Brandon Bobcats 1987-89 (MBB | Team)

NAME: Bobcats (1987-89)

UNIVERSITY: Brandon

CATEGORY: Team

SPORT: Men's Basketball

CW Hall of Fame Class of 2025-26

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Coached by Jerry Hemmings, the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team captured three consecutive national championships from 1987 to 1989, establishing one of the most dominant dynasties in Canadian university basketball history

• Won the program’s first-ever national championship in 1987, led by First Team All-Canadian John Carson, who earned tournament MVP honours

• Completed an undefeated GPAC season in 1987–88 and entered the national championship as the top seed, capping a 30-game winning streak with a national title

• Inducted as a team into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame (2005), the Brandon University Sports Wall of Fame (2014), and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2019)

BIOGRAPHY:

The Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball program reached unprecedented heights between 1987 and 1989, capturing three straight national championships and establishing one of the most dominant stretches in Canadian university basketball history.

The dynasty began in 1987, when the Bobcats captured the program’s first-ever national title behind the leadership of five-time First Team All-Canadian John Carson. Brandon advanced to the championship game with victories over the Concordia Stingers in the quarter-finals and the McMaster Marauders in the semifinals, before defeating the UBC Thunderbirds 74-66 in the national final. Carson delivered a signature moment late in the game with a thunderous dunk that sealed the victory, finishing with a game-high 38 points and earning tournament Most Valuable Player honours.

Brandon’s 1987 championship run was built on dominance at the conference level as well. Carson scored 34 points to lead the Bobcats past the Winnipeg Wesmen 100-88 to claim the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title and secure qualification to nationals.

The Bobcats showed no signs of slowing down the following season, led by a breakout campaign from Patrick Jebbison, who was named the Mike Moser Memorial Award winner as top men’s basketball player in Canada. Brandon went undefeated in GPAC play during 1987-88, crushing the Regina Cougars 95-72 to claim the conference championship, and entered the national tournament as the top seed. At nationals, the Bobcats defeated the Carleton Ravens 82-69 in the quarter-finals and the Western Mustangs 73-65 in the semifinals before closing out with an 81-68 victory over the Acadia Axemen in the championship game. The win capped a remarkable 30-game winning streak, with Whitney Dabney pouring in a game-high 29 points and six rebounds to earn tournament MVP honours.

The championship hat trick was completed in 1989, as Brandon once again ruled the GPAC and claimed the conference title for the eighth time in ten years. Joey Vickery scored 21 first-half points in a decisive 95-75 win over Regina to sweep the best-of-three league final and secure Brandon’s place at nationals.

At the national championship, the Bobcats advanced to the final with a quarter-final victory over the Concordia Stingers and a semifinal win against the Toronto Varsity Blues. Brandon then edged long-time rival Victoria 74-73 in a dramatic championship game. After seeing a 16-point lead trimmed to two late, the Bobcats preserved the victory with a defining defensive play from Jebbison, who delivered a critical blocked shot in the final seconds. Vickery led the way with 20 points, six steals, and three rebounds, becoming the first-ever recipient of the Jack Donohue Trophy as tournament MVP. Jebbison was also honoured with his second consecutive national player of the year award.

Together, the 1987, 1988, and 1989 Brandon University Bobcats teams established a standard of excellence that has endured for decades. The teams have since been recognized on a local and provincial level, being inducted in to the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, the Brandon University Sports Wall of Fame in 2014, and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.