REGULAR SEASON
| U.B.C. | 14-6 | 24-13 | Bruce Enns | |||||
| Calgary | 11-9 | Gary Howard | ||||||
| Victoria | 10-10 | 12-13 | Guy Vetrie | |||||
| Alberta | 10-10 | 20-13 | Don Horwood | |||||
| Saskatchewan | 9-11 | 14-12 | Steve Roth | |||||
| Lethbridge | 6-14 | 7-20 | Dave Crook | |||||
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Lethbridge Pronghorns: Brian Kannekens, Joey DeWitt, Mike Hansen, Ben Bullock, Mike Lynagh, Rob Blais, Todd Van Der Burgh, Brady Ibbetson, Kent Hecker, Mike Pajic, Tad Lisowski, Sean Fabel, coach Dave Crook
Saskatchewan Huskies: Blair Garneau, Doug Wegren, Ken Morris, Dean Wiebe, Matt McCullough, Carlton Haak, Darrin Rask, Brad Schoenfeld, Brent Allison, Scott Ferguson, Brett Powell, Ryan Hindmarsh, coach Steve Roth
In the semis, regular season champ U.B.C. swept Alberta 83-82; 84-71 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, UBC nipped Alberta 83-82 as Jason Leslie scored 26 and J.D. Jackson 24. Scott Karaim led Alberta with 19 points while Greg Badger scored 17 for the Bears, who led 43-39 at halftime. Karaim made it close by hitting a three-point shot at the final buzzer. “We probably played one of our best games of the season,” said Alberta coach Don Horwood. We did all the things that we wanted to do. We ran a special defence for J.D. Jackson which worked really well for most of the game.” But Jackson scored 10 points in the last two minutes to pull out the win for the Thunderbirds. …………………………………………………… In game two, U.B.C. prevailed 84-71 as Jason Leslie scored 21. Scott Martel led the Bears with 16. Dan Vanhooren added 12. The Thunderbirds led 46-35 at the half. “After the game, I told the guys that I was really proud of them,” said Alberta coach Don Horwood. “I thought they had a fabulous year. I can only think of two or three games where they didn’t give 100%. We just came up a little bit short in everything, it seemed like we were close but just not quite good enough to get over that hump.” The Bears suffered a series of setbacks during the season. Star Rick Stanley retired at the start of the season. Fifth year gunner Brian Halsey lost interest at Christmas. Scott Karaim suffered a sore ankle that cause to miss three weeks and captain Mike Frisby blew out his knee shortly before the playoffs.
In the other semi, Victoria defeated Calgary 82-65; 84-85; 69-61 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, third place Victoria defeated second place and host Calgary 82-65. The Dinosaurs were altogether lackluster, said coach Gary Howard. “There’s no doubt they can bounce back but they’re going to have to play a heckuva lot better than they did tonight.” Were it not for Ian Minnifee, “we might have got shut out,” Howard added. Victoria led 46-30 at the half. Tom Johnson paced the Vikings with 22. Chris Brinnen added 14, Greg Meldrum 12, Corey Klassen 8, Andy Willmot 7, Bruce Crowle 6, Todd Langley 6, Rick Mesich 3, Chris Shriek 2 and Willis Parnell 2, while Casey Olynyk and Jeff Bevington were scoreless. The Dinosaurs cut the margin to six in the second half but never seriously threatened. Ian Minnifee led Calgary with 27. Jeff Smith added 16, Andrew Vaughan 8, David Johnson 5, Craig Newman 4, Hugh McKenzie 3 and Mark Dobell 2, while Kieron Warren, Kurt Pederson, Stephane Rochet, Mark Loria and Richard Dibb were scoreless. “Victoria did a great job shutting things down inside,” said Howard. “We didn’t attack the basket. We didn’t perform well. We have to execute better. We have to make the shots too.” Howard was at a loss to explain the lack of effort. “I can’t answer that. I’m not a psychologist.” …………………………………………………… In game two, Ian Minnifee hit a bucket at the buzzer as Calgary defeated Victoria 85-84 in overtime. “He’s been awesome,” said Calgary coach Gary Howard. “The leadership on the floor has been tremendous. I’m happy for him. He struggled a bit for a few weeks. He had tired legs, a tired body. It’s been a long season.” Minnifee said he’s been struggling with a bad back injury down the stretch of the season. “I couldn’t hit the shots.” But after losing the opener, “we knew we could have played better,” he added. Victoria took a 73-68 lead into the final minute. But Minnifee hit a jumper and a free throw and then Jeff Smith notched a putback rebound to force overtime. The Dinosaurs had built an early 31-21 lead but Chris Schriek scored 11 as the Vikings rallied to a 44-41 lead at the half. Greg Meldrum paced Victoria with 15. Jeff Smith notched 16 for Calgary. Howard said his troops “proved something about their character tonight. I didn’t know if there was enough gas left in the tank.” …………………………………………………… In game three, Victoria prevailed 69-61 as Tom Johnson scored 23, Cory Klassen 15, Greg Meldrum 9, Todd Langley 8, Bruce Crowle 6, Chris Brinnen 5 and Willis Parnell 3, while Chris Schriek, Casey Olynyk, Andy Willmot, Rich Mesich and Jeff Bevington were scoreless. “We thought we had to come in here and play relaxed and controlled. I thought we did that for the most part in all three games,” said Victoria coach Guy Vetrie. “In today’s game, they kept coming after us but we didn’t break.” Ian Minnifee led Calgary with 33. “He’s a helluva ball player,” said Vetrie. “He kept it close for them.” Calgary coach Gary Howard concurred. “I don’t think there’s enough words to describe his effort. He did a helluva job. He had a helluva series.” Victoria kept Calgary confined almost entirely to the perimeter, limiting Calgary posts Andrew Vaughan and Jeff Smith to a combined 13 points, 20 off their regular season average. Vaughan scored 8, Mark Loria 6, Jeff Smith 5, David Johnson 4, Craig Newman 3 and Mark Dobell 2, while Kieron Warren, Hugh McKenzie, Kurt Pederen, Stephane rochet and Richard Dibb were scoreless. “They’ve been kicking everybody’s butts all year. I thought we did a decent job against them,” said Vetrie. Vaughan scored 8 in the first half and none in the second. Despite the loss, Howard was pleased with his troops. “We didn’t fold. We battled right to the end. It was a long road from sixth (last year) to second. We traveled that road. Today’s game could have gone either way. All in all, I’m happy with the progress the kids made. I’m proud of them.” The Vikings all but shut down Calgary’s inside game. “They’ve been kicking everybody’s butt all year,” said Victoria coach Guy Vetrie. “I thought we did a decent job against them.”
