In the western tourney quarterfinals, held in Windsor, the Hamilton Hill Park Secondary Rams opened with a 67-50 thrashing of the St. Thomas Stampeders as Bob Croft scored 30, Tarmo Ahi 11, Ian Jollife 14, Larry Hardman 6, Vic Vinerski 3, Connor 2 and Shantz 1. Ross led the Stampeders with 17. Murray added 9, Adams 8, Barnes 6, McClenaghan 6, Birch 2 and Bell 2.
The Windsor W.F. Herman Green Griffins dumped the Toronto Don Mills Collegiate Bruins 51-47 as Ken McQuire scored 13, Dennis Menard 11, Andy Parichi 10, Chappell 9, Moore 4 and Don Mallat 4. Dave Idiens scored 16 to lead the Bruins (coached by Bob Bisset). John Hadden added 11, Howard Bury 10, Phil Carter 4, Kent Pollard 4 and Keith McKenzie 2. The Green Griffins trailed 43-32 but ripped off a 12-0 run to take a 44-43 lead on a Dennis Menard field goal. Then Andy Parichi stole the ball at midcourt, leading to a one-and-one. Parichi hit five free throws down the stretch to ice it.
The London Sir Adam Beck Spartans clipped the Etobicoke Burnhamthorpe DI Bucs 58-47 as Doug Poole scored 17, Roger Robbins 13, Morton 8, Polischuk 8, G Poole 7, Cline 2, Binnington 2 and Johnston 1. Vic Ruseckas led the Bucs with 19. Dave Bowen added 8, Jack Bellhouse 8, Gilliand 4, Al Bowen 4, Glen Carter 2 and Derrchle 2.
In the last quarterfinal, the Windsor Walkerville Collegiate Tartans defeated the Brantford St. John’s Green Eagles 53-38 as Jon Elcombe scored 20, Bruce Goodbrand 12, John Basich 9, Joe Cipparone 7 and Walt Lozynsky 5. The Tartans took command with an 8-0 run early in the third quarter on buckets by Bruce Goodbrand, Jon Elcombe and John Basich (twice). Neil Rourke led the Green Eagles with 18. Pete Quinlan added 9, Chester Dzuiba 4, Marty Kings 3, Ross Maloney 2 and Len Dostal 2, while Bill Hutton was scoreless. The Green Eagles (coached by Reverend Harvey Roach, manager Michael Moore) also included Les Stastook, Lynch, Bob Miklos, Jay McNeil, Tim O’Rourke, Lorne Bell and Chris Szoke.
In the semis, Hamilton Hill Park defeated the Windsor W.F. Herman Green Griffins 59-51 as 6-10 Bob Croft scored 38, Joliffe 8, Hardman 4, Vinerskis 4, Shantz 2, Ahi 2 and Connor 1. Herman outrebounded Hill Park 49-27 as Ken McQuire outrebounded Croft 13-10. Ken McQuire scored 21 to lead the Green Griffins (coached by Paul Valentin). Andy Parichi added 18, Mallet 5, Menard 4 and Chappell 3.
In the other semi, the Windsor Walkerville Tartans, coached by Ron Armstrong, defeated the London Sir Adam Beck Spartans 54-38 as 6-4 Jon Elcombe scored 18, and 6-0 John Basich 16, including 14 in the first half, Goodbrand 7, Walt Lozynsky 6 and Joe Cipparone 6. Walkerville led 24-22 at the half. Morton led the Spartans with 15. Robbins added 9, D Poole 8, G Poole 4 and Gordon 2, while Cline and Polischuk were scoreless.
