In West tourney quarterfinals, held in Hamilton, the Windsor Walkerville Tartans defeated the Brantford St. John’s Green Eagles 57-45 in their opening round contest, overcoming a 30-18 half-time deficit. But the Tartans outscored the Green Eagles 22-9 in the third quarter and coach Fred Montour credited substitute Cam Innes, who only scored two points, with the victory for firing up the team. Innes scored a field goal on a short jumper with Windsor leading 44-41. The bucket gave Walkerville a five-point lead. Jon Elcombe paced the Tartans with 16. John Basich added 14, Joe Cipparone 13, Walt Lozynsky 12, John Basich 10 and Cam Innes 2, while Stewart, Charlton, Routille, Innes, Koxma and Morgan were scoreless. Tartans coach Fred Montour told the Windsor Star that “I put that guy (Innes) in the game and he put some fire in the club. He’s not a scorer but he’s a battler. He has more drive than anybody I’ve ever seen and he kept them going.” John Digman led the Green Eagles with 15. Pete Quinlan added 15, Chester Dziuba 7, Bill Hutton 3, Don Taylor 2, P.J. Quinlan 2 and Perras 1, while Kun, Les Stastook and John Quinlan were scoreless. Green Eagles coach Rev. Harvey Roach told the Brantford Expositor that foul trouble by Dziuba (four in the first half), “really hurt us.” The Green Eagles (coached by Roach) also included Les Wolak, Bandur, Cook and Bell.
The Hamilton Hill Park Rams dusted the Toronto East York Goliaths 63-36 after leading 35-18 at the half. Bob Croft paced the Rams with 24. Ian Joliffe added 16, Ian Lyle 8, George Gresko 7 and Dan Elliott 6. Mark Slater led the Goliaths with 12. Doug Quackenbush added 6, Dave Pamlin 6, Brian Brown 4 and Jaan Laniste 3. The Goliaths also included Ian Lyle, Barry Tarling, Jim McKenzie, Gord McBrien.
The Etobicoke Richview Collegiate Institute Saints stunned the Hamilton Cathedral Gaels 50-47 after leading 22-20 at the half. Bruce Dempster paced the Saints with 18. Brian Stevens added 13, Gareth Evans 8 and Dave Horton 8. Paul Mazza led the Gaels with 17. Garry Simpson added 13 and Vytas Beniusis 3. Gaels assistant Bob Knuckle told the Hamilton Spectator that “I really didn’t feel the boys were up for it. Richview played a good game but we’re capable of playing a lot better ball than we did tonight. I think it was an emotional letdown.” The Gaels (coach Kyron Kennedy, assistant Bob Knuckle) also included Bob Pitt, Pete McPhee, Peter Hamilton, Al Smithson, Oddi, Faux, Leonard and McGillvray.
In the last quarterfinal, the Sault Ste. Marie CI Wildcats defeated the London Central Golden Ghosts 55-48 as Steve Piper scored 18, Bruce Gillan 11, John Fletcher 8 and Mike Piper 8. The Wildcats hit 19-23 from the line. Bob Jansenburger paced the Ghosts with 13. Sandy Nixon added 11 and Raoul Kreek 10. The Golden Ghosts led 15-8, 25-22 and 34-32 at the quarters as the Wildcats looked listless and turnover-prone. But they wore down London Central in the final frame as the Piper brothers took control.
In the semis, the Windsor Walkerville Tartans avenged their loss in the 1965 final by defeating the Bob Croft-led Hamilton Hill Park Rams 47-40. The Tartans were led by Joe Cipparone 14, John Basich 12, Jon Elcombe 10, Walt Lozynsky 9 and Charlton 2. The 6-10 Croft, who went on to star at Tennessee in the SEC (signed with them when they were ranked number two in the country) was held to 17 points by Elcombe and Basich’s fine defensive play. As well, Jon Charlton held Ian Jolliffe to 7, while Ian Lyle scored 6, Dan Elliott 6 and George Gesko 4. The Rams (coach Doug North) also included Thompson, Smith, Hutton, Bellingham and Jack.
In the other semi, the Sault Ste. Marie CI Wildcats defeated Etobicoke Richview CI Saints 69-70 as Steve Piper scored 18, Mike Piper 17, John Fletcher 16, Bruce Gillan 8 and Dwain Kenedy 4. The Saints included Bruce Dempster, Gareth Evans, Dave Horton, Paul Patterson, Brian Stevens.
