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Show CLEARFIELD COURIER, Feb. 28, 1979, Page 12 by Keith Dtmcaa the only thing that is more rare than a Mexican bat or d a ferret, is probably a About big-eare- d black-foote- And youll find one of those rare breeds at Roy High School, his name Fred Fernandes. Roy High, en route to their third consecutive Region One cage title, captured what some say was the most impressive comeback victory in its history, alien they subdued Clearfield after being down 17 points in the final quarter. Needless to say, slick Fernandes was a vital part of that win. In a conversation over the telephone a day after the unbelievable win, Freds and Mark Reid of Clearfield are two very good reasons that the Falcons are comthe state tournament this Saturday. Here they take down nets in final home game of the RUSSELL FLORENCE peting in season. by Keith Duncan e Coach Craig Hansen had just finished his talk and now as usual turned a few minutes over to the captains. Got anything Russ, he said. Clearfields tall and lanky forward rose silently to his feet, took the center of the floor and began to speak, At the first of season, Coach Hansen told us that the season was divided into three seasons, the regular season and the playoffs. We now have accomplished almost all of our goals, but one last one is left, and that is taking state. All weve got to do it to win 4 games. post-gam- Region One Standings (Final Standings) pre-seaso- n, The green and white team room was still for a moment as each programed what nad been said. Russ Florence didnt usually say too much after a game, but when he did speak, what he said was convincing and pretty true. There have been several big reasons behind the success of the Clearfield High basketball team this year and 65 Russ Florence is just one of them. The Falcons have made a name for themselves this season and that came after being picked to finish third or fourth in their region at the beginning of the season. Why did they win 10 consecutive games in the beginning? Why are they one of the favorites to win the state championship? Questions like these and others are easily answered by Florence, Dedication on the part of each individual player and the pride and unity of the team as a whole. Florence will be the first to recall the days and. nights he spent practicing with Mark Reid and others in the Clearfield gym. What an improvement he has made, said Coach Hansen, Ever since his junior year there wasnt a day that would go by that you couldnt find Russ or one of the other members of this team in there practicing. Russ could be found in the gym during the springf everyday during the summer and all through the fall. To me thats dedication.?.. Tourney Schedule Friday's Pairings vs. Skyline 2:30 vs. Roy Bingham 4:10 Hillcrest vs. West 6:30 East vs. Weber 8:10 Brighton - Saturday's Pairings Viewmont vs. Highland 2:30 v Cottonwood vs. Clearfield 4: 0 Granger vs. Layton 6:30 Orem vs. Sky View or Granite 8:10 1 Russ didnt let girls, work or other things stop him from excelling in basketball. Even today hes as strong as ever and because of that I feel he is going to have a great tournament, said Hansen. Flipping a few pages back into the yesteryears of Florences sports annuals, one would have surely lost a bet if hed thought Florence would somedav be a star forward on the Clearfield basketball team. I just wasnt too good, said Florence reflecting back on those growing up years, Even though I could hardly make anyones team, I still liked the sport, Russ continued. Russs mother, Nedra recalled, I can still remember Russ following his older brother Mick (Stanger) around. Mick was a pretty good basketball player and Russ always wanted to be good at what Mick did. If anything at all can be credited in Russ start in basketball, it had to be that." Flbrence has a trophy case in his room that is flooded with all kinds of sports awards, but you'll find few early boyhood basketball honors among them. Russ however, did make himself known on the football field. As a seventh grader at North Davis Junior, he was cut when trying out for the eighth grade team. "About that time Russ began to grow up physically very fast, said his mother. As a seventh grader he stood 56". His height was one thing that helped him make the eighth and ninth grade teams. Begins Career at Clearfield As a Falcon, Russ was beginning a phase of life that would probably shape the remainder of his growing manhood days. It was during that time he met a man who Florence credits as being the main factor of why he loves basketball so much today. Coach (Roger) Reid impressed me from the day I first met him. Of course I was beginning to get the desire to be good by myself, but Coach Reid had a way of making you work harder and always making you feel like you were the best. During his sophomore year at Clearfield, Florence was a starter and ended the season with a 14 point average. Coach Reid, who now is an assistant at Brigham Young University, commented on Florence, I fiirmly believe that Russ probably had the most natural talent of any player I ever coached in high school. There were not too many juniors that played for me whle I was a high school coach, but Florence was the only one to ever start from game No. 1 as a junior and continue to do that the entire season. Coach Reid further stated, Russ is one example of how hard work and dedication brought out those natural talents he had. I see a tremendous future for him. Florence helped Coach Reids 1977-7- 8 team to a 10-- 4 record in Region One while averaging 12 points a game, good for tenth place among region leaders that category. After his performance against the Warriors