REGULAR SEASON
| Alberta | 2-0 | Maury Van Vliet | ||||||
| Saskatchewan | 0-2 | 0-4 | Fran Pyne | |||||
From the Green & Gold: “The 1950-51 edition of the Bears, with newcomers making up half their ranks, developed into a high aggregation that displayed some excellent basketball form over the season. The experienced hand of coach Van Vliet, aided by four-year captain McLachlan, molded a group of players into a very well-balanced club. With a wealth of experience gained on the Montana-Wyoming trip, along with traveling games making up their 20-game season, they should be a very ominous threat for the Canadian College Championship next year. The Bears’ plans for next year include entering Dominion playdowns or College competitions in order to get a chance to compete for the right to represent Canada in the 1952 Olympic Games. The team featured MacLachlan, the ‘Killam Kid’ a fourth-year guard from Edmonton, 6-6 centre Ed Lucht from Edmonton, known for an unguardable hook shot; ‘Big Ole” Nielsen, a Swede from Edmonton; McGrath’s ‘Andy’ Anderson, a leftie who also held a referee’s card; perimeter shooter John Higgin; forward Don MacIntosh, formerly with the U. Of A Blizzards in Calgary and a former provincial junior champ in tennis; fourth-year guard Tom Mayson; sophomore Steve Mendryk, a gridiron standout; centre Geoff Mortimer, a 32-year-old who’d played for several star RCMP teams; centre Herb Teskey, as well as rookies Raymond’s Reed Erickson;, Cardston’s Don Newton, known as a ‘scorer’; Calgary’s Ron Southern, a guard; and Len Cooper, a member of the champion junior Bearcats.”
Manitoba did not enter league play. The Bisons (coached by A.C. Olson, equipment manager C Wade) included Bob Fryer, Carl Ridd, Moe Wood, Keith Lamont, Chick Campbell, Frank Scheider, Don MacDougall, Bernie Parent, Jack Willett, Jim Mills and Doug McLeod.
Host Alberta stomped Saskatchewan 80-50 and 69-50. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta outclassed Saskatchewan 80-50. Ed Lucht dominated the paint while scoring 21. Don Macintosh added 15, Gord McLachlan 8, Len Cooper 6, Steve Mendryk 6, Don Newton 5, John Higgins 4, Herb Teskey 4, Reed Erickson 4, Geoff Mortimer 3, Ole Neilson 2, Tom Mayson 1 and Ron Southern 1, while Al Anderson was scoreless. Morris Anderson paced Saskatchewan with 13. Walt Cebrynsky added 6, Don Leier 5, James McCarton 5, Wes Bolstad 4, Lon Prestupa 4, Brian Ward 4, Geoff Styles 3, Ken Biddell 3, Lon Mercier 2 and Steve Arsenych 1. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta romped 69-50. Gord McLachlan paced Alberta with 12. Don Macintosh added 11, Ron Southern 9, Len Cooper 6, John Higgins 5, Geoff Mortimer 5, Steve Mendryk 4, Reed Erickson 4, Herb Teskey 3, Tom Mayson 3, Don Newton 2, Ed Lucht 2, Al Anderson 2 and Ole Neilson 1. Morris Anderson and Walt Cebrynsky each scored 11 to pace the Huskies. Brian Ward added 8, Geoff Styles 6, Wes Bolstad 4, Lon Prestupa 4, Nels Deck 2, Ken Biddell 2 and Don Leier 2, while Jim McArton, Joe Mercier and Steve Arsenych were scoreless.
Alberta defeated host Saskatchewan 57-53 and 60-47. …………………………………………………… In game one, Alberta edged Saskatchewan 57-53. The Huskies led for most of the affair but Ed Lucht sparked a late rally for the Bears by scoring six in the final two minutes. Don Macintosh paced the Bears with 17. Gord McLachlan added 14, Steve Mendryk 12, Ed Lucht 8, Ole Neilson 3, John Higgins 3, Ron Southern 2 and Herb Teskey 1, while Reed Erickson, Bill Laureshen and Tom Mayson were scoreless. Morris Anderson paced the Huskies with 17. Ken Biddell added 8, Lon Prestupa 8, Don Leier 7, Jim McCarton 5, Wes Bolstad 2, Lon Mercier 2, Brian Ward 2 and Walt Cebrynsky 2, while Geoff Styles was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Alberta prevailed 60-47. The Bears took an early 6-2 lead, extended the margin to 20-8 and then to 37-22 at the half. Don Macintosh paced the Bears with 19. Ed Lucht added 17, Reed Erickson 8, Steve Mendryk 8, Gord McLachlan 3, Ole Neilson 3, Bill Laureshen 3 and Tom Mayson 1, while Herb Teskey and Len Cooper were scoreless. Wes Bolstad led the Huskies with 11. Don Leier added 8 and Ken Biddell 7, Jim McArton 6, Walt Cebrynsky 6, Lon Prestupa 3, Morris Anderson 3, Geoff Styles 2 and Lon Mercier 1, while Brian Ward was scoreless.
After the season, Manitoba coach A.C. Olson announced his resignation so that he could return to the States and assume a coaching position at the American college level.
The runner-up Saskatchewan Huskies: Wes Bolstad; Don Leier; Ken Biddell; Jim McCarton; Walt Cebrynsky, Lon Prestupa, Morris Anderson, Geoff Styles; Lon Mercier; Brian Ward; Steve Arsenych;
The champion Alberta Golden Bears: Ole Nielson; Gord MacLachlan; Ed Lucht; Don MacIntosh; Herb Teskey; Al Anderson; Reed Erickson; John Higgins; Tom Mayson; Steve Mendryk; Don Newton; Ron Southern; Len Cooper; Bill Laureshan; Geoff Mortimer; coach Maury Van Vliet; manager Gordon Peterson