In the West final, Windsor used a tight man for man defence, and a controlled offence, keyed by the 6-4 Jon Elcombe at the top of the key to take the title by a 47-40 count over the Sault Ste. Marie Wildcats. Jon Elcombe scored eight as Walkerville took a 14-8 lead after one quarter. Joe Cipparone hit three straight field goals near the end of the second quarter to give Walkerville a 23-18 halftime lead. They led 37-27 after three quarters and iced the win in the final minute on a Jon Elcombe one-and-one and two John Basic free throws. Elcombe finished with 18, scoring Walkerville first four buckets, as well as 12 rebounds. Point guard Joe Cipparone added 11 for Walkerville, John Basich 7, Walt Lozynsky 4, Doug Stewart 4 and John Charlton 3. Steve Piper led the Wildcats with 19. Mike Piper added 17, John Fletcher 14, Bruce Gillan 7 and Dwaine Kennedy 3.
In the East tourney qualifier, the Ridgemont Spartans defeated Deep River 74-37 as Lorne Russell scored 20, Ron Canty 14 and John Cassidy 14. Greg Mark led Deep River with 14.
The East regional St. Lawrence division playoffs were terminated after a brawl erupted the final guarter of the first game of the championships between Cornwall and Brockville CVI, which Cornwall won 72-59. Brockville CVI principal Vernone E. Stetler said the schools agree “for unsportsmanlike conduct … to call off any further basketball play and not to name a champion.”
In the eastern tourney quarterfinals, held in Oshawa, the Ottawa Ridgemont Spartans defeated the Toronto Oakwood Vultures 67-64 as John Cassidy scored two last-minute field goals, including with winning bucket with seven seconds to go, to lead his team to victory. Cassidy finished with 15, while Lorne Russell and Ron Canty each added 13. Ed Babot led Oakwood with 21. The Vultures also included George Dubinsky, Chip Harper, Greg Swaluk, Gus Falcioni.
The host Oshawa Central Collegiate Chiefs dispatched the Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish 60-49 as Larry Lloyd scored 17 and Lloyd Hebolt 16. Ray Roger led Notre Dame with 17. Ben Chidley added 15. Notre Dame also included George Lance, Bob Cholody, Chuck Adams, Steve Whitlib.
Cornwall St. Lawrence clipped the Peterborough Adam Scott CVI Lions 54-47 as Jim Barter scored 13. Richard Garner led Peterborough with 13.
In the last quarterfinal, the Toronto de la Salle Oaklands dumped the Midland Marauders 49-38 as Mike Moran scored 16, John Cameron 14 and Tony Grant 13. Chester Graham led the Marauders with 21.
In the semis, the Ottawa Ridgemont Spartans defeated the Toronto de La Salle Oaklands 54-53 as John Cassidy scored 18, Ian Kelly 13 and Dave Scobie 13. The Oaklands included Mike Moran, Tony Grant, Mauro Sardone, John Cameron.
In the other semi, the Oshawa Central Chiefs defeated the Cornwall St. Lawrence Saints 55-52. The Saints included Arnis Darznieks.
In the final, the Ottawa Ridgemont Spartans thrashed the host Oshawa Central 68-45. Central was close until the third quarter when the Spartans broke open a 32-21 game with a 10-2 run to pull ahead. Ridgemont outscored Oshawa 26-12 in the final quarter. John Cassidy finished with 17 points and 25 rebounds, while Dave Scobie added 14 and Ron Canty 11. Bill Langley led Oshawa with 13. Charlie Marlowe added 12.
The West silver medalist Sault Ste. Marie Collegiate Institute Wildcats: Steve Piper; Mike Piper; John Fletcher; Bruce Gillan; Dwaine Kennedy; Bob George; Les Fresque; Ross Court; John McLean; coach John Milliken
The East silver medalist Oshawa Central Collegiate Chiefs: Bill Langley; Charlie Marlowe; Larry Lloyd; Lloyd Hebolt; coach Don McIlveen
The West gold medalist Windsor Walkerville Tartans: Jon Elcombe; John Basich; Walt Lozynsky; Joe Cipparone; Cam Innes; Jon Charlton; Doug Stewart; Bo Kozma; Marv Routliffe; Don Morgan; Bob Banda; coach Fred Mountour
The East gold medalist Ottawa Ridgemont Spartans: John Cassidy; Ian Kelley; Dave Scobie; Lorne Russell; Ron Canty; Bruce Flexman; Ron Gowling; Wayne Johannsen; Pete Doherty; Bob Courtney; coach Bruce Campbell