OFSAA held a series of regional tournaments to determine entrants into the provincial tourney with the winners moving to Sudbury for quarter-final play.
In the Toronto Metro regional (top two teams to qualify to Sudbury) quarterfinals, the Vaughn Road Vikings dispatched the St. Michael’s Blue Raiders 60-52 as Leon Bynoe scored 18 and Ron McDonald 17. Leo Rautins paced the Blue Raiders with 26. Ron Kaknevicius added 10. Vikings coach Bob Smagala told the Globe & Mail that “we certainly knew that we would give them a good battle,” adding that his troops “were taking all the right shots.” Blue Raiders coach Dan Pendergrast said “I supposed you could say we were somewhat overconfident.” The Blue Raiders also included Dan Odorico, Ed Jones, John Mihevc, Pat Davis, Dominic DeLuca, Hugh Cheetham and Tom Dejak. …………………………………………………… The North York William Lyon McKenzie Lions edged the Neil McNeil Maroons 43-41 in overtime as David Korman scored the only bucket in the extra session. Richard Kurtz paced the Lions with 24. Cory Boiselle led the Maroons with 17. The Maroons also included Kevin O’Dwyer, Joe Miched, Kevin Cryan, Jean Boizelle. …………………………………………………… The Runnymede Redmen dusted the Scarborough W.A. Porter Blue Eagles 63-48 as Myro Pelech scored 29 and Cliff Bluechardt 13. Greg Allen led the Blue Eagles (coached by Bob Selkirk) with 19. Frank Wenzl added 12. …………………………………………………… The Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs clocked the Northview Nomads 71-36 as Joe Braunstein scored 23 and Tony Braunstein 18. Mike Monosov led the Nomads with 13. Glenn Ford added 11. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the William Lyon MacKenzie Lions edged the Vaughan Road Vikings 51-45. The Vikings (coached by Bob Smagala) included Leon Bynoe, Derek Francis, Curtis McMillan, Rob MacDonald, Carlos Pereira, Dave Ohmona, Glen Williams. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Runnymede Redmen dumped the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs 58-42. The Bulldogs included Joe Braunstein, Tony Braunstein, John Braunstein. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Runnymede Redmen dispatched the William Lyon McKenzie Lions 57-43 as Enzo Simone scored 15 and Bo Pelech 20. The Redmen led 16-6, 28-16 and 42-31 at the quarters. Jack Bottner led the Lions with 15. Richard Kurtz added 14. …………………………………………………… TSSAA teams did not participate in the regionals because of a teacher’s strike.
In the South regional quarterfinals, the Oakville T.A. Blakelock Tabbies defeated the St. Catharines Governor Simcoe Redcoats 73-65 as Pete Smith scored 16, Dan Ferrone 12 and Tom Heslip 12. The Tabbies led 33-27 at the half and 58-46 after three quarters. Greg Peters led the Redcoats with 22. Brian Walsh added 14 and Mike DiSantis 14. The Redcoats (coach Ken Walsh) also included Don DiFruscio, Dennis Fast, Dan Rzadkowski, Craig Claus, Cam Wallace, Krawec, Woodhouse, DeSantis, Proper, Kerry Lichty. …………………………………………………… The Hamilton Laurier Patriots edged the Bramalea Broncos 55-52 (also reported as 51-47) as Rick Dinney scored 16, Wayne Comeau 11 and Scott Stringer 10. Patriots coach Bob Knuckle told the Hamilton Spectator that “it wasn’t our best effort of the year but I’ll take it.” Peter Rolt led the Broncos with 17. Arvid Yorkman added 12. The Broncos included Mark Fisher, Arvid Yorkman, Joe Tucci, Peter Rolt, Ray McDonald. …………………………………………………… The Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish clipped the Burlington Nelson Lords 64-52 as Tom Skerlak scored 20, including 14-14 from the line, Tom Pieterse 17 and Kelly Baker 13. Peter Greenway led the Lords with 18. Kim Johnson added 12. The Lords (coach John Maclennan) also ncluded John Priestner, Scott Taylor. …………………………………………………… The Hamilton Cathedral Gaels nipped the Niagara Falls Stamford Collegiate 55-52 as Sammy Bommarito came off the bench and hit a bucket and two free throws down the stretch. Bommarito told the Hamilton Spectator that “all game I sat there on the bench Shaking. When I did get in, I wasn’t nervous and just kept my cool. Gaels coach Mark Walton said “we were as flat as a pancake in the first half. But Sammy came off the bench and hit at the right time and we’ve won a lot of games because of guys like him coming off the bench and contributing. … We were just walking around in the first half and we had to start running, so I tried to find the right person to spark us at the right time. It’s just like changing spark plugs in a car and tonight we got a lot of sparks when we needed them. Mike Giftopoulos paced the Gaels with 15 (also reported as 14). Harpaul Grant added 13.. Mike Moroz led the Hornets with 17. John Kulik added 15 and Tom Liefl 10. The Hornets (coach Bob Coull) also included Mike (Murray?) Mateyk, John Nicol, John Liefl, Rob Gartner. The Hornet sled 18-11 after one quarter and 26-18 at the half. The Gaels led 39-34 after three quarters. The Hornets took a 49-41 lead on a 14-0 run with four minutes to play. But Gael Rick Maloney knotted the score to cap an 8-0 run with 2:13 TO PLAY. Sam Bommarito iced the win for the Gaels with a pair of free throws with eight seconds on the clock. