REGULAR SEASON
| Alberta | 4-0 | 11-2 | Maury Van Vliet | |||||
| Saskatchewan | 0-4 | Jim Panton | ||||||
From the Green and Gold: “With an eye on the Olympic Games, the 1948 Golden Bears were out to win every game. A heavy schedule had been drawn up but the team was packed with some of the classiest ball-handlers that had ever worn the Alberta colours. The season marked several ‘firsts for the Green and Gold; first international jaunt by air, and the highest score ever run up. Six members of the 1947 championship squad returned to form the nucleus of Coach Maury Van Vliet’s current aggregation. The veterans, smoothies all, were back by an outstanding group of freshman who proved throughout the season that they were quite capable of performing with old-timers. In easy victories, or tough battles, the team operated cohesively and effectively. The Bears were undefeated on their home floor. The first time out, against the city All-Stars, they were impressive with a 70-55 effort. In a two-game series with Magrath Lions, rated as the top contenders in the sugar-beet district for the Senior Alberta title, the Green & Gold shone again. However, most spectator interest was directed toward the two-game tussle on the Drill Hall floor with the Yellowjackets from Eastern Montana Normal. The previous year’s contests were fresh in the memory of the fans as they packed the big hall and watched the local proceed to drug the Americans 67-53 and 90-54 on succeeding evenings. The latter score was the highest ever marked up by an Alberta hoop squad. The Rigby series was a foregone conclusion and ran true to form. The Saskatchewan Huskies dropped four in a row to complete their third victory less season of competition with Alberta. Then the Bears took to the air for a tour of American colleges which saw them matched against Montana School of Education, Northwest Wyoming College and Eastern Montana Normal. The four game schedule was split with two victories and two losses. Because of conflicting examination dates, the students did not enter the provincial playdowns to defend their championship. Instead, a three-game series with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds was arranged to determine regional representation in the first round of the Olympic Trials. It was a fitting climax to an outstanding season that the Bears were chosen for this honor. Van Vliet, who was from Oregon, described Price as the finest basketball player north of the 49th parallel and the brains of the team. At centre, the Bears started Oberhoffner, an air force vet from Regina, a natural athlete. Big Jim MacRae played left forward, a 6-0 from Edmonton. Broncho Bill Rich, 27, a shooter and a Mormon who served with the RCAF during the war. Lefty Strother started at the other forward, from Saskatoon. McCormack a back-up centre. Rabbit Erickson started at left guard, a streak shooter, 29-year-old Dentistry student. Rookies on the team include Chinneck, 5-6 bullet guard who’d led the YMCA Toilers to the Alberta junior crown. Gordon McLaughlin also on the Y Toilers, voted the outstanding player of the junior league in 1946.”
Manitoba did not enter league play. The Bisons included Carl Ridd, Ray Williams, Rae Tallin, Doug Carnel, Al Cromarty, Jay Lucas, Bunky Templin, Don Reid, Clint McFarlane, Mike Spack, Eddie Pollock, coach Pat Twomey, assistant Paul Duval and equipment manager Charlie Wade.
Alberta defeated Saskatchewan in all four matches.
In the U.B.C.-Alberta challenge series, the Thunderbirds defeated the Golden Bears 62-46; 46-51; 56-42 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, U.B.C. prevailed 62-46 after opening with a 17-1 run and leading 33-16 at the half. Pat McGeer paced the Thunderbirds with 22. Bell added 14, Harry Kermode 6, Mitchell 6, John Forsythe 6, Jim McLean 2, Selman 2, Bob Scarr 2 and Bob Haas 1, while Gerry Stevenson and Campbell were scoreless. Bill Price and Bill Rich each scored 12 to lead the Golden Bears. Boyd Oberhoffner added 6, Jim MacRae 5, Gord McCormack 4, Duncan Stockwell 3, Evan Erikson 2 and Gord MacLachlan 2, while Charlie Chinneck, Barnes and Bob Strother were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, the U of Alberta evened the series with a 51-46 win after leading 31-20 at the half. Bill Rich paced Alberta with 23. Bill Price added 14, Boyd Oberhoffner 6, Evan Erickson 3, Jim MacRae 2, Duncan Stockwell 2 and Gord McCormack 2, while Gord McLachlan and Bob Strother were scoreless. Bob Haas paced the Thunderbirds with 12. Harry Kermode added 10, Pat McGeer 9, Bob Scarr 8, Campbell 4, Mitchell 2 and Bell 1, while Gerry Stevenson, Munro and McLean were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game three, U.B.C. took the series with a 56-42 win as Pat McGeer scored 18, Bob Haas 14, Harry Kermode 6, Gerry Stevenson 5, Bob Scarr 5, Campbell 4, Selman 2, Bell 1 and Munro 1, while McLean, John Forsythe and Mitchell were scoreless. Bill Price paced the Golden Bears with 13. Boyd Oberhoffner added 11, Jim MacRae 6, Evan Erickson 5, Gord McCormack 3, Bob Strother 3 and Bill Rich 1, while Barnes, Gord McLachlan, Duncan Stockwell and Charlie Chinneck were scoreless.
After the season, Manitoba appointed North Dakota high school coach (New Rockford High) Acey Olson as the Bisons new helmsman, succeeding Pat Twomey.
The runner-up Saskatchewan Huskies: Sandy Sanderson; Grant Armstrong; Bob Fuller; Doug Peterson; Mike Sharpe; Jim Scott; Jack Suttle; Dick Suderman; Bill Bulger; Jim Tomlinson; coach Tim Panton; manager Tom Ross
The champion Alberta Golden Bears: Evan Erickson; Jim MacRae; Boyd Oberhoffner; Bill Price; Charlie Chinneck; Bob Strother; Harry Irving; Duncan Stockwell; Bill Toole; Gord McCormack; Gord McLachlan; Bill Rich; Barnes; coach Maury Van Vliet; manager Andy Andrekson