REGULAR SEASON
| Brandon | 13-3 | Jerry Hemmings | |||
| Manitoba | 12-4 | Rick Suffield | |||
| Winnipeg | 9-7 | 25-13 | Bruce Enns | ||
| Regina | 3-13 | 13-22 | Ken Murray | ||
| Lakehead | 2-14 | 7-26 | John Zanatta | ||
The league reverted to a single-knockout tourney for postseason play, for a period of three years.
First place Brandon was ineligible for the postseason tourney because they were serving a one-year suspension for “overpayment of athletes” and other recruiting irregularities. Brandon led the league but was placed on probation for two years for illegal payments to athletes, including cash, free rooms, improper administration of loans and jobs given to athletes. Bill Potter, head of Brandon’s board of governors, said “we don’t disagree with their decision. We were violating the rules. Last year, payments that were not within the rules were at least $44,000. In previous years, there were other payments.” Students received payments between $16,000 and $17,000 from the university’s booster club last year, Potter said. They also obtained $28,900 worth of accommodation from 30 free rooms. Other violations included providing university loans and “at least 10 to 12 jobs.” Brandon (coached by Jerry Hemmings, assisted by Bob Eamer, managers Mike Velie and Darcy Marshall) included John Carson, Ken Fields, Earl Roberts, Charles Douthit, Courtney Bailey, Don Thomson, Brian Ackroyd, Rick Briscoe, Butch Gayton, Frank Bojarski, John Bukich, Patrick Jebbison, James Pettiford, Michael Paquin, Cam Hurst and Marvin Russell.
In the semis, Winnipeg defeated Regina 98-84 despite playing without point guard Perry Scarlett. The Wesmen emptied their bench and literally ran Regina into exhaustion. The teams were tied at 40 at the half but Winnipeg opened the second frame with a 9-0 run, giving them what proved to be an insurmountable lead in an up-tempo affair. Winnipeg guard Randy Pate noted that “we outhustled them. Well, we had to.” Art Koop led Winnipeg with 19 points. Maurice Seales added 16 and Gord Tucker 15. Glen Nelson scored 22 for Regina before fouling out. James Hillis added 21 and Mark Benesh 20. Cougars coach Ken Murray told the Regina Leader-Post that the second-half collapse “just shouldn’t have happened. It almost looked as though we were playing scared. As the game wore on, we got tighter and tighter.” Wesmen coach Bruce Enns said “I think our defence created a few mistakes and that’s what turned it around.” Pate said “they (Regina) played a good first half. But everybody came out in the second half and we were really fired up. The key was defence. The pressure was the whole key to our break.” The Wesmen hit 30-40 from the line, while the Cougars were 14-27. Murray said “we missed a potential 11 points in the first half. We should have finished the half with a comfortable lead.” Cougar James Hillis said “when we screwed up for two minutes, they just took the game right away from us. That’s been our problem all year long. And to come back against a team like Winnipeg is very tough.” Regina outrebounded Winnipeg 43-30 led by Bill Knudsen’s 11. Murray said “it looked good for a while. I don’t mind losing the basketball game if we play 100%. But I told our kids that were playing about 75% tonight.”
In the other semi, Manitoba pounded Lakehead 89-68 after taking a 53-33 lead at the break. John Himanen scored 10 of Manitoba’s first 15 points before retiring with an ankle injury. Tony Kaufman finished with 28 for the Bisons, while Joe Ogoms dominated the paint. Cheddie Warner led Lakehead with 18. Andy Hirslund added 15, John Grace 13 and Rob Quesnel 11. Kaufman told the Regina Leader-post “we got it upcourt really quickly. We passed it faster than they reacted and it opened up lanes.”
In the bronze medal match, Regina whipped Lakehead 97-76. Regina led 10-0 early and 47-34 at the half. Cougars coach Ken Murray told the Regina Leader-Post that “I think the kid’s performed really well, especially the young ones. It’s been a long time since we’ve been in control of a game like that.” Mark Benesh paced Regina with 30. Glen Nelson added 20, along with 13 boards, James Hillis 14, Lawrence Biegler 14 and Bill Knudsen 11, along with 7 boards. Benesh, who hit 14-19 from the floor, said “we finally fell a way of controlling the game and knowing that it was ours. We haven’t felt that too many times this year.” Cheddie Warner led the Norwesters with 16. Rob Quesnel added 13 and Andy Hirslund 12. The Norwesters (coached by John Zanatta, assisted by Dino Gini and Harry Van Laar) also included Barry Thomas, John Grace, Pat Charlebois, John Laplante, Andrew Barbeau, Mike Kaysor, Rene Pawliak, Al Roos and Greg Whitlock.
In the final, Manitoba nipped Winnipeg 76-74 as Terry Garrow hit the winning 25-footer with 30 seconds to play. “I saw seven (seconds left) on the shot clock and I felt confident so I just put it up,” Garrow told the Regina Leader-Post. “It feels nice, I’ll tell you.” Manitoba coach Rick Suffield said “I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I wanted Garrow to throw up a 25-footer. But he can hit that shot.” An Art Koop runner for the Wesmen rolled off the rim at the buzzer. Winnipeg had led 41-39 at the half on the play of Willy Parker, Art Koop and Gord Tucker. Wesmen coach Bruce Enns said “it (Garrow’s shot) was a bit shot and he made it, so I have to hand it to him. But I thought we played a pretty solid game, controlled the tempo and shot out their inside game. The difference was some our key people never got to the foul line. And in the end, we really couldn’t make the shots when we needed them, and they did.” Tony Kaufman paced Manitoba with 25. Gord Tucker led Winnipeg with 17. Art Koop added 15. Suffield told Canadian Press that “I’ve been coaching for 12 years and I’ll tell you what has made the difference. These players. This is quite simply the finest group of athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. They are fine people on and off the court.”
The bronze medalist Regina Cougars: Glen Nelson; Cam Uhren; James Hillis; Bill Knudsen; Mark Benesh; Warren Poncsak; Mark Gilbert; Lawrence Biegler; Sean Wade; Doug Mutschler; Darrel Devernichuk; Albert Benesh; Kevin Shalley; Ron Taylor; coach Ken Murray; assistant Glenn Szabo; athletic director Neil Sherlock; SID Dick White
The runner-up Winnipeg Wesmen: Perrie Scarlett; Blaine Acton; Willy Parker; Mark Johannson; Art Koop; Gordon Tucker; Burke Toews; Randy Pate; David Filmon; Murray Gehman; Dean Goodbrandson; Godfrey Brown; Maurice Seales; Merv Voth; coach Bruce Enns; assistant Devon Daley; assistant Jameel Aziz; manager Scott MacPherson; manager Mark Schultz; athletic director Aubrey Ferris; SID Doug Vickery
The champion Manitoba Bisons: Terry Garrow; Lorne Verstraete; Trevor Hoilett; Brian Light; Joe Ogoms; Tony House; Scott Martin; Rob Laycock; Mark Snidal; Brian Gray; John Himanen; Tony Kaufman; Mike Ross; coach Rick Suffield; assistant Laurie May; trainer Gord Mackie; athletic director Joyce Fromson; SID Terry Gavan