The number of qualifiers is reduced to 12 from 16. Representatives will include 7 league champs and 5 wildcard entries.
In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers defeated the 8th-seeded Winnipeg Fort Richmond Centurions 86-41. The Centurions included Ed Thibert, Brian Kostick, Russ Lemay, Scott Waugh, Eric Alexa, Brian Kostick. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Winnipeg Miles Macdonell Buckeyes edged the 10th-seeded Brandon Crocus Plains Plainsmen 54-51 in overtime. The Plainsmen had possession of the ball with the score knotted at 47 in regulation but were unable to get off a shot. “The kids played as hard as they could,” Crocus coach Dwight Kearns told the Brandon Sun. “That’s all you can ask for. We had a chance to win it but it didn’t work out. Scott Abel led the Buckeyes with 18. Angelo Lorenzana added 16. Sean Williams led the Plainsmen with 15. Chris Palmer added 10. The Plainsmen (coached by Dwight Kearns) also included Ter Vongharaj, Dennis Malowski, Duane Baker, Jason Scott. …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders defeated the Kelvin Clippers 90-48. …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Hawks dispatched the Tec Voc Hornets 83-64. The Hornets included Joe Vieira, Ian Lavallee.
In the quarterfinals, the 9th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers stunned the top-seeded Winnipeg Windsor Park Royals 78-57. The Royals (coached by Brian Thompson) included Jeff Poole, Kerry Mohammad, Neil Armstrong, Kwaku Anoama, Przemek Skiba.
The 2nd-seeded Winnipeg St. James Jimmies smacked the Winnipeg Miles Macdonell Buckeyes 74-52. “I thought we had an outside chance,” said Buckeyes coach Larry Sawchuk. The Buckeyes (coached by Sawchuk) included Scott Abel, Glenn McNeill, Angelo Lorenzana, Darin Banmann, Thor Hoffman, Ryan Ratushniak.
The 4th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders stunned the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons 77-58 as 6-2 point guard Cheyne Jackson scored 29, including 7 treys. “It just sort of happened. Cheyne is very much a team player. He just took what was open,” Raiders coach Randy Kusano told the Winnipeg Free Press. “He didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. He just shot very well.” Jackson said his offensive performance was a function of the defence. “They played a zone defence which helped me a lot. I like to take the (three-point) shot. The coaches give me the okay to take it.” The Maroons included Warren Nightingale, Dave Donaldson, Yorick Park.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Westwood Warriors stunned the Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute Hawks 76-69 in overtime as Ric Cavalieri scored 29 and Bob Heighton 18, while blocking 6 shots and dishing 5 assists. The Hawks (coached by Ken Opalko) included Jon Labun, John Bergmann, Ed Rahn, Marshall Warkentin.
In the semis, the 9th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers nipped the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders 58-57.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Westwood Warriors defeated the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg St. James Jimmies 68-52. Bob Heighton led the Jimmies with 10 points, 3 boards and 6 blocks.
In the final, the 9th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers defeated the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Westwood Warriors 76-72 as point guard Ian Hope scored 13, dished 10 assists and defended like a demon. “We would not have been there without him,” said Reivers coach Ross Wedlake. “He never quits. He just keeps going at people. He is probably one of the best kids I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach.” Chris Chartier paced the Reivers with 23 points and 25 boards. Rick Saunders added 16 and Jarrett Hall 11. Hope said “coach Wedlake is a great coach. We thought we might as well do it for him.” Wedlake said “Kyle Guss played a tremendous game for Westwood, but we were able to overcome that. I have a great bunch of kids and I’m very happy for all of them.” Guss led the Warriors with 40. Matt Hannay added 20.
The all-tournament team featured: MVP Kyle Guss (Westwood); Ian Hope (Kildonan East); Chris Chartier (Kildonan East); Matt Hannay (Westwood); Ric Cavaleiri (St. James); Sean Lepper (Oak Park)
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders: Sean Lepper; Cheyne Jackson; Dave Craw; Ryan Kirkpatrick; coach Randy Kusano
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg St. James Jimmies: Bob Heighton; Ric Cavaleiri; Garnet Sinclair; Scott Labonte; coach Al Friesen
The silver medalist Winnipeg Westwood Warriors: Kyle Guss; Matt Hannay; coach Dave Guss
The gold medalist Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers: Ian Hope; Chris Chartier; Rick Saunders; Jarret Hall; Sam Reposo; Andy Carrasco; Paul Bedard; Arbe Bumbry; Jason MacDonald; Drew Schonberger; Nick Paulusma; Kirk Forteau; Jared Hall; Adam Wedlake; Rick Saunders; Sean Wedlake; Kirk Rodgers; coach Ross Wedlake; assistant J Themmen