In the finals, U.B.C. defeated Victoria 95-83; 90-75 (2g-0).
In the opener, U.B.C. prevailed 95-83 as 6-5 forward Bob Heighton scored 17 and snagged 6 rebounds while hitting 6-9 from the floor and 5-5 from the line and playing tough defence inside. U.B.C. opened the second half with a 20-6 run to go ahead by 17. Coach Bruce Enns had dressed down his team at half time after Victoria had rallied late in the first half to close the margin. Jason Leslie paced the Thunderbirds with 26 while nabbing 13 rebounds in helping U.B.C. out-rebound Victoria 43-30. J.D. Jackson scored 23, Brian Tait 11, Roger Rai 7, Jason Pamer 7, Derek Christianson 2 and Derek Dirom 2. Tom Johnson led the Vikings with 28. Cory Klassen added 13, Greg Meldrum 11, Chris Brinnen 10, Bruce Crowle 5, Todd Langley 5, Rick Mesich 4, Andy Willmot 3, Chris Schriek 2 and Willis Parnell 2, while Jeff Bevington was scoreless. Enns later noted “the key thing for us was not our star players. Jason Leslie played a solid game but the key thing for us today was our support people. Roger Raie, Derek Dirom and Jason Pamer. And the best player of the game was Bob Heighton. ….The key thing for us was to get them out of their rhythm. Others had to step forward for us and they did.” With Jackson willing his passes into the hands of a galloping herd of T-Birds, UBC took a 70-53 lead with 14:15 remaining, then forced a scatter-shot UVic offence to try and win from the perimeter.
In game two, U.B.C. took a 90-75 victory to sweep the series as Canada West player of the year J.D. Jackson scored 24 and grabbed five rebounds. U.B.C. was in control of the game when Victoria rallied to within five and Tom Johnson stole the ball. But Jackson promptly stole in back and Jason Leslie converted on a three-point play to put the game out of reach. Leslie, a 6-6 f added 22 for the Thunderbirds, while nabbing 7 rebounds. Roger Rai notched 13, Bob heighton 10, Derek Christiansen 9, Brian Tait 6, Jason Pamer 2, Derek Dirom 2 and Ricardo Cavalerri 2, while Paul Langley was scoreless. Enns later praised Jackson’s steal as the turning point. “That’s the genius of Jackson. It looks like we’re about to go in the tank, all of sudden he makes a big steal and it goes down to the other end. J.D. made it happen. That the kind of thing he does all the time.” Playing his last home game, Jackson noted that “this is something that is always highly emotional.” Jackson buried a short eight-foot jumper in the paint Friday to put UBC up 18-15 with 13:26 left in half for his 3,500 career point. Jackson said he played nervously. “I took some bad shots. It was nervous energy. This series obviously means a lot to me, but I’m excited to move on.” Greg Meldrum scored 17 to pace Victoria while Cory Klassen tossed in 15. Tom Johnson was held to 10, including a dismal 3-13 effort from the floor
The co-bronze medalist Calgary Dinosaurs: Andrew Vaughan; Jeff Smith; David Johnson; Mark Loira; Marc Dobell; Craig Newman; Hugh McKenzie; Kurt Pederson; Richard Dibb; Kieron Warren; Stephane Rochet; coach Gary Howard
The co-bronze medalist Alberta Golden Bears: Sean Foote; Greg Badger; Chris Harrison; Clayton Pottinger; Greg Devries; Murray Cunningham; Andre Lapierre; Kendon Dressel; Jay Johnstone; Scott Karaim; Mike Frisby; Rick Stanley; Brian Halsey; coach Don Horwood
The runner-up Victoria Vikings: Tom Johnson; Cory Klassen; Chris Brinnen; Greg Meldrum; Bruce Crowle; Andy Wilmott; Todd Langley; Chris Schriek; Rick Mesich; Willis Parnell; Jeff Bevington; Dan McMillan; Rick Gill; Casey Olynyk; coach Guy Vetrie; assistant Clint Hamilton
The champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds: J.D. Jackson; Jason Leslie; Derek Christiansen; Bob Heighton; Brian Tait; Dereck Dirom; Paul Langley; Roger Rai; Randy Ellis; Ricardo Cavalieri, Jason Pamer; Jonathan Mayan; Dwayne Washington; Mike Clarke; coach Bruce Enns; assistant Kevin Hanson