Unable to repeat as National champions in fourth visit

Following their first undefeated regular season in three years, the Acadia Axemen advanced to the fourth university men's basketball nationals in March 1966 in Calgary.

Acadia was joined by Windsor (who, like the Axemen, had been part of each of the first four nationals), Carleton and host Calgary as the national tournament made its first visit to western Canada.

For the first time, Acadia entered the tournament as the defending champions, and the Axemen had been installed as the tournament's top seed.

The past, however, meant nothing as the Axemen prepared to meet Windsor in the semi-finals. The two were familiar foes - it was the fourth time in as many years Acadia and Windsor had met at nationals.

The Axemen roster was deeper than in 1965, but their younger players (other than Brian Heaney) tended to lack post-season experience, and in particular, the experience of having played in big games.

Acadia, which started four guards and Dave Rode, also lacked the overall height of some of the other teams, particularly Windsor.

This was evident in their semi-final, in which the Lancers scored a 78-68 victory. The teams went to the locker room at halftime tied at 34, and while Acadia continued to keep the score close early in the second half, Windsor's experience, fast break offense and pressure defense combined to wear the Axemen down. Konchalski led Acadia with 22 points, Heaney had 21, Damon Pouyat 11 and Rode 10.

The loss relegated the Axemen to the bronze-medal game against Carleton, 83-68 losers to Calgary in their semifinal. Interestingly, much of the Calgary crowd was rooting for Acadia, which had played nobly in defeat against Windsor while Carleton had roughed up Calgary in their semifinal loss.

With something to prove, Acadia jumped out to an early 26-7 lead en route to a 49-28 halftime advantage. Leading by 30 in the second half, coach Aberdeen one by one removed his starters from the game, which ended in an 83-64 Axemen victory.

Konchalski hooped 28 points in his final game in an Acadia uniform. Heaney added 23 points to go along with 18 rebounds, and Rode chipped in 22 in his final Acadia contest. Konchalski finished his Acadia career with four nationals appearances, on teams that finished second, fourth, first and third.

Windsor topped Calgary 95-83 to capture its third national title in four years.

Contributed by John DeCoste '77. John's book, Living the Dream: The Acadia Axemen at the Nationals can be purchased by contacting John at jadecoste56@gmail.com