last Friday, Russ has now started in 43 consecutive Clearfield High games. Weve proved a lot of people wrong this season. I know in the beginning they were looking past us. It makes you feel good that youre being noticed and treated as a threat each time out, said Florence. Commenting on leading Region One in scoring this season, Florence remarked, I owe most of my points to all the other guys. There is no question in my mind that anyone of them could probably have led the league in scoring also. Florence finished the regular season at 19.4 per game, just notch over Gordon Anderson of Layton, 19.3. In talking about unity on our team, there is no comparison to last year. Of course pride has been a big part of our success also. Every player in pulling for one another. I think Bob Sant is my biggest fan. Hell sit on the bench and give me and others big words of encouragement all through a game, state Florence. Russ, as all theplayers feel, are fond of the close friendships theyve made together. Team dinners at one of the players parents home is a common - in nt thing at Clearfield, every Thursday evening. If you dont like someone on the team at the first of the season, you sure learn to love em before its all over, said Florence. Besides leading Clearfield to numerous cage wins this season, Florence is ' usually leading most of his classmates when report card time comes about. He has accumulated a 3.73 grade point average over the past four years. Someday he plans to get a degree in accounting. He'll probably be getting that degree at Utah State University, where Coach Dutch Belnap has been seemingly interested in the Falcon forward. Dutch is a long time friend to the family and that has helped Russ," said Mrs. Florence. Florence is a good bet to participate on numerous teams. He recently was given notice to play on the National Basketball Congress International team from Utah. If Russ makes the trip hell per ' form with all other high school seniors in Phoenix and Los Angeles. A lot of people have hetoed me excell in sports, and in life, but I have to give the majority of the credit to my own father. He's been by my side all the way," said Russ. With Russ in basketball, its just a family affair with us, said his fatner, Bruce. The family resides at 2194 S. 1880 West in Syracuse, Utah. post-seaso- . n all-st- Leading Region One Scorers (Final Stats) G Pts. Avg. Florence, Clearfield Anderson, Laylon 14 272 19 A 270 19.3 Montgomery, Weber Fernandes, Roy Vincent, Clearfield 14 258 14 251 184 243 174 Thacker, Viewmont Bernard, Bountiful Stevens, Sky View. Sindle.Roy Miller, Viewmont 14 240 17.1 14 230 164 14 225 16.1 14 215 154 14 213 15 2 14 188 134 14 184 13.1 14 173 124 14 173 124 14 169 12.1 12 142 11.8 14 164 11-- Perkins, Bountiful Stireman,layton Flint, Layton , Sylvester, Bonneville K.Downs, Viewmont Petersen, Sky View McKema, Sky View 14 14 17.9 7 first comments after congratulations were, Thanks, but I wonder how Roger and Russ feel right now. His tone of voice echoed that of empathy for, Vincent and Florence who had performed so well. There is little question that Fred Fernandes will go down in hisotry as one of the finest athletes ever to perform in a Royal sports jersey and the question becomes even fainter when discussing his mild manner when not in uniform. His breed of athlete is rare indeed. When counting championships on the cage court, dont stop at three when talking about Fernandes. Besides the three consecutive Region One cage titles, Fred has two Weber County Junior High championships in the two years before the three. Thats an unpredcedented five straight for Fred and the crew. Coach Ted Smith, of whom Fred credits as one of the two most influential people in his life, as far as sports are concerned, commented, Simply put, Fred just believes in himself. Hes well liked by the faculty, the students, and Id have to say the opposition even appreciates him. His actions speak for himself. There arent many sports that Fred isnt too bashful about playing. During his three years at Roy, Fernandes has lettered ten times. Another season in baseball and track will make it nine of ' nine. His favorite sport, we 11 youll have to ask Fred yourself. But for the four years hell be mastering skills even further in a football uniform at Utah State University. There had been speculation that Fred might attend BYU and other, schools, but he summed it up by saying, Utah State went out of their way to do the best recruiting job of anyone, that has to be a good reason why I signed with the Aggies, said Fernandes. Fred likes the idea that Utah State will be traveling to Japan to play at least one of the four years he attends there. Ive already taken two courses of Japanese at Weber State and Ill start my third at Utah State. Ive been to Japan once before (a trip he made in June of 1978), but Id like to go back again and see some of my relatives, said Fred. Frank Fernandes, the father of d guard, is a fluent Roys Japanese speaker himself. He brought his family back to the states in 1960 after 16 years of living in Japan. I knew it would be a good idea to move back to the U.S. for childrens super-talente- citzenships. I chose Utah over Sacramento because of the mountains, clean air, and the climate, said Mr. Fernandes. So in 1960, it wa& a move to Utah and job at Hill Air Force Base. And months later Fred was born to the newly situated family. state championship this Friday when they play Bingham. The state championship has alluded the school every year theyve been involved. In reply to the image, Fred commented, You know an athlete is no different than a debate champion. No one is going to care about his heroics more than the