In the Regina city quarterfinals: …………………………………………………… The Thom Trojans defeated the Miller Marauders 63-49 as Al McEachern scored 18 and Loring Lascue 12. The Trojans ripped off an early 15-0 run to take a 20-4 lead and extended the margin to 31-9. Trojans coach Dale Wilde told the Regina Leader-Post that “both teams started a little slow. It took us a while to get going but we were lucky enough to get hot at the right time. We got very hot there.” Marlowe Pelletier hit a bucket at the buzzer to draw the Marauders within 33-20 at the half. They later cut the margin to 47-41 but never seriously threatened. Marauders coach Vaughan McIntyre said “I thought we would come back. We pressed them and had them to 8 and 6 points, then we missed two layups. And that was all she wrote. I’m really pleased. I thought they worked exceptionally hard.” Wilde said “I thought Miller showed a lot of determination to come back. A lot of teams get down and that’s the ball game.” Wilde said his troops may have become lax; “that’s always a danger when you get up like that. The momentum backfires and sometimes, you can’t get it back.” Rob Gosselin led the Marauders with 13. Mark Winter added 12. The Marauders (coached by Vaughn McIntyre) also included Marlowe Pelletier, Rob Bresciani, Howie Vaughn. …………………………………………………… The Sheldon-Williams Spartans dusted the Scott Blues 72-52 as Rod Schwarz scored 20 and Pat Mollard 13. The Spartans led 42-26 at the half. Spartans coach Spence Burgess told the Regina Leader-Post that “we started shooting really well at the start of the game and that gave us a bit of an edge. In the first half, we pressed and got some easy buckets. In the second half, we didn’t do that well but we had a 16-point lead. They didn’t just die, which made for an interesting finish.” Blues coach John Schepers said “we played as well as we could have after the first 10 minutes. I don’t know whether it was inexperience or if we wanted it too badly. I’m really proud of the kids after everything that happened. They stuck with it and played well.” Grant Vegter led the Blues with 16. Danny Leader added 14. The Blues (coached by John Schepers) also included Rob Westerman, Kevin Heineman. …………………………………………………… The Campbell Tartans clocked the Sister McGuigan Mustangs 110-79 as Gord Marceca scored 24, Doug Mutschler 23, Mike McQuarters 16 and Tom Yarnton 13. Joe Mahnic scored 16 to lead the Mustangs. Regan Fox added 15 and Devin Bennett 15. The Mustangs (coached by Darrell Puscus) also included Trevor Bast. …………………………………………………… The Balfour Redmen edged the Archbishop M.C. O’Neill Titans 56-53 as Mike Nagel scored 18 and Harvey Steranka 16. Brad Zimmer scored 16 to lead the Titans. Randy Klein added 11. The Titans (coached by Al Collins) also included Frank Baer, Peter Riley, Mike Courchene, Randy Klein, Dave McEachern, Gregg Galan, Tom Koski. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Thom Trojans dumped the Sheldon-Williams Spartans 55-41 as Al McLaren scored 14 and Al McEachern 12. The Spartans led 25-20 at the half but the Trojans opened the second half with a 21-8 run. Trojans coach Dale Wilde told the Regina Leader-Post that “our whole game is play tough in the defensive end. And then we just get 10 minutes of offence somewhere. If we can get that 10 minutes in there, it’s usually enough. For a while, it looked like we wouldn’t get it tonight.” Spartan coach Spence Burgess said “we went really flat. I suppose we did in the last seven minutes what they did in the first seven minutes.” Trojan guard Lonnie Lascue said “Al (McEachern) and I started worked more and pressing together. We were getting a couple of steals and started to feel good. That (pressing) helps, I think, because by the end of the game, they sort of worry about getting it out of their end instead of running the plays. We all played a pretty good game but Sheldon played good too. I was surprised. We beat them badly the first time. I think we were psyched up for the game but I’m not sure I was as ready as I could have been. But once the game started, I was.” Wilde said “Loring and Al did an outstanding job. I’m not taking anything away from Sheldon. Their guards worked hard but I think we just wore them down.” Burgess said “we weren’t supposed to get this far. The guys should hold their heads up. They played really well and we were rewarded for it.” Rod Schwartz scored 13 to lead the Spartans. Pat Mollard added 10. The Spartans (coached by Spence Burgess) also included Mel Hunter, Bill Pratt, Graham Pelat, Dave Rogne. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Campbell Tartans clipped the Balfour Redmen 70-60 as Mike McQuarters scored 22, Gord Marceca 10 and Terry Cochrane 10. The score was knotted at 56 with five minutes to play when the Tartan bench took command. Redmen coach John Neiles told the Regina Leader-Post that “it was an excellent ball game. Basically, our bench strength isn’t quite as strong as theirs and we just didn’t get the opportunity to rest people properly in a game like that.” Tartans coach Glenn Szabo said “that’s right. We could put guys in that kept our momentum while our starters had a breather and that the difference in the last four minutes. We just took it from there … I’m tired. It was a very emotional game. We had a couple of kids sick and hurt, so we had to get a real team effort. … We had Terry Cochrane on (Mike Nagel) and he was to be the best defensive guard in the city.” Neiles said “I couldn’t be more proud of my kids. They played their best all year under the circumstances.” Harvey Steranka led the Redmen with 18. Albert Ferozdin added 14, Tracy Kotrusiak 12 and Mike Nagel 6. The Redmen (coached by John Neiles) also included Doug Brown, Roland Schulz. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Campbell Tartans clipped the Thom Trojans 80-71 after leading 41-34 at the half. Terry Cochrane led the Tartans with 23. Mike McQuarters added 17, Tom Yarnton 14, Gord Marceca 12, Ron Lancaster 6, J.W. Hillis 4, Yee 2 and Doug Mutschler 2, while Bob Dodds was scoreless. Trojans coach Dale Wilde told the Regina Leader-Post that “I thought in the first 10 minutes the pace was up for grabs. And they established the pace. Had it been our pace and I think it would have been different.” Tartans coach Glenn Szabo said “we wanted to be loose for the game. And you could tell that we were. The kids knew from experience what happens when you’re tight. That was our goal, to be loose in the first half and then everything would take care of itself. … You saw what happened when they tried to press in the end. We put it in their face and had three-on-ones. But they were tough. If they could have controlled the pace, things could have been different.” Lancaster said “I thought it was pretty close all the way, even though we were up. We knew they would work for that one shot and once they got it over half, they tried to set it up.” Yarnton said “they’re not as much of a running team as us. We were practicing on their halfcourt, we knew what they were coming out with. … Well, it’s the city championships, so you’re up for it. We were looser than they were. They were tight. That was the difference.” Scott McLaren led the Trojans with 16. Allan McEachern added 15, Jeff Perry 14, Kelly Hawrysh 11, Loring Lascue 7, Brad Johns 6 and Coley 2. The Trojans (coached by Dale Wilde) also included Bob Wilhems, Jeff Clark.
In the northern and Saskatoon city playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Aden Bowman Bears clocked the Evan Hardy Souls 70-52 as Kevin Thurston scored 11, Mark Peters 10, John Milar 10 and Robb White 10. Derwin Keidy led the Souls wit 18. Cam Rizos added 8 and Bruce McAskill 8. The Souls (coached by Ross Wilson) also included Lawrence Fredeen. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Holy Cross Crusaders spanked the Walter Murray Marauders 89-72 as Dave Ostertag scored 24, Dave Karwacki 14 and Kurt Wilchuk 14. Kam Hoy led the Marauders with 19. Rick Johnson added 13. The Marauders also included Byron Tokarchuk, Greg Ringness, Stew Foster. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders defeated the Aden Bowman Bears 71-65 as Dave Ostertag scored 25, Mike Beitel 12 and Mike Bischoff 12. Kevin Thurston led the Bears with 22. Brian Beck added 18.
In the provincial semis, the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders defeated the Regina Thom Trojans 55-51. Coach Dave Hardy told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that the difference was defence and rebounding. “No, we sure didn’t (win with offence). We were pretty tight on offence all game, 8-for-30 in the first half, and when the ball didn’t go in, we lost confidence. Nothing very fluid, we were forcing it. Defence held us in. And it was the younger kids (Mike) Bischoff and (Dave) Karwacki that saved our bacon.” Bischoff scored 12, Mike Beitel 12 and Karwacki 10. Alan McEachern paced Thom with 14. Brad Johns added 9. Thom trailed 53-51 with 39 seconds to play when Brad Johns notched a putback that would have tied it but it was nullified on a foul called on Scott McLaren away from the ball. Trojans coach Dale Wilde told the Regina Leader-Post that “we made a run at them and I thought we were going to take them.” Hardy said “I think both teams were tight. I know we were. We couldn’t get any rhythm going.”