In the close-checking ball control final, Windsor-Walkerville tried to double and triple-team Hill Park SS centre Bob Croft, using 6-4 Jon Elcombe, 6-0 John Basich and 6-0 Bruce Goodbrand. They held Croft to 23 points but Hill Park pulled out a 43-40 victory as Croft hit 11-13 from the floor and grabbed 15 of Hill Park’s 26 rebounds. Walkerville missed two field goal attempts in the final minute which would have put them back in the contest. Hill Park finished its season (20-3) as coach Bob Leedale, retiring after the season, played only five players. Hill Park outhustled Windsor throughout the contest. Hill Park was ahead by eight in the third quarter when Walkerville rallied to cut the margin to one, 41-40 with 1:08 to play. Elcombe forced a jump ball and won it but missed a jumper from the top of the key. Bruce Goodbrand good the rebound and missed it as well. In the scramble for the rebound, Tarmo Ahi was fouled by Goodbrand. While Ahi missed the free throw, Croft stuffed the rebound. Each team only scored three field goals apiece in the final quarter, with Croft scoring all of Hamilton’s. Hill Park outrebounded Walkerville 26-22, while shooting 19-53 (.360) from the floor. Windsor shot 15-43 (.340). Each team only played five players Vic Vinerski added 9 for Hill Park, Ian Joliffe 4, 5-6 point guard Larry Hardmann 3 and Tarmo Ahi 4. Windsor was led by Jon Elcombe 17, Walt Lozynsky 6, Joe Cipparone 6, Brian Goodbrand 4 and John Basich 7. Croft went on to star at the University of Tennessee, after which he was drafted by the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association and the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. But he was signed by the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA. Dallas demanded competition. Croft said he’d play only for the Colonels or he’d go to the NBA. Dallas had traded number one choice Dan Issel to the Colonels for $25,000 and a number one choice, which they used to pick Croft.
In the East tourney quarterfinals, held in North Bay, the Sudbury Sheridan Tech Blue Devils thrashed the Midland Secondary Marauders 74-39 as John Barton scored 19, Richard Vargo 19, Paul Quenville 12, Ron Boulton 6, Tony Marolt 6 and Jerry Shulmistra 2, while Peter Botkovitch, Rory Hancey, Ernie Moro, Nick Skomorowoski, Walter Sliwa and Keri Packallen were scoreless. Mike Graham led the Marauders (coached by John Bearcroft, manager John Gignac, manager Paul Murray) with 14. Keith Craig added 13, Randy Small 5, Don Axel Dowe 3, Doug Taylor 2 and Dave Antaya 2, while Jim Cooper, Don Downer, Mike Borsa, Self Kennedy, Max Morden and Pierre Hamilton were scoreless.
The Niagara Falls CVI Red Raiders clipped the Ottawa Ridgemont Spartans 67-58 as Dave Crowe scored 28, John Milligan 15, Tom Sills 14, Jim Armstrong 8 and Brian Steinburg 2, while Roger Magda, Mike Gualteri, John Stuart, Mike Chevers and Claude Zorzetto were scoreless. John Cassidy scored 18 to lead the Spartans (coached by Jock Simpson, manager Bill Lidington). Larry Journeay added 16, Ron Canty 7, Dave Willis 6, Lorne Russell 6, Mike Landry 2 and Dave Scobie 2, while Peter Doherty, Steve Iscoe and Ian Kelley were scoreless.
Oshawa Central dumped Smith Falls 54-42 as Bill Fedorczenko scored 24, Brian Jenkins 15, John Rajovic 8, Peter Kilistoff 4 and Larry Plancke 3, while Larry Horne, Charles Marlowe, Lloyd Heholt, Wayne Hass and Bob Hraynyk were scoreless. Doug Plant and Dennis Kindellan each scored 10 to pace Smith Falls (coached by Ted Cannon, manager Rick Dow). Dave Steinburg added 7, Bob Ellard 6, Guy Allard 4, Fred Worsfold 2 and Wally Barber 2, while Arnold, Ray Perlberg and Howard Smolkin were scoreless.
