); and Don Jackson (Brandon Vincent Massey)
The bronze medalist Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers: Graeme Hall; Steve Limin; Terry Erskine; Doug Steinhauer; John Girard; Greg Smith; Greg Waldner; Brent Hemmington; Kelly Taylor; Todd Miclash; Don Girard; coach Nick Laping; assistant Jack Somerville; statistician Darrel Zrobela
The silver medalist Winnipeg Fort Richmond Centurions: Norm Kehler; Corey Lewis; Bill Rhoda; Norm Stork; Ken Russell; Lorne Deviane; Peter Koutsikoloudis; Jay Cowan; Garth Stevenson; coach Terry Ball
The gold medalist Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons: Ken Opalko; Gary Schultz; Vic Neufeld; Doug Swenson; Curtis Phillips; Rainier Dyck; Daniel Opalko; coach Angus Burr; assistant Benjy Levin