In the Regina city semis: …………………………………………………… The Central Gophers edged the McGuigan Mustangs 76-71 as Steve Burrows scored 27, Brian Butterfield 17 and Roger Smith 10. The Gophers took command after switching to a half-court zone from a man-to-man with 10 minutes to play. Burrows told the Regina Leader-Post “that’s our best defence. We saved it for the end because our full-court man wasn’t working. We’re not really trying to steal the ball, it just worked out that way.” Mustang Chris Exner said “we choke a bit on that (zone). We were practicing all week for a full-court press and they surprised us. I though earlier that we were going to do it, that we would wear them down in their man defence.” Gophers coach Doug Bolander said “we did try that (matchup zone) defence once in the first half. But it didn’t work.” Burrows said “we have a habit of falling behind. … But these are the playoffs, so we thought, we might as well go for it.” Chris Exner led the Mustangs with 21. Myles Kachmerski added 15 and Rick Cisek 15. The Mustangs also included Rob Nistor. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Usher Unicorns whacked the Scott Blues 97-51 as Perry Martens scored 28 and Mickey Martens 24. Darwin Laliberte led the Blues with 26. Dwayne Roemer added 11. The Blues also included Dan Laliberte, Steve Hymie. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Central Gophers clipped the Usher Unicorns 56-44 after leading 26-21 at the half. Roger Smith led the Gophers with 11. Morgan Hladik added 11. Perry Martens paced the Unicorns with 17. Smith told the Regina Leader-Post “if we run well and don’t give the ball up, we can beat nearly anyone. We wanted slow the two Martens (Mickey and Perry) down and move the ball around quick on offence.”
In the South region quarterfinals: …………………………………………………… The Regina Central Gophers whipped the Estevan Composite Elecs 81-57 as Steve Burrows scored 27. Robert Andrist led the Elecs with 24. …………………………………………………… The Regina Usher Unicorns dumped the Swift Current Composite Colts 72-62 as Mickey Martens scored 16. Shane Szakacs led the Colts with 8. …………………………………………………… The Weyburn Composite Eagles dusted the Moose Jaw Vanier Vikings 87-60 as Sean Branmer scored 22. Todd Whitehead led the Vikings with 21. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones edged the Yorkton Regional Raiders 89-86 as Shane Reider scored 24. Darrel Obuck and Todd Slogocki each scored 22 for the Raiders. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Weyburn Composite Eagles nipped the Regina Usher Unicorns 60-59 as Kevin Schiller scored 24. Mickey Martens led the Unicorns with 26. The Unicorns (coached by Debbie Smith) also included Kevin Reimer, Perry Martens. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones clipped the Regina Central Gophers 70-60 as Shane Reider scored 27. Steve Burrows led the Gophers with 17. The Gophers (coached by Doug Bolander) also included Roger Smith, Brian Butterfield, Scott Auramenko, Gary Taylor, Morris Hladik. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Weyburn Composite Eagles edged the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones 67-61 as Kevin Schiller scored 20. Shane Reider led the Cyclones with 18.
In the northern playoffs: …………………………………………………… In the opening round, the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders clipped the North Battleford Comprehensive Vikings 77-63 as Blair Garneau scored 17. Warner Biddle led the Vikings with 18. Kyle Egger added 17. …………………………………………………… The Saskatoon Nutana Collegiate Blues edged the Prince Albert St. Mary Marauders 85-84 as Tim Irvine scored 35, Peter May 22 and Chris Bedford 17. Grady Andrews led the Marauders with 42. Tim Donais added 18. …………………………………………………… In the first qualifier, the Saskatoon Nutana Blues earned a berth at provincials by nipping the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders 69-68 as Tim Irvine scored 22 and Jeff Burke 12. Blues coach told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix it was “probably the biggest upset of the season.” …………………………………………………… In the second qualifier the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders earned a provincial berth by clipping the Prince Albert St. Mary Marauders 87-70 as Tim Conlin scored 52.
In the provincial semis, the Weyburn Composite Eagles edged the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders 84-80 as Sean Brannen scored 28, Ken Neizner 14 and Darren Ferner 13. Blair Garneau led the Crusaders with 26. Tim Conlin added 14 and Tyler Rock 13.
In the other semi, the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones clipped the Saskatoon Nutana Collegiate Blues 82-67 as Shane Reider scored 26, Mike Livingstone 24 and Brad Garret 12. Peter Mah paced the Blues with 15. Tim Irvine added 13, Brent Gustafson 13, Chris Bedford 12 and Sheldon Sies 12. Cyclones coach John Livingston told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that “hey, we can run with anyone.” Blues coach Dean Faris said “we never pretended to be a great defensive team. We do what we do best (racehorse, playground ball).” The Cyclones went on a 25-9 run in the second half. “That’s the game right there,” Faris said. “We’ve had bad runs like that before but none lately. For some reason, it reared its ugly head tonight. It’s not as if we weren’t trying. We were getting the layups and uncontested shots. They just weren’t going in.” Livingstone said “they came up cold, that’s all there was to it. And when that happens, well … even a hotdog can’t ketchup.”
In the bronze medal match, the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders edged the Saskatoon Nutana Blues 70-67 as Blair Garneau scored 16, Tyler Rock 13 and Tim Conlin 13. Peter Mah led the Blues with 19. Tim Irvine added 18 and Chris Bedford 12. The Blues (coached by Dean Faris) also included Brent Gustafson, Sheldon Sies, Jeff Burke, Peter Mah.
In the final, the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones defeated Weyburn Composite Eagles 60-52 as Shane Reider scored 27 and Charlie Swayze 10. Sean Brannen led the Eagles with 18. Kevin Schiller added 13 and Darren Haupstein 13.
The bronze medalist Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders: Blair Garneau; Tim Conlin; Tyler Rock;
The silver medalist Weyburn Composite Eagles: Sean Brannen; Kevin Schiller; Darren Haupstein; Ken Neizner; Darren Ferner; coach Gary Frederickson
The gold medalist Moose Jaw Central Cyclones: Shane Reider; Charlie Swayze; Mike Livingstone; Brad Garrett; coach John Livingston