In the last quarterfinal, the Sault Ste. Marie Collegiate Wildcats pounded Toronto Michael Power 61-41 as John Fletcher scored 20, Mike Piper 11, Steve Piper 10, Dwain Kennedy 8, Ross Court 4, Jim McLarty 2, Mike Sharabura 2, Tom Nederpel 2 and Bruce Gillan 2, while John McLean was scoreless. Paul Hammerich led Toronto (coached by Paul Murphy) with 15. Tim Moore added 12, Mike Devine 7, Greg Gavin 5 and Dick Seeley 2, while Larry Bertuzzi, Brian McNamara, Ernie Hajto, John Winkels and Brian Penn were scoreless.
In the semis, the Sudbury Sheridan Tech Blue Devils upset perennial OFSAA champion Niagara Falls CVI Red Raiders 57-52 as Jerry Schulmistra scored 1, John Barton 11, Richard Vargo 10, Paul Quenville 10, Ronald Boulton 9 and Nick Skomorowski 2. The Blue Devils led 30-21 at the half. Dave Crowe led the Red Raiders with 16 (also reported as 18). Brian Mulligan added 16, Tom Sills 9, Jim Armstrong 7 and John Stuart 2, while Mark Gualteri, Roger Magda, Mike Cheeves and Brian Steinburg were scoreless. each scored 16 to pace the Red Raiders. The Red Raiders (coached by Jimmy Rose, assistant Howie Triano, manager Rich McCallum) also included Claude Zorzetto. The Red Raiders hit 14-17 from the line, while the Blue Devils were 7-10.
In the other semi, the Sault Ste. Marie CI Wildcats defeated the Oshawa Central Collegiate Chiefs 65-52 as John Sharabura scored 19 and Steve Piper 14. Bill Fedorzcenko led the Chiefs with 16. The Chiefs (coached by W.D. McIlveen) also included Larry Plancke, Brian Jenkins, Peter Kilistoff, Larry Horne, Lloyd Heholt, Charles Marlowe, Wayne Haas, Bob Hraynyk and John Rajkovic.
In the final, the Sudbury Sheridan Tech Blue Devils nipped the Sault Ste. Marie CI Wildcats 57-54 as John Barton scored 24, Ron Boulton 12, Paul Quenville 11, Shulmistra 6 and Richard Vargo 4, while Marolt, Harvey, Skomorowski, Sliwa and Packallen were scoreless. Quenville hit two free throws with 30 seconds to go to seal the victory. The game had been tied at 26 at the half. Each team only played five. Mike Piper paced the Wildcats with 14. Steve Piper added 13, John Sharabure 12, Kennedy 9 and John Fletcher 6, while McLarty, McLean, Fresque, Court and Gillan were scoreless. In a poll of coaches taken after the tourney, Barton was chosen the region’s MVP.
The West silver medalist Windsor Walkerville Tartans: Jon Elcombe; John Basich; Bruce Goodbrand; Walt Lozynsky; Joe Cipparone; Stein; Stewart; Charlton; Kelly; Cremic; coach Ron Armstrong
The East silver medalist Sault Ste. Marie CI Wildcats: Mike Piper; Steve Piper; John Sharabura; John Fletcher; Dwain Kennedy; Jim McLarty; John McLean; Tom Nederpel; Ross Court; Bruce Gillan; Len Fresque; Peter Chow; coach John Milliken; manager Kirk Kelly
The West gold medalist Hamilton Hill Park Rams: Bob Croft; Tarmo Ahi; Ian Jollife; Larry Hardman; Vic Vinerskis; Ron Deans; Jim Connor; Dave Shantz; George Gresko; Dave Elliott; coach Bob Leedale
The East gold medalist Sudbury Sheridan Tech Blue Devils: John Barton; Ron Boulton; Paul Quenville; Richard Vargo; Jerry Shulmistra; Tony Marolt; Pete Borkovitch; Rory Hancey; Ernie Moro; Nick Skomorowski; Walter Sliwa; Keri Packallen; coach Alex MacPherson; manager Walter Fenske