| SIDELINES GYMNASTICS... The Flicka Gymnastic Clab is hosting ils annual divisional competition this Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27 at the club's North Vancouver facility. Close to 200 young gym- nasts will be competing at the meet including athletes from Victoria, the Cariboo and Whistler. NORTIL VANCOUVER MINOR HOCKEY... Shaw Cable will be broadcasting taped coverage of the Bantam triple-A provincial champi- onships, featuring the North Van Blues vs. Campbell River Tyees on the following dates: Tuesday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 31 at li a.m.: Friday. April | at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 2 at Hl am. and 5 p.m: Sunday, April 3 at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and on Monday. April 4 at 5 p.m. NORVAN SOCCER... A 12-game undefeated streak fell last Saturday as Norvan was narrowly defeated 1-0 by Fireman in Vancouver Men’s Metro League soccer action. Norvan missed on @ penalty kick in the first half, and Fireman capitalized early in the second half with the game winner. Norvan begins play in the Imperial Cup next Sunday, March 27, in quarter-final action, The North Vancouver team meets the Westburn Canadians at 2 p.m. at Riverway Park (S.E. Marine Drive and Burn Road). PLAYERS NEEDED... The following teams need players for their upcoming seasons: the Nordic Footbal? Club is looking for experienced soceer players for play in a ladies’ summer league, Call Ted (987-1419) or Ron (980- 0108) for details. The North Shore Tribe baseball team needs men aged 19-21 to fill out the B.C. Junior League squad, Call Norm (988-2364) or Bruce (987-4383) with inquiries. SYNCHRO SKIING... The first-ever Synchro Skiing / Contest at Cypress Bowl attracted seven teams of expert precision skiers from across the province. First prize went to the Blackcomb team, with Ski Esprit a close second. A team comprised of four Japanese instructors and four skiers from Quebec. called Japanuda, captured third place, and Whistler Mountain's all-girl team was fourth. “The event was just super, better than I could have ima- gined.” organizer | Russ White said of the competi- tion. “We are definitely going to make this an annual event up here at Cypress.” The Canadian Ski Instruc- tors’ Association donated $1.000 for four cash prizes hel WARE Lio a We eae er Dukes finish fourth in province First-year coach Ernie Oei steps down after heartbreaking loss in IF FOOTBALL is a game of inches then basketball is a game of seconds. By Kevin Gillies Sports Reporter For the Windsor Dukes senior boys’ basketball ream, the seconds ran out too early last Friday night, us they lost 86-83 ina game that can truly be deseribed as a heart- breaker. The Dukes came within seconds of advancing to the final of the B.C. triple-A boys’ high school championship last weekend at the PNE Agridome. Reaching the final was a goal the Dukes set tor themselves earlier this year, and they stood by that goal even though it meant upsetting the first-ranked team going into the tournament. With four seconds on the clack in their semi-final match against the top-seeded Richmond Colts, Dukes’ guard Robbie Cripps put up a three-point attempt from out- side the key. The ball went in, around the rim and out to end the game 86-83 for Richmond. The Dukes had rallied back from a 74-59 deficit after three quarters but came up just inches, and seconds, short. Dukes 6°2" forward Minko Kulic scored 27 points, while guard Jamie Oei added another 20. The Dukes showed determina- tion and guts in their fourth quarter battle against the high-octane Colts. ; The loss set the Dukes up to take on Campbell River's Carihi Tyees for third place. Carihi had fost their semi-final game against the eventual tournament champion, Terry Fox Ravens. In the final, the Ravens beat the Colts 73-66 to take the champi- onship. The Tyees, led by 6°6" forward Eric Hinrichsen, proved too much for the Dukes, who were still deflated by the loss to Richmond. Hinrichsen was good for 30 points and 29 rebounds as the Tyees cruised to a 92-64 victory. The 17-year-old senior had an unprecedented 101 rebounds in the four games the Tyees played. Hinrichsen was parked under both nets against Windsor and won all the battles for the ball, He was also the first non-finalist to win the tournament MVP honors since 1984. Cripps scored 16 points, while Windsor centre Brent Molinski semi-finals NEWS photo Mike Wakatield WINDSOR DUKE forward Lucas Third pulls up in the offensive zone during the North Vancouver high school’s opening round victory over Pitt Meadows at the B.C, triple-A provincia! tourna- ment last week. The Dukes finished fourth in the province. added 15 in the loss. The Dukes edged the Pitt Meadows Marauder Air Force 67-65, and the Maple Ridge Ramblers 65-60 to advance to the semi-finals, Dukes coach Ernie Oci said his players were disappointed after coming so close to beating the Colts, and that it was difficult to watch the final knowing they had come within inches of being there themselves. Coach Ovi brought the Dukes to the best finish in the school's histo- ry in his first year coaching at the senior level. He said it was also his last. Pro players outlast amateurs in THE VANCOUVER 86ers squared off last Saturday against the reigning 1993 Canadian Futsal Champions, Croatia Soccer Club, for some fast-paced indoor action, and came out on the winning side of an exciting 6-4 deci- sion. By Hugh Trenchard Contributing Writer The game, played before 600 exeited fans atthe Capilano College Sportsplex. was part of what is to become an annual event cailed the Pro-Am Challenge Cup, hosted by Capilano College and the B.C. Futsal Association. Futsal is similar to indoor soccer but is played with a smaller ball with less bounce than that of a regu- tar soecer ball. The game is played with five plavers. Because of the tight con- fines of an indoor facility He goalie comibutes as much to the flow of the game as the other players. Prior to the Saturday night game. the S6ers had never phived futsal as a team Initially both teams were content to acquire a feel for each other's style of phy. Croatia opened the scoring on a gow by John Gasparac, The S6ers then proceeded to take control of the game scoring three unanswered goals to lead 3-1 at the half. In the second half, a pass to S6ers goutie Paul Dolan was mis- handled. resulting ina goal which was credited to Dominic Demarco of the Croatia Club, Croatia maniged to tie the gate at 4-4, but two quick goals by the Soors in the f4th and loth minutes putthe game out of reach, Carl Valentine, playerfcoach for He feels that high school basket- ball has become so competitive and high-pressured that the fun of the game is being lost. Oei also had trouble watching disappointed kids cry while others were being awarded prizes. For North Shore all-star listings see page 2]. utsal cup the 86ers, knew his team could not take the Croatia Club lightly. “We've played against them in indoor soccer and knew they were a tough team.” Valentine said follow- ing the game. “ALL the credit to them.” Goals for the Sers were scored by Steve MeDonald (2), Tony Mobilio (2), Dale Mitchell, and Seott Macey. Croatia Soccer Club markers were tallied by Gasparac (2). Danny Has and Demarco. Player of the game for the 86ers was MeDonild. while Demarco was the Croatian side's most valuable player.