1976-77 Junior men

	POOL A	MAN	SASK	BC	Record
	U of Winnipeg Wesmen	—–	60-55	70-60	(2-0)
	U of Regina Jayvees	55-60	—–	58-57	(1-1)
	Vancouver North Shore	60-70	57-58	—–	(0-2)
	POOL B	ONT	NS	NFLD	Record
	Windsor A.K.O.	—–	82-72	110-44	(2-0)
	Halifax Green Dory Sting	72-82	—–	82-55	(1-1)
	Memorial U Beothuks	44-110	55-82	—–	(0-2)

	5th	Vancouver N. Shore Mountaineers 75 Memorial U. Beothuks 63
	Bronze	Halifax Green Dory Sting 67 U. of Regina Jayvees 58
	Final	Windsor AKO 78 U. of Winnipeg Wesmen 67

        In the British Columbia quarterfinals and Vancouver finals, the North Shore Mountaineers defeated the Capilanos 94-96; 88-85; 85-83 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Capilanos edged the Mountaineers 96-94 as Rick Carrick hit two free throws with three seconds to play. …………………………………………………… In game two, North Shore evened the series with an 88-85 win as Vic Grundy scored 24. Phil Legentil led the Capilanos with 28. …………………………………………………… In game three, North Shore took the series with an 85-83 win as Pat Kelly scored 20, Matt Annen 17 and Greg Barnes 12, including a pair of free throws with 30 seconds to play that proved to be the winning points. Morris Vardabasso led the Capilanos with 12.

        In the B.C. semis and Lower Mainland finals, the Vancouver North Shore Mountaineers defeated the University of British Columbia Jayvees 78-76; 62-80; 83-80 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, North Shore nipped U.B.C. 78-76 as Dave Kirzinger scored 20 and Bob Walter 19. Dave Martin led U.B.C. with 19. The Jayvees led 42-35 at the half. …………………………………………………… In game two, U.B.C. evened the series with an 80-62 win as John Doughty scored 19. Dave Kirzinger led North Shore with 24. …………………………………………………… In game three, North Shore took the series with an 83-80 win as Dave Kirzinger scored 20 and Vic Grundy 15. 

In the British Columbia finals, the North Shore Mountaineers defeated Victoria Trilecs 82-76; 83-74 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one North Shore clipped the Trilecs 82-76 as series Dave Kirzinger scored 33.

        In the round-robin Ontario playoff tournament, Windsor AKO thrashed the Waterloo Junior Varsity 103-78 as Mike McKinley scored 24, John Ritchie 19, Doug Austen 14, Dan Bortolin 11, Carlo Barzotto 10, Reuben Ferrone 8, Dan Katzman 6, Kevin Grier 5, Murphy 4 and Mike Bryne 2. Geoff Edwards led Waterloo with 14. Tom Liefl added 12, Tom Eva 12, Gies 10, Strecily 9, Mike Karpow 8, Greenway 5, Commerford 3, Fast 3 and John Liefl 2. …………………………………………………… Windsor AKO bombed Hamilton Gilbert’s Big & Tall 88-63 as Mike McKinley scored 20, Dan Katzman 14, John Ritchie 12, Doug Austen 12, Kevin Grier 10, Dan Bortolin 9, Carlo Barzotto 4, Burke 3, Reuben Ferrone 3 and Murphy 1. Dan Casuccio scored 19 to pace Hamilton (coached by Laurie Cahill). Mark Korcynski added 12, Snaider 12, Jim Stephenson 10, Green 6, Drescher 2 and Stewart 2. …………………………………………………… Windsor AKO clipped Guelph 77-56 as John Ritchie scored 22, Dan Katzman 14, Dan Bortolin 8, Mike McKinley 8, Carlo Barzotto 6, Doug Austen 6, Kevin Grier 4, Reuben Ferrone 4, Murphy 2, Mike Byrne 2 and Burke 1. Rob Tomlin scored 12 to pace Guelph (coached by Larry Angus). Griffin added 10, Bob Close 10, Brian Carlson 9, Priamo 4, Angelow 4, McWhirter 3, Carere 2 and Hutchings 2. …………………………………………………… Waterloo Junior Varsity edged Hamilton Gilbert’s Big & Tall 69-66 as Peter Greenaway scored 17. Jim Stephenson led Hamilton with 22. …………………………………………………… Waterloo Junior Varsity smacked Guelph 83-66 as Mike Karpow scored 19. Bob Close led Guelph with 14. …………………………………………………… Hamilton Gilbert’s Big & Tall nipped Guelph 93-91 as Mark Korcynski scored 23. Bob Close led Guelph with 25. Brian Carlson added 24. …………………………………………………… The all-tournament team featured MVP John Ritchie (Windsor AKO); Peter Greenaway (Waterloo); Jim Stephenson (Hamilton); Mike McKinley (Windsor); and Dan Bortolin (Windsor).

