In the interzone playoffs, the Brandon Crocus Plains Plainsmen dispatched the Steinbach Sabres x-x.
In the wildcard games: …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg St. Paul’s Crusaders clipped the Winnipeg Maples Marauders 57-49. …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute Hawks smacked the Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons 89-52.
In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Brandon Crocus Plains Plainsmen dumped the 10th-seeded Winnipeg Dakota Lancers 101-92. The Lancers (coached by Dennis Alvestad) included Rob Wheeler, Craig Keyser. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders stomped the 12th-seeded Winnipeg Transcona Titans 99-60. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Hawks clipped the 8th-seeded Winnipeg St. Paul’s Crusaders 81-69. The Crusaders included Ryan Martin, Vince Horst, Chris McDole. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Winnipeg Kelvin Clippers defeated 11th-seeded Winnipeg Silver Heights Huskies x-x. The Huskies included Kale Pinkos.
In the quarterfinals, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers dumped the 7th-seeded Brandon Crocus Plains Plainsmen 71-59. The Pipers led 37-30 at the half but the Plainsmen rallied to within 51-50 before folding down the stretch. “They made a few quick hoops and then they made everything from the foul line,” Plainsmen coach Dwight Kearns told the Brandon Sun. “They were holding the ball and we had to take some fouls . . . they made 11 free throws in the last three or four minutes.” Kevin Goetz paced the Pipers with 25. Mike Stott scored 26 to lead the Plainsmen before fouling out. Greg Roziere added 16. The Plainsmen (coached by Dwight Kearns, assisted by Bart Walker) also included Chad Smith, Stuart Boreyko, John Shurb, Wade Gardner, Jeff McCallum, Sheldon McGorman, Mike Elliott.
The top-seeded Winnipeg River East Kodiaks clubbed the 9th-seeded Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Hawks 90-66. The Hawks included Enns.
The 5th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders crushed the 4th-seeded Winnipeg Tec Voc Hornets 68-46. The Hornets included Juphell Falcis, David Stock, Cade Kallenthaler, Larry Crisostomo, Darin Lang.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Sisler Spartans nipped the 6th-seeded Winnipeg Kelvin Clippers 57-56. The Clippers included Folar Bakumole.
In the semis, the top-seeded Winnipeg River East Kodiaks stomped the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders 71-48 as Dave Stelter scored 21. Stelter said told the Winnipeg Free Press that “our team has great confidence and our confidence really holds us through the tough games. The good thing about this team is we’ve got outside shooting and we’ve got the inside game too.” Wes Burrows led the Raiders with 19.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers clipped the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Sisler Spartans 70-56 as player of the game Brad Unger scored 19, Keith Goetz 17 and brother Kevin Goetz 13. The Spartans led by eight in the second quarter but the Goetz brothers ignited a 25-11 run that gave the Pipers a five-point lead at the half. They quickly took a double-digit lead in the second half and were never threatened. Unger said told the Winnipeg Free Press that “we were a little lax at the beginning and we picked up the intensity,”
In the final, the top-seeded Winnipeg River East Kodiaks defeated the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers 56-34. The Kodiaks were led by Matej Marotoi, from Bosnia-Herzegovina, who had come to Canada two years earlier. “Right now, if I was there, I would be in the army. They would tell me to go. You don’t have much choice,” said Marotoi.
The all-tournament team featured: MVP Matej Marotoi (River East); Marlin Kraus (Sisler); Wes Burrows (Oak Park); Brad Unger (John Taylor); Keith Goetz (John Taylor); Trenton Jones (River East)
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders: Wes Burrows; Derek Sinak; Jeff Bochinski; Paul Weekes; coach Darren Klapak; coach Randy Kusano
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Sisler Spartans: Martin Kraus; Sean Sevillano; Jayson Maranan; Khounphouyadeth;
The silver medalist Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers: Brad Unger; Keith Goetz; Kevin Goetz; coach Allan Friesen
The gold medalist Winnipeg River East Kodiaks: Matej Marotoi; Trenton Jones; Luc Buller; Chris Fey; Jeremy Jones; Dave Stelter; Carlos Lopez; Jeremy Hokanson; Daryl Falzarano; Jaret Hamm; Mike Sambroski; Scott Sharples; coach Brent Graham