POOL A ONT MAN-1 MAN-2 NFLD Record  
  Toronto Estonia —— 80-74 82-74 110-49 (3-0)  
  Winnipeg St. Andrews 74-80 —– 75-56 94-71 (2-1)  
  Winnipeg Nicolett Inn 74-82 56-75 —– 112-62 (1-2)  
  St. John’s City Furniture 49-110 71-94 62-112 —– (0-3)  
               
  POOL B  NS ALTA BC SASK Record  
  Halifax Budget Rent-a Car Raiders —– 98-91 85-84 110-60 (3-0)  
  Calgary Cascades 91-98 —– 65-64 80-50 (2-1)  
  Burnaby Bullets 84-85 64-65 —– 107-72 (1-2)  
  Regina Molsons 60-110 50-80 72-107 —– (0-3)  
               
  Semi Toronto Estonia 93 Calgary Cascades 81
  Semi Halifax Budget Rent-a-Car Raiders 97 Winnipeg St. Andrews 85
  7th St. John’s 81 Regina Molsons 72
  5th Burnaby Bullets 106 Winnipeg Nicolett Inn 94
  Bronze Calgary Cascades 96 Winnipeg St. Andrews 93
  Final Toronto Estonia 93 Halifax Budget Rent-a-Car Raiders 92
     

        In July/1977, CABA had voted to make the national tourney an “open” event, meaning that teams would have to pay an entrance fee to be included in the draw. Tentatively, the fees were set at $1000 for provinces with over 300,000 in population and $500 for provinces with less than 300,000 population.

        In the Alberta finals, the Calgary Cascades defeated the Raymond Union Jacks x-x; x-x; x-x; x-x; 107-87 (3g-2). …………………………………………………… In game five, the Cascades took the series with a 107-87 win as Tom Bishop scored 20 and Doug Baker 19. Phil Tollestrup led the Union jacks with 22. Tim Tollestrup added 17 and Wally Tollestrup 11. “A couple of calls by the officials changed our momentum,” Tim Tollestrup told Canadian Press.

        In the Ontario finals, Toronto Estonia defeated Windsor Thompson Sports Centre 83-77; 91-102; 79-73 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game two, Windsor dumped Estonia 102-91 as Mike Frisby scored 24, Sam Kaknevicius 22, Dave McGuffin 16, Bill Lozynsky 14, Rob Stewart 8, Ed Dragan 7, Gomes 4, Mike Chalut 3, Day 2 and Gloster 2. Jamie Russell led Estonia with 24. Val Pozzan added 16, George Rautins 14, Bob Sharpe 13, Trevor Briggs 6, Tom Kieswetter 4, Phil Schlote 4, Peter Misikowetz 4, Talaj 4 and Garry McKeigan 1. …………………………………………………… In game two, Estonia took the series with a 79-73 win as Bob Sharpe scored 23, Jamie Russell 21, George Rautins 13, Val Pozzan 8, Trevor Briggs 6, Tom Kieswestter 4, Phil Schlote 2 and Paul Skowron 2. Mike Frisby led Windsor with 22. Bill Lozynsky added 15, Dave McGuffin 14, Rob Stewart 9, Sam Kaknevicius 6, Ed Dragan 4, Mike Chalut 2 and Gloster 1.

        In the British Columbia semis, the Burnaby Bullets defeated the Vancouver Paddys (Athletics?) 92-77; 104-83; 79-66 (3g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Burnaby clipped Vancouver 92-77 as Ken Olynyk scored 25, Werner Spahn 18 and Mike McNeill 18. Bill Letham led Vancouver with 22. Derek Sankey added 15. …………………………………………………… In game two, Burnaby prevailed 104-83 as Bob Wright scored 22 and Werner Spahn 21. …………………………………………………… In game three, Burnaby took the series with a 79-66 win as Rick Kazanowski scored 21 and Ken Olynyk 15. The Bullets led 36-33 at the half. Mike Wilson led Vancouver with 14.

