REGULAR SEASON
| ROCKIES | PRAIRIE | |||||||
| U.B.C. | 15-1 | 22-10 | Peter Mullins | Manitoba | 15-1 | 20-10 | Jack Lewis | |
| Alberta | 11-5 | 17-11 | Barry Mitchelson | Saskatchewan | 11-5 | 18-10 | Don Fry | |
| Calgary | 7-9 | 10-15 | Skip Morgan | Winnipeg | 8-8 | 12-12 | Frank Evans | |
| Victoria | 7-9 | Gary Taylor | Regina | 3-13 | 3-14 | Gene Rizak | ||
| Lethbridge | 2-14 | 12-19 | Gary Bowie | Brandon | 3-13 | Gary Howard | ||
The conference played split into two divisions with no interlocking schedule. They were referred to as the “Rockies” and “Prairie” divisions. In the East, Manitoba finished 15-1 and qualified for the playoffs along with Saskatchewan, 11-5. In the west, U.B.C. qualified in first place with a 13-3 record while Alberta qualified second with an 11-5 record.
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Brandon Bobcats: Jerry Hemmings, Mike Vaira, Joe Parks, Dave Bauman, Rick Read, Bill Warren, Bob Hill, Tom Ford, Clarence Hathaway, Dick Doerr, John Duignan, Frank Lindal, Jim Henderson, Sawaar Simmons, Bill Moody, coach Gary Howard; assistant Bob Neville, assistant Tom Ford, assistant Sawaar Simmons, manager Jim Ross
Calgary Dinosaurs: Danny Quance, John Powell, Gary Elliot, Jim Lathrop, Brent Farch, Bill Lathrop, Warren Meyer, Larry Bates, Keith Recsky, Bob Herdman, Bud Coupland, Mike Horner, Ian Miller, Jim Watson, coach Skip Morgan
Lethbridge Pronghorns: Bill Magierowski, Don Hamilton, Doug McKay, Clark Sloan, Doug Kempt, Eric Peterson, Doug Trost, Craig Leishman, Myron Peterson, Cam Burr, Clark Hunter, Bruce Ririe, coach Gary Bowie
Regina Cougars: Merv Prier, Brian Johnson, Robert Pyne, Jerry Brhelle, Wes Britton, Larry Solie, Raymond Manz, Neil Jacoby, Glenn Szabo, Paul MacInnes, Ken Bryant, Larry Kram, Wayne McKeage, Bob Balfour, coach Gene Rizak
Victoria Vikings: Gord Hoshal, Tom Holmes, Fergie Andison, Tom Child, Brent Mullin, Mike Bishop, Jim Hunter, Barry Moen, Harry Hunter, Dave Wallace, Doug Walton, John Campbell, coach Gary Taylor
Winnipeg Wesmen: Barry King, Rich Macey, Willie Reimer, Joe Dudar, Rich Stephanyshyn, Jose Rodriguez, Bob Allen, Tom Prentice, Charles Shiaro, Gary Burkett, Dave Synott, Harry deBeer, coach Frank Evans
In the semis, U.B.C. defeated Alberta 79-51; 74-59 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… U.B.C. opened with a 79-51 victory over Alberta as Ron Thorsen scored 23 and John Mills 18. The Golden Bears were led by Tom Solyom 18 and Wallace Tollestrup 11. …………………………………………………… In game two, U.B.C. defeated Alberta 74-59 as Daryl Gjernes scored 13, Ron Thorsen 13 and Stan Callegari 12. Mike Frisby paced the Golden Bears with 15. Tom Solyom added 15. Alberta led 11-3 early but U.B.C. roared back to a 40-28 lead at the half on the perimeter shooting of Thorsen and Jack Hoy. Thunderbirds coach Peter Mullins told the Vancouver Sun “we were a bit lethargic in the first half but we played better as the game progressed.” Alberta’s Wally Tollestrup “was ejected from the game for throwing Gjernes to the floor during a centre jump,” the Sun reported.
In the other semi, Saskatchewan stunned regular season Prairie Division champ Manitoba 72-85; 79-76; 72-71 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In the opener, Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan 85-72 although Bison coach Jack Lewis told reporters he was having trouble getting his team up for the semi-finals. Bill Lacy scored 28 to pace Saskatchewan. Bob Thompson added 14, Jim Herbison 9, Doug Forsythe 8, Paul Jacoby 4, Tom Gosse 4 and Brian Eger 4. Manitoba led 39-27 at the half, after taking a 12-10 lead and almost doubling it to 24-12. The Bison were paced by Angus Burr 17, including 15 in the second half; Greg Gillies 14, Bob Town 13, including 10 in the first half, Bob LaRose 11, Puttaert 7, Rumsay 6, Watts 5, Irwin 4, Unruh 4 and Gurban 4. Manitoba shot .450 from the floor, while Saskatchewan was .500 (25-50). The Bisons committed 14 turnovers to Saskatchewan’s 26. …………………………………………………… In game two, Saskatchewan eked out a 79-76 victory as Bill Lacy scored 26; Paul Jacoby 24, Bob Thompson 8, Brian Eger 7, Jim Herbison 6, Doug Forsythe 6 and Tom Gosse 2. The Bisons were led by Bob Town 20, Angus Burr 14, Greg Gillies 13, Gord Puttaert 10, Ron Unruh 8, Bob LaRose 6, Daryl Rumsay 3 and Jon Gurban 2. …………………………………………………… The deciding match saw Saskatchewan rally from an eight point deficit with five minutes to play by using its full court press to nip Manitoba 72-71. Manitoba point guard Jon Gurban had fouled out and Saskatchewan exploited the Bisons attempt to stall and run out the clock. Jim Herbison and Paul Jacoby easily broke the press as Saskatchewan went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 71-68 with two minutes to go. As the Bisons continued their bid to stall, Jacoby hit two 25-foot jumpers in the final minute to win the game. With 20 seconds to go, Manitoba stalled again for the last shot but Angus Burr was called for traveling. The Bisons stole the ball with 12 seconds to go, Burr put up a 25-foot jumper which bounced off the rim. Bill Lacy led Saskatchewan with 26. Jim Herbison added 12, Brian Eger 12, Paul Jacoby 11, Tom Gosse 8 and Bob Thompson 3. Manitoba was paced by Bob Town 22, Angus Burr 16, Greg Gillies 12, Gord Puttaert 5, Daryl Rumsay 9, Bob Larose 1, and Jon Gurban 5.
In the finals, U.B.C. defeated Saskatchewan 71-74; 105-88; 97-75 (2g-1).
Saskatchewan won the opener 74-71 after jumping ahead 45-28 at the half. The Huskies shot .600 in the first half as 6-7 Bob Thompson scored 12 and 6-5 Brian Eger 10 in the first half. Paul Jacoby and Tom Gosse also shot well. But U.B.C. came back with a zone press in the second half and received 16 points from John Mills to close within one with seconds to go. However, Thompson hit a layup with three seconds to go to seal the victory. The Huskies were paced by former Southern Illinois Saluki Bill Lacy, who scored 17. Brian Eger added 14, Bob Thompson 14, Paul Jacoby 12 and Tom Gosse 12. John Mills paced the Thunderbirds with 23. Ron Thorsen added 22. Saskatchewan out-rebounded U.B.C. 33-31 and shot .480 from the floor, .630 from the line and committed 19 turnovers. U.B.C. shot .440 from the floor, .750 from the line and committed 14 turnovers.
In game two, U.B.C. prevailed 105-88 after leading 49-42 at the half. Ron Thorsen led U.B.C. with 35. John Mills added 19 and Darryl Gjernes 17. Bill Lacy led the Huskies with 38. Brian Eger added 18.
In the deciding contest, U.B.C. thrashed Saskatchewan 97-75 as John Mills scored 30, while nabbing 11 rebounds, Ron Thorsen 27 and guard Darryl Gjernes 15. Bill Lacy led Saskatchewan with 23 and Paul Jacoby 16. U.B.C. overcame a 10-point in the first half to take a 43-40 lead at the break. The T’Birds full court press bothered Saskatchewan as they took control of the game in the second half.
At both the 1972 and 1973 league meetings, membership of Simon Fraser University was discussed but “unresolved differences of opinion and philosophies” (i.e. athletic scholarships) precluded the Clan’s entry into the league.
After the season, Jack Lewis left the helm of the Manitoba Bisons and was replaced by Don Hunter, who’d coach the Manitoba junior varsity team to pair of national titles.
In May/1972, Manitoba, Winnipeg, Brandon and Regina left the league to form the Great Plains Athletic Conference, along with Lakehead.
The co-bronze medalist Manitoba Bisons: Bob Town; Angus Burr; Greg Gillies; Gord Puttaert; Daryl Rumsay; Bob Larose; Jon Gurban; John Loewen; Ron Unruh; Rick Watts; Bill Irwin; coach Jack Lewis; assistant Ted Stoesz; trainer Jamie Spack; manager John Restivo
The co-bronze medalist Alberta Golden Bears: Bob Morris; Mike Frisby; Marty Lyons; Tom Solyom; Wallace Tollestrup; Brian Hart; Greg Stewart; Gary Campbell; Barry Bennett; Brian Neiminen; Bob Dawson; coach Barry Mitchelson; assistant Andy Skujins; manager Roy Chapelski
The runner-up Saskatchewan Huskies: Bill Lacy; Bob Thompson; Tom Gosse; Paul Jacoby; Doug Forsyth; Brian Eger; Jim Herbison; Wayne Dyck; Larry Larson; Jim Kirkpatrick; Ken Traynor; Dean Faris; Dan Hill; coach Don Fry
The champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds: Ron Thorsen; Stan Callegari; John Mills; Darryl Gjernes; Jack Hoy; Rod Matheson; Peter Herd; Bob Dickson; Tom Allison; Bob Phillips; Doug Cripps; Mike Ireland; Doug Kineer; Pat Lee; coach Peter Mullins, manager Derek Swain, trainer Jack Hoy, trainer Al Larson