A 10-team event for schools with an enrolment under 125.
In round robin pool A play, held in Deloraine: …………………………………………………… The Roblin St. Vladimir’s Knights dusted the 9th-seeded host Colts 93-35. …………………………………………………… The St. Roblin St. Vladimir’s Knights dumped the 5th-seeded Treherne Tigers 74-41 as Robert Ranger scored 23. Terry Forbes paced the Tigers with 10. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Deloraine Colts nipped the Treherne Tigers 57-56.
In pool B play: …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Landmark 96ers clipped the 10th-seeded Gillam Timberwolves 56-22. Greg Burnett and Damion Mannion each scored 8 for the Thunderbirds. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Pinawa Panthers clocked the Gillam Timberwolves 60-43. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Landmark 96ers doubled up the 6th-seeded Pinawa Panthers 36-18.
In pool C play (only two teams): …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Rossburn Raiders whipped the 7th-seeded Rivers Rams 81-44.
In pool D play (only two teams): …………………………………………………… The top-seeded St. Laurent Hawks stomped the 8th-seeded Rosenort Red Hawks 97-37 as Nathan Weibe scored 25. Jude Jordan led the Red Hawks with 14.
In the semis, the St. Laurent Hawks defeated the Roblin St. Vladimir’s Knights 59-58 as Henry Carriere drained a trey with four seconds to play. The Hawks led 28-27 at the half. Robert Ranger paced the Knights with 27.
In the other semi, the Rossburn Raiders defeated the Landmark 96’ers 41-40 as Jeff Turnovetsky scored 18. Gilbert Penner led the 96ers with 12.
In the bronze medal match, the Landmark 96ers thumped the Roblin St. Vladimir’s Knights 71-56. The Knights included Lyndon Stadnyk.
In the final, the top-seeded St. Laurent Hawks nipped the Rossburn Raiders 62-60 in overtime. St. Laurent coach Art Koop coached both the Hawks girls’ and boys’ teams to the provincial final. The girls won silver and the boys gold. Koop said he was able to coach both teams because of assistant Tim Juer. “I’d rather be coaching a lot of games than just sitting around and waiting to coach one game in a day. I have no problem getting up for coaching. Having Tim helps a lot and a lot of things couldn’t get done if it wasn’t for the managers, Shelley Allard and Judy Chartrand.” Koop, a former University of Winnipeg Wesmen basketball star, has been working on the St. Laurent basketball program ever since his arrival at the school six years ago. This year almost a third of the school population (approximately 75) is represented by the two basketball teams (25 players). “Six years ago, it was difficult to get kids committed to coming to practice,” said Koop. “Now we don’t have a problem, we’ve got Grade 8s and 9s that are pumped to be part of the program. And more parents are coming out to watch the kids. You can really see the glow in the kids’ eyes when the parents show up to watch a game.”
The bronze medalist Landmark 96ers: Jeremy Hildebrand; Peter Barg; Rob Giesbrecht; coach Chris Gudzinias
The silver medalist Rossburn Raiders: Geoff Turnovetsky; Cory Hruebeniuk; Randy Weselak; Scott Charney; Rick Melnyk; Chris Kostesky; Kim Huynh; George Bilinsky; Ashley Swereda; coach Steve Sullivan
The gold medalist St. Laurent Hawks: Henry Carriere; Nathan Wiebe; Chris Schon; David Johnson; Chris Lavallee; Grant Buors; Gerald Lavallee; Larry Klyne; Joe Saltise; Tony Allard; coach Art Koop; assistant Tim Juer; manager Shelly Allard; manager Judy Chartrand