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Oakville T.A. Blakelock Tabbies defeated the Hamilton Laurier Patriots 64-57 as Tom Heslip scored 17. Scott Stringer led the Patriots with 18. The Patriots (coach Bob Knuckle) also included Rick Dinney, Tony Gabriel, Bob Radaja, Wayne Comeau, George Gerazmachuk, Ron Kunkas. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish dumped the Hamilton Cathedral Gaels 74-59 as Tom Skerlak scored 24 (also reported as 22) and Rick Infantino 22. The Fighting Irish led 32-28 at the half. Harpaul Grant led the Gaels with 15. The Gaels (coach Mark Walton) also included Tony Almonte, Rick Maloney, Mark Korczynski, Mike Giftopoulos, Mario Poletto, Sammy Bommarito. …………………………………………………… In the final, T.A. Blakelock stunned the heavily-rated and top-ranked Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish 61-54. Steve Atkins led the Tabbies with 17. Tom Heslip added 16, Pete Smith 10 and Don Gamacort 10. The Fighting Irish led 56-50 after three quarters. Tabbies coach Vern Lucyk told the Hamilton Spectator that “we were just sitting back in the bushes and peaked at the right time … That was our game plan, to give (Tom) Skerlak his shots and then block him off (in the second half) and then let the other people who hadn’t been shooting get a chance to shoot so we could take care of the rebounds.” Lucyk added that when Tom Heslip, who’d broke his wrist in the Halton playoffs before having his cast removed shortly before the regionals, “is out there, the tempo of the game is much faster. He is our motor.” Tom Skerlak paced the Fighting Irish with 26, including 20 in the first half. Dave Saracino added 12.
In the West regional, the Chatham John McGregor Panthers withdrew shortly before the tournament because of a teacher’s work-to-rule, which allowed a third Windsor entry into the draw. …………………………………………………… In the quarterfinals, the Brantford St. John’s Green Eagles nipped the Windsor Riverside Rebels 55-52 as Doug Reansbury scored 17, Dave Polischuk 16, Fred Belowitz 10, Tom Rowan 6, Paul Berron 4 and Pat Campbell 2. Riverside led 28-27 at the half and by six with four minutes to play. Green Eagles coach Frank Petrella told the Brantford Expositor that “nobody seemed to want to take charge. The fellows were tight.” But then Polischuk “inspired the entire team.” Reansbury hit two jumpers to cut the lead to two. Paul Barron tied the game with an 18-foot jumper and then Polischuk hit the winner and Reansbury added a free throw to ice it. Pat Smith scored 16 to lead the Rebels (coached by Peter Guthrie). Phil Hermanutz added 12, John Ritchie 12, Duane Matthews 5, John Mazurek 4 and Bravo 2. …………………………………………………… The Windsor W.D. Lowe Trojans dusted the London Lucas Vikings 52-24 as Mike Brkovich scored 14, Don Brkovich 10, Ric Wells 6, Joe Gaspar 6, John Demarco 6, Jim Branoff 4, Tar Franzoi 3, Ken Smith 2 and Brad Smith 1. Dave Westman led the Vikings with 13. Meikle added 6, G Davidowski 3 and Robinson 2, while Heuhn was scoreless. …………………………………………………… The Tillsonburg Glendale Griffins clocked the Preston Panthers 55-27 as David Coulthard scored 31, John Freund 6, Paul Jariapka 6, Jan Goossens 4, Brian Gilvesy 4, John Kondrat 2 and Jim Horvath 2, while Steve Englander and Joel Freund were scoreless. Jamie Lichty and Dan Schmidt each scored 11 to lead the Panthers. Gord Schmandra added 3 and George Sonnenburg 2, while Art Nemeth was scoreless. The Panthers (coach Bill Hadley) also included Frank San Fillipo, Rick Obergan, Bruce Breckhil. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Windsor W.F. Herman Green Griffins clipped the Guelph Centennial Spartans 65-51 as Steve Zack scored 23, Rick Scott 18, Grebena 10, Ed Lukis 8, Boutette 4 and J Homick 1. Brian Carlson led the Spartans (coach Al Beirnes) with 17. Jerry Auger added 16, Andy Smart 7, Brian Ray 4, Dan Pavlicek 2 and O Kratka 1, while Gibbons was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Tilsonburg Glendale Griffins thrashed the Brantford St. John’s Green Eagles 59-42 as David Coulthard scored 22, John Freund 10, Brian Gilvesy 6, Paul Jariapka 6, Jan Goossens 5, Jim Horvath 4, Steve Englander 4 and John Kondrat 2. The Green Eagles were completely stymied by Glendale’s 1-3-1 zone. Green Eagles coach Frank Petrella told the Brantford Expositor that zones should be banned. “Defensively, it doesn’t teach a ballplayer much … What is there to see in a zone? One team comes down, passes the ball around and takes a shot from outside. Then the other team gets the rebound. That’s all there is to it.” Tom Rowan led the Green Eagles with 19. Doug Reansbury added 9, Dave Polischuk 9 and Fred Belowitz 4, while Paul Barron was scoreless. The Green Eagles (coached by Frank Petrella) also included John Leyzer, Paul Barron, Paul Nezoil, Mike O’Neail, Pat Campbell and Robbie Bulanda. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Windsor W.D. Low Trojans edged the Windsor W.F. Herman Green Griffins 56-51 as Mike Brkovich scored 20, Ken Smith 16, Ric Wells 8, John Demarco 5, Brad Smith 5 and Don Brkovich 2. Rick Scott led the Green Griffins with 20. Boutette added 13, Grebena 8, Steve Zack 6, Ed Lukis 2 and J Homick 2. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Windsor W.D. Lowe Trojans nipped the Tilsonburg Glendale Griffins 65-64 as Mike Brkovich scored 17, Brad Smith 12, Don Brkovich 9, Ric Wells 9, Ken Smith 8, John Demarco 6 and Jim Branoff 4. David Coulthard led the Griffins with 21. John Freund added 14, Brian Gilvesy 8, Paul Jariapka 7, John Kondrat 6, Jim Horvath 4 and Jan Goossens 4, while Steve Englander was scoreless.
In the East regional: …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Ottawa Brookfield Blues dispatched Cornwall Collegiate 42-35 as Jim Van Egmond scored 14 and Rick Powers 10. Cornwall included Mike Rousseau, Dave Dick. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Belleville Nicholson Crusaders whipped the Ottawa South Carleton Redskins 71-56. The Redskins included Dave McKendry, Mike McKenna, Mickey Kearns, coach Brian Allen. …………………………………………………… In the East regional final, the Ottawa Brookfield Blues defeated the Belleville Nicholson Catholic Crusaders 47-41 as Rick Powers scored 24. Blues coach John Scobie said his troops did a good job of containing 6-8 Dale Wilson and 6-3 Jeff Boyle. Boyle led the Crusaders with 12. Wilson notched 3. Nicholson also included David Holland. “Once again our defence came through with a big game,” Scobie told the Ottawa Journal. We switched defences quite a bit and kept the ball away from Boyle and Wilson. It was the best effort they have come up with all year.”
In the North regional: …………………………………………………… In the semis, Sudbury Lockerby edged Sault St. Mary’s 56-52 as John Carry scored 18. St. Mary’s led 12-8 after one quarter. The score was knotted at 25 at the half. Lockerby led 45-38 after three quarters. Anthony D’Ettore paced St. Mary’s with 12. Adrian Bortolussi added 10 and Bruno Delvecchio 9. St. Mary’s also included Richard Fiacconi. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, Sudbury Secondary nipped the Thunder Bay Rams 50-48. …………………………………………………… In the final, Sudbury Lockerby defeated Sudbury Secondary 47-44.
In the provincial quarterfinals, held in Sudbury, the Windsor W.D. Lowe Trojans trounced the North York William Lyon McKenzie Lions 74-40. Coach Gerry Brumpton’s squad went on a 23-0 run in the second quarter and breezed to the victory as Mike Brkovich scored 32, Ken Smith 11, Jim Branoff 10, Don Brkovich 7, Joe Gaspar 7, Brad Smith 4, Ric Wells 2, and John Demarco 1. Trojans coach Gerry Brumpton told the Windsor Star that “we made a lot of mistakes in this game, mistakes which really would have hurt us against a better team. We got away from our game plan. When you have a 15 or 20-point lead, there is a tendency on the part of your players to do some freelancing. I guess it’s only natural. Everybody wants to score in a game like this.” Richard Kurtz paced the Lions with 25. Lax added 9, Rudolph 2, Jack Bottner 2 and Rogers 2. The Lions also included David Korman, John Goodfield.
The Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish clipped the Sudbury Lockerby Vikings 68-57. The Vikings included Mike Hryb, Bob Tassone.
The Oakville T.A. Blakelock Tabbies whipped the Ottawa Brookfield Blues 67-51. The Blues (coached by John Scobie) included Rick Powers, Sandy Pierce, Bruce Harmer, Jim Van Egmond, Jim Kearney.
In the last quarterfinal, the Tilsonburg Glendale Griffins defeated the Toronto Runnymede Redmen 63-56. The Redmen (coached by John Petruschak, assisted by Amos Coletta, Vince Santro and Nick Del Principe) included Bohdan Pelech, Enzo Simone, Cliff Bluechardt, John Weatherup, George Schiraldi.
In the semis, the Windsor W.D. Lowe Trojans defeated the Oakville T.A. Blakelock Tabbies 75-61 despite trailing 23-9 at the start. After waking up, Mike Brkovich scored 29, Don Brkovich 11, Ken Smith 9, Brad Smith 9, Ric Wells 9, John De Marco 4 and Joe Gaspar 4, while Jim Branoff was scoreless. The Trojans hit 28-61 (.410) from the floor and 19-25 from the line. Lowe coach Gerry Brumpton told the Windsor Star that “the most irritating things about the early part of this game was the fact that our guys refused to play their normal offence and were guilty of too many turnovers. We settled down in the second quarter and I thought we took control of the game after that. I was pleased with our bench again. Brad Smith, Joe Gaspar and Jim Branoff, they did a good job when they were called on.” Tom Heslip led the Tabbies with 18. Peter Smith added 16, Steve Atkin 13, Dan Ferrone 8, Don Gambacort 3 and Mike Voelkner 3, while Chris Weaver and Dan Mills were scoreless.
In the other semi, the Tillsonburg Glendale Griffins defeated the Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish 56-54 on a last second basket at the buzzer by Brian Gilvesy. David Coulthard led the Griffins with 14. Steve Englander added 10 and Brian Gilvesy 10. Tom Skerlak paced the Fighting Irish with 22. Kelly Baker added 10 and Ron Hall 10. The Fighting Irish led 27-26 at the half.
In the final, the Windsor W.D. Lowe Trojans dumped the Tillsonburg Glendale Griffins 66-53 to become the ninth Windsor school to win a title in 28 years. The Trojans exploded in the first quarter for 33 points as they shot 15-20 from the floor and pressed the Griffins into a raft of turnovers while racing to a massive lead. “It looked like we were playing the New York Knicks,” Glendale coach Brian O’Rourke told the Windsor Star. But Lowe cooled in the second, lifted their press and attempted to slow the game down, though they remained in control for the entire contest. Lowe held Griffins star David Coulthard to one field goal and three free throws in the first half although he eventually finished the game with 25 points. Mike Brkovich scored 20 to lead the Trojans. Ric Wells added 14, Don Brkovich 12, John De Marco 11, Brad Smith 5 and Ken Smith 4, while John Herbert, Tar Franzoi, Jim Branoff, Joe Gaspar and Jim Boomer were scoreless. Lowe coach Gerry Brumpton noted that “I really had them fired up. I told them before the game that it was up to them if they wanted to win. I’ve never had a group of kids work any harder than this team did to win the championship. … I never thought for one minute that we would be able to pull away from them in just one quarter. I decided to slow the game after that.” David Coulthard paced the Griffins with 25. Paul Jariapka added 7, John Freund 6, John Kondrat 6, Steve Englander 4, Brian Gilvesy 2 and Jan Goossens 2, while Jim Horvath was scoreless. The Trojans finished (27-9) on season, while the Griffins finished (35-5).
The co-bronze Oakville T.A. Blakelock Tabbies: Tom Heslip; Peter Smith; Steve Atkin; Dan Ferrone; Don Gambacort; Mike Voelkner; Chris Weaver; Dan Mills; John Stacey; Doug Forsey; Steve Nero; Al Cameron; Doug McCallion; coach Vern Luyck
The co-bronze medalist Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Ron Hall; Tom Skerlak; Dave Griepsma; Jim Zareski; Rick Infantino; Dave Saracino; Tom Pieterse; Kelly Baker; Victor Oreskovich; coach Gil Beaulieu; assistant Jack Chambers
The silver medalist Tillsonburg Glendale Griffins: David Coulthard; Brian Gilvesy; Jim Horvath; Joel Freund; John Freund; Steve Englander; Paul Jariapka; Bob Drescher; John Kondrat; Jan Goossens; Bill Wade; Pat Morris; Rick Debuck; Bob Becht; Ernie Schwarz; coach Brian O’Rourke; manager Don Marchuk; manager Dave Rosehart; trainer Andy Arnoczki; assistant manager Hassan Ahmed;
The gold medalist Windsor W.D. Lowe Trojans: Mike Brkovich; Don Brkovich; Ken Smith; Jim Branoff; Joe Gaspar; Brad Smith; Ric Wells; John De Marco; Tar Franzoi; John Herbert; Jim Boomer; coach Gerry Brumpton; manager Ian Shreve