debaters. Being an athlete is just a small part of life. in basketball were playing with teams that were two years older than him. Trophies, ribbons, and the like tell the story of his youth. A lot of bruised ribs, scabbed up knees and many times of getting up were combined to winning those numerous awards. Besides Ted Smith, 1 have to give Harry Hall the most credit in helping me get a start in sports. No matter what it took, whether it was his time or money, he was running myself and others around the area to play in games or tournaments. We could count on playing 70 to 80 games a year with Mr. Hall helping us, out, said Fred. Harrys son, Wayne, whois.alep a member of this seasons championship team, was usually at Freds side during those precious growing up nice-gu- y Athletics mean a lot to me, its something that occupys so much of my time and has been one thing to keep me and others out of trouble. Football has given me a chance to get a free education, that was a self-goal atMTt Frenandes. thep,q$9ied years. The switch from junior high to high school basketball was a change for Fred. At Roy Junior he was a sure scorer and his average dipped to 12 while a sophomore at Roy. In junior high it was so much of an individual game, but to high school you had to fit into the team. Coach Smith had a lot ot do with my getting started, and to be truthful, hes one of the main reasons Im playing again this year, said Fred. Eight Straight When we lost to Clearfield so bad at their place, and just before Nate (Herzog) got kicked out of the game, I half-wa- y jokingly said to Nate, All weve got to do now is to win eight The other day to school,' Herzog reminded his teammate about the gesture hed made several games ago. Its a reality now. Fred tends to feel there is less pressure going into this tournament than the one a year ago. Coach Smith has us playing so cool, were as loose : now as well ever be I guess, said Fred; Roy will open their quest for the ' Freds father, who is an avid fisherman to his spare time, said, Fred is just a general man. He has a lot of common sense for a boy his age. And with me being 52 years old and him 17, theres not much of a communication problem. No generation gap to this family. Fred e of pleases me with the interests that he has, like studing Japanese and other things. What more could a father ask for. He has been a joy to both me and his mother who passed away. .; wide-rang- Freds mother, Kay passed away to Dec.1 1976. i And talk about a kids idol. The neighborhood kids adore him. When a few of the kids he coached one year, found out I was his father, they would Mr. do anything for me, stated " Fernandes. Freds the ktoda guy who can naturally assume leadership. He had to his sophomore year when John Garner broke his ankle. And then again hes unselfish but hell do what is necessary to get the job done. A big part of Freds success also comes with the care his father has given. Frank is the kind of father who has given his son just enough help and not too much, said Coach Smith. Read, and Scott Nye were just a few of his teammates. As a sophomore at Clearfield, Reid fit right into Clearfield program. He helped lead the sophomore team to the second best record in the league while averaging 10 points per game and 7 assists. Coach John Flint headed the sophomore program. Reid, who claims the pressure of a big game doesnt bother him too much anymore, had a right to get a few butterflies the first day he started to a . Clearfield basketball game. by Keith Duncan ; Reid. Unlike his teammate, Russell Florence, Mark was glued to a basketball from 2 years old and beyond, and he was quick to developing the talent to become a star someday. Mark was one of those youngsters who used every his older brother spare moment in shooting at the hoop. If it wasnt following Quid to a neighborhood game, it was using wisely the minute time-out- s in a shooting contest while the playing teams regrouped. All those extra shots and the numerous hours he spent practicing last spring summer, and fall have began to pay the dividends. He and his Clearfield teammates won 10 straight games to start the season off, finished tied for second in a tough Region One and now enter the state playoffs as the second place team from Region One. This will be the second consecutive tournament that Mark will find himself starting in. Last season as a junior, Mark and his teammates played to three tournament games before bowing out! This year we open with Granger and to tell the truth,! dont think Mark has had nis best game yet. Im thinking hes about ready to explode. Were expecting him to have a great tournament, said Coach Hansen. The playing time he received under Coach Vem Williams to city recreation play, the technique he gathered from coaches, Gordon Baskum and Ray Meibos have been tremendous assets to his play today. Coach Meibos, who now assists the varsity program at Qearfleld, was Reids ninth grade basketball coach. ' I can still remember my ninth grade season. We were a bunch of little guys who always shot from the outside,, said Mark. Mark Wayment, Larry his father, state playoffs for the third straight year as Region One champs. straight, said Fred. Naturally born great It was just born within him to become a great athlete. Fred has things that you just dont coach into kids, said Coach Smith. His first remembered experiences When I left Clearfield last spring, there was no doubt in my mind that I was leaving behind probably the best high school basketball team I would ever have, said (teach Roger Reid of Brigham Young University, I wouldnt make a statement like that, but unselfish players like Mark Reid leave you no choice., ' season