        In the B.C. finals, the Burnaby Bullets defeated the Victoria Scorpions 89-87; 93-110; 106-87 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, Burnaby edged Victoria 89-87 as Werner Spahn scored 18, Gary Smith 14, Rick Kazanowski 14, Ken Olynyk 12 and Terry Wiens 12. Bob Burrows led the Scorpions with 33. Bill Robinson added 26. …………………………………………………… In game two, Victoria dusted Burnaby 110-93 as Bob Burrows scored 23 and Bill Robinson 21. ……………………………………………………The Bullets added Simon Fraser U standout and national team member guard Bill Robinson to their squad for the national tourney.

        In the Manitoba finals, Winnipeg St. Andrews captured its ninth straight crown by defeating Winnipeg Nicolett Inn 78-66.

        At the national tourney, held in Manitoba, for an entrance fee of $1300, in the A pool, Toronto Estonia beat Winnipeg Nicolett Inn 82-74 after taking a 42-32 halftime lead. Toronto was paced by Jamie Russell’s 20, Bob Sharpe’s 14 and George Rautins 14. Nicolett Inn was led by Rick Watts 22 and Terry Burns 16. Nicolett’s Terry Burns cracked his head against the backboards while rebounding. …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg St. Andrews Super Saints defeated St. John’s 94-71 as Angus Burr scored 16, Ross Wedlake 16, and Dave Mills 14. St. John’s was led by Ron Tobin 22, Gary Summers 16. …………………………………………………… Winnipeg Nicolett Inn pasted St. John’s 112-62 after scoring 65 in the second half. Rick Watts scored 31 and Darryl Rumsey 22. …………………………………………………… Winnipeg St. Andrews defeated Winnipeg Nicolett Inn 75-56 as Ted Stoesz pitched in 19 and Ross Wedlake 18. Nicolett went 12 minutes without scoring in the first half. But the win proved costly for the Super Saints as they lost Bob Town, who suffered a broken jaw when he was accidentally elbowed by teammate Ross Wedlake. …………………………………………………… Toronto Estonia defeated Newfoundland 110-49 as Jamie Russell scored 21, Trevor Briggs 16, Bob Sharpe 14 and George Rautins 14. Estonia held Newfoundland to 12 points in the second half. Said Russell: “we have a good defence and we really pride ourselves in it.” Newfoundland was paced by Ron Tobin’s 12 points. …………………………………………………… Toronto Estonia defeated the Winnipeg Super Saints 80-74 as Rautins scored 22 and Russell 18. The Saints were led by Angus Burr’s 30 points. They played without Wedlake, whose wife had given birth to a boy early that morning. Ontario led 45-29 at the half. Estonia manager Harry Liiv noted that “we slacked off in the second half because we didn’t want to blow our guys out.”

        In the B Pool, the Halifax Budget Rent-a-Car Raiders defeated the Calgary Cascades 98-91 as Mickey Fox scored 41, Lee Thomas 16. Halifax was up 52-36 at the half. The Cascades were led by Jim Crawford 19, Tom Bishop 18 and Bob Dick 16. Fox hit several fallaway jumpers and Calgary coach Tom Sindlinger noted that “nobody was going to stop Mickey Fox the way was playing today. The only thing you can do is get a rule that bans a guy from playing that well.” But Halifax coach Bill Thow insisted his team was built around Fox. 6-5 c Thomas scored 16 while playing with pulled ligaments in his knee. …………………………………………………… The Calgary Cascades defeated the Burnaby Bullets 65-64 when Tom Bishop scored two free throws with one second left on the clock. Bishop paced the Cascades with 19. Jim Ciccone led the Bullets with 18. Bill Robinson added 14. …………………………………………………… Halifax waxed the Regina Molsons 110-60 as Mickey Fox scored 27. Greig Redding added 20. Merv Prier led the Molsons with 12. Prier told Canadian Press that “we were kind of down after the licking we took in the afternoon.” …………………………………………………… Halifax defeated Burnaby 85-84 on two free throws by Mickey Fox in the final seconds. Nova Scotia had trailed by six at the half but rallied to take the lead early in the second half.

        In the 7th place match, St. John’s City Furniture defeated the Regina Molsons 81-72. City Furniture included Ron Tobin, Gary Summors, Austin Brophy, Glen Stanford, Brian Murphy, Peter Andrews, Larry Felt, Mike Reddy, Tom Prim and Jeff Babstock. The Molsons included Merv Prier, Ted Townshend, Glen Szabo, Kim Renwick, Rob Pyne, Larry Solie, Wayne McKeague, Len Jeffries, Gavin Beck and Ron Vandermay.

        In the 5th place match, the Burnaby Bullets dumped Winnipeg Nicolett Inn 105-94. The Bullets included Bill Robinson, Jimmy Ciccone, Werner Spann, Bob Wright, Gary Smith, Rick Kazanowski, Glen McKenzie, Ken Olynyk, Russ Pearson, Don Higham, Terry Wiens and Bob Steeves. Nicolett Inn included Rick Watts, Darryl Rumsey, Terry Burns, Cam McGinnis, John Loewen, Rich Stefanyshyn, Mike Sabourin, Ray McKall, Craig Parker, Randy Kusano and Bob Paizen.

        In the bronze medal match, the Calgary Cascades defeated the Winnipeg St. Andrews Super Saints 96-93 in overtime. The Super Saints included Ross Wedlake, Ted Stoesz, Angus Burr, Craig Brinton, Hymie Fox, Tim Ruppel, Dave Mills, Ben Szymkow, Henry Lemoine, Greg Ross and Bob Town, who suffered a broken jaw in the team’s opener.

        In the final, Toronto Estonia nipped the Halifax Budget Rent-a-Car Raiders 93-92 as Bob Sharpe scored 28, including 18 in the second half and the winning field goal. The Toronto press had forced a Halifax turnover at midcourt and Sharpe had a clear path for an easy layup. “I was sort of undecided whether to lay it in or bank it off the backboard,” Sharpe told Canadian Press. “I took off a bit early and it turned out to be more of a long jump than a high jump. I didn’t know the ball went in until I was on the floor and saw it coming through the net.” Lee Thomas had ignited the crowd early with a slam dunk. But that apparently angered Sharpe. He replied with 18 points in the second half. John Cassidy had put Halifax ahead 42-40 with a bucket. Estonia trailed into the final minute but rallied to within one and forced a turnover, leading to Sharp’s bucket. Estonia opened the floor in the second half, running more. Mickey Fox was slowed down by a sprained ankle he’s received in the semis against St. Andrews and finished with a mere 14 points. Lee Thomas paced Halifax with 23, Ross Quackenbush added 22 and Brian Heaney 17. Heaney was hot early, hitting 10 in the first five minutes but cooled off quickly. He missed a 20-footer with 29 seconds to go that would have iced it for Halifax. Estonia manager Liiv noted “we clobbered not only Nova Scotia but everyone with our bench.” Russell added 24 for Estonia.

        The all-tourney team featured: MVP Bob Sharpe (Toronto Estonia); Mickey Fox (Halifax Raiders); Lee Thomas (Halifax Raiders); Tom Bishop (Calgary Cascades); and Ted Stoesz (Winnipeg St. Andrews)

        Honourable mention all-tourney status was awarded to Merv Prier (Saskatchewan); Ron Tobin (Newfoundland); Rick Watts (Winnipeg Nicolett Inn); Bill Robinson (British Columbia); Ross Wedlake (Winnipeg St. Andrews); Tom Forzani (Alberta); John Gallinaugh (Halifax Budget); and George Rautins (Toronto Estonia)

        The bronze medalist Calgary Cascades: Tom Bishop; Jim Crawford; Mark Estill; Bob Dick; Bill Oliver; Tom Forzani; Jim Lathrop; Dick Vanderstam; Neil Harrison; Gary Thompson;

        The runner-up Halifax Budget Rent-a-Car Raiders: Mickey Fox; Lee Thomas; Ross Quackenbush; Brian Heaney; Greig Redding; John Cassidy; John Gallinaugh; Tom Hyland; Mike Donaldson; Peter Halpin;

        The champion Toronto Estonia: Jamie Russell; Bob Sharpe; George Rautins; Val Pozzan; Trevor Briggs; Phil Schlote; Tom Kieswetter; Paul Skowron; Jaan Laaniste; Peter Misikowetz; Garry MacKiegan; Ed Talaj; coach Harry Liiv; manager Greg Gillies; trainer J. Hedses