In the Manitoba finals, the U of Winnipeg Junior Wesmen defeated the U. of Manitoba Jr. Bisons 98-70.

In the Saskatchewan finals, the University of Regina Jayvee Cubs edged the Regina Downtown Optimists 69-68 as Brian Buttrey hit a jumper with 5 seconds to play. Buttrey paced the Cubs with 18. John McCullough added 17. Glen Nelson led the Optimists with 23. Harvey Kozakavich added 16.

        In the national tourney, held in Windsor, pool A play saw: …………………………………………………… The U of Regina Jayvees nipped the Vancouver North Shore Mountaineers 58-57 as Brian Buttrey scored 18, Ken Bray 12, John McCullough 10, McClenahan 6, Okeksinsky 4, Taylor 2, Betner 2 and Anderson 2. The Mountaineers were led by 6-8 centre Adam Yawrenko, who scored 19. Bob Walter added 12, Dave Kirzinger 10, Pat Kelly 10, Barnes 4 and Annan 2. Regina led 40-24 at the half. Regina coach Mike Frisby told the Windsor Star that “I knew BC was tough. I give them a lot of credit for coming back in the second half. They’re a great team.” …………………………………………………… The U of Winnipeg Junior Wesmen beat the U of Regina Jayvees 60-55 after John Alderdice scored 16, Tynes 12, Horaska 10, Schmidt 8, Rawluk 6, Carmichael 4, Walaschuk 2 and Leung 2. Taylor led Regina with 12. Buttrey added 12, Bray 11, McClenahan 7, McCullough 5, Anderson 4 and Stan Oleksinsky 4. …………………………………………………… The U of Winnipeg Junior Wesmen beat Vancouver North Shore 70-60 as John Alderdice scored 24, Horaska 15, Carmichael 9, Tynes 8, Rawluk 8 Lucas 4 and Walaschuk 2. Yawrenko led Vancouver with 18. Kirzinger added 14, Walter 10, Kelly 8, Annan 6 and Barnes 4.

        In Pool B play: …………………………………………………… Windsor AKO defeated the Halifax Green Dory Tavern 82-72, although the Sting tried to slow down the tempo and almost won it. Green Dory guard Kevin Meens kept nailing perimeter jumpers as Halifax took a 65-62 lead when AKO responded with an 8-0 run. But then Kevin Grier totally tied up Kevin Meens, who’d hit 11 points in the first quarter. John Ritchie paced Windsor with 14. Mike McKinley added 14, Dan Katzman 14, Dan Bortolin 13, Doug Austen 10, Reuben Ferrone 8, Kevin Grier 5 and Carlo Barzotto 4. Kevin Meens led Halifax with 21. Centre Dave Handley added 14, Mike Wamboult 14, MacDonald 8, Redman 7, McKenna 4, Cash 2 and Boyd 2. Windsor coach Randy Sasso told the Windsor Star that “they played their pace and they made us play their pace. They took a lot of things away from us with their play.” Kevin Grier said “you’ve gotta see who can do what. If he’s a good jump shooter, you’ve gotta get closer. … If he drives well, you’ve got to give him a little room. In the second half, he (Meens) started to show he could drive. You’ve got to try to keep the ball away from him, that’s all.” Sasso said “in spite of pressing their guards, they didn’t turn the ball over much. And they played without any rest. The fact that we had four good ones to their two made the difference.” …………………………………………………… Windsor AKO thrashed the Memorial U Beothuks as John Ritchie scored 17, Carlo Barzotto 16, Mike Byrne 14, Mike McKinley 13, Reuben Ferrone 12, Kevin Grier 10, Dan Katzman 10, Don Bortolin 8, Doug Austen 6, Murphy 2 and Burke 2. Kavanagh led the Beothuks with 8. George added 8, Campbell 8, Walsh 6, F Wakeham 4, T Wakeham 4, Kielly 3, White 2 and Mcdonald 1. …………………………………………………… The Halifax Green Dory Sting stung the Memorial U. Beothuks 82-55 as McKenna scored 20, McDonald 16, Kevin Meens 12, Redmen 11, Mike Wambouldt 11, Dave Handley 10 and Boyd 2. T Wakeham paced Memorial with 12. George added 9, French 9, Power 8, Campbell 6, Payne 4, White 2, Macdonald 2, Walsh 2 and Kielly 1.