In the other semi, the Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears defeated the Regina Campbell Tartans 81-72, despite trailing 37-29 at the half. Brian Beck led the Bears with 24. Mark Peters added 18, all in the second half, and Kevin Thurston 18. Gord Marceca paced Campbell with 18. Ron Lancaster added 14 and Terry Cochrane 11. “I thought we played a very poor first half, especially offensively. But in the second, it was inspired basketball,” Bears coach Paul Jacoby told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. “It was tough coming back.” Tartans coach Glenn Szabo told the Regina Leader-Post “that we played well in the middle but they played better than us in the first five minutes and the last five minutes. And that was the game, an uncharacteristic ending. You’re naturally disappointed because it’s something you’ve worked for over the last two years but tomorrow is Saturday. The game is over.”
In the bronze medal match, the Regina Campbell Tartans dusted the Regina Thom Trojans 79-60. A charging foul on Terry Cochrane drew technical from both Cochrane and Tartans coach Glenn Szabo, his first in 10 years. But it seemed to ignite the Tartans. They promptly ripped off a 15-6 run. Trojans coach Dale Wilde told the Regina Leader-Post “that says it right there. Campbell just got a lot of motivation and energy in the end.” Szabo said “we expected a tight game. It’s so tough to get up for something like that. We were asleep. That’s probably why we took so many fouls (29).” The Trojans (coached by Wilde) included Brad Johns, Scott McLaren, Allan McEachern, Jeff Perry, Kelly Hawrysh, Loring Lascue, Jeff Clark, Willhems, Bridal and Coley.
In the final, the Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears defeated the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders 62-55, as Brian Beck scored 16, Kevin Thurston 14, Mark Peters 12, John Millar 12, Robb White 5, Kokonas 2 and Colquhoon 1, while Horst, Turtle and Fast were scoreless. Bowman led 31-30 at the half and 43-32 ten minutes into the second half. Holy Cross coach Dave Hardy told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that Aden Bowman’s man-to-man defence was the difference. Holy Cross had defeated Aden Bowman 71-65 in the Saskatoon city final. Asked if it was worth it, Jacoby told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix “you better believe it was. But it still hasn’t really hit. It’s sort of a calm satisfaction, you might say, a time to reflect.” Dave Karwacki led Holy Cross with 12. Kurt Wilchuk added 10, Bischoff 9, M Beitel 8, Ostertag 7, Lovegrove 4, P Beitel 3 and Sorgo 3. “We had to take our lumps at the beginning last year but they kept working and responding to things we (Jacoby and co-coach Lee Barber) told them. We believed in the kids we had and I think they believed in us and it worked out,” Jacoby added. The Bears avenged a loss to the Crusaders in the Saskatoon city finals. Jacoby told the Regina Leader-Post that “in big games, I always felt when two teams this good meet, the team that comes in the underdog, or which lost last, does have a bit of an advantage. In some respects, that proved out last night (a semi win over Regina Campbell). They beat us out twice. It just takes the pressure off a bit. … Both teams played aggressive defence and as a result, it looked kind of sloppy on offence. They just worked as hard as they could on boards and defence. It was a helter-skelter type game with defence the prime element.” Crusaders coach Dave Hardy said “we’ve gone that way every time this year. They’ve won the odd numbers and we’ve won the even numbers in five games. There’s no doubt (that the latest loser has more motivation). I think that’s true.”
The bronze medalist Regina Campbell Tartans: Terry Cochrane; Tom Yarnton; Mike McQuarters; Ron Lancaster; Bob Dodds; J.W. Hillis; Gord Maraceca; Yee; Doug Mutschler; Jim Killoh; coach Glenn Szabo
The silver medalist Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders: Mike Bischoff; Dave Karwacki; Mike Beitel; Kurt Wilchuk; Dave Ostertag; Jim Sorgo; Jeff Lovegrove; Paul Beitel; Joe Gilewicz; Hackl; coach Dave Hardy
The gold medalist Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears: Brian Beck; Mark Peters; Kevin Thurston; John Millar; Jeff Colquhoon; Gary Smith; Robb White; Harry Turtle; Graham Fast; Rich McConnell; Spero Kokonas; Erroll Horst; coach Paul Jacoby; assistant Lee Barber