        In the fifth-place match, the Vancouver North Shore Mountaineers defeated the Memorial U Beothuks 75-63 as Watter scored 16, Kelly 10, Dragan 10, Yawrenko 8, Sherk 8, Hall 6, Scanlon 6, McBride 3, Creighton 2, Barnes 2 and Annan 2. Campbell led the Beothuks with 24. MacDonald added 11, Walsh 10, Power 10 and Kielly 8.

        In bronze medal match, the Halifax Green Dory Sting defeated the U of Regina Jayvees 67-58 as Jim McKenna scored 24, Al McDonald, Kevin Meens 10, Redmen 8, Boyd 7, Mike Wambouldt 4, Forgerre 3 and Dave Handley 2. John McCullough scored 10 to lead the Regina Jayvees (coached by Mike Frisby). Ken Bray added 9, Steve Anderson 8, Brian Buttrey 8, Dave Taylor 7, Mark McClenahan 6, Greg Collins 6, Dan Betnar 3 and Stan Oleksinski 2.

        In the final, Windsor AKO dumped the U of Winnipeg Wesmen 78-67 as Dan Bortolin scored 18, Carlo Barzotto 17, centre John Ritchie 16, forward Mike McKinley 12, Dan Katzman 4, Doug Austen 4, Kevin Grier 2, Rueben Ferrone 2, Murphy 2 and Burke 2. The Wesmen were led by Rick Horaska, who scored 14. Gord Carmichael added 13, forward Rob Rawluk 13, centre John Alderdice 10, Bruce Tynes 6, Kevin Lucas 4, Paul Woloschuk 3 and Calvin Schmidt 2. AKO went on early runs in each half. Opened 5-0 in the first and were up 22-8 before Winnipeg rallied to close it to within 36-28. In the second half, AKO opened on a 16-6 tear and led 52-34. Co-coach Sam Sasso told the Windsor Star that Carlo Barzotto was “fabulous …all over the court.” Randy Sasso added that if “Carlo isn’t the best fast break guard in the country…” Point guard Barzotto controlled the tempo and the fastbreak. Bortolin noted that “once we get our momentum going, you can’t stop us.” Dan Bortolin said “the fast break was perfect today. The forwards boarded well today, when they had to. The running offence, the pace was set right there from the beginning. And comeing out fast in the second half, that was key. … It was my best game all year. My shooting was there.” After the tourney, Randy Sasso applied for a position as national junior coach.

        The all-tourney team featured: MVP John Ritchie (Windsor AKO); Dan Bortolin (Windsor AKO); Al MacDonald (Halifax Green Dory Tavern); Brian Buttery (U of Regina Jayvees); John Alderdice (U of Winnipeg Wesmen)

        The bronze medalist Halifax Green Dory Sting: Al MacDonald; Jim McKenna; Kevin Meens; Dave Handley; Mike Wamboult; Redmen; Boyd; Forgerre;

        The silver medalist University of Winnipeg Junior Wesmen: John Alderdice; Rick Horaska; Gord Carmichael; Rob Rawluk; Bruce Tynes; Paul Woloschuk; Kevin Lucas; Calvin Schmidt; Cash; Ed Leung; Ray Kinaschuk; Brent Corrigan; coach Dana Erickson; coach Don Lamont

        The champion Windsor Alpha Kai Omega (AKO) Fratmen: Dan Bortolin; Carlo Barzotto; John Ritchie; Mike McKinley; Dan Katzman; Kevin Grier; Doug Austen; Reuben Ferrone; Murphy; Burke; Mike Byrne; co-coach Randy Sasso; co-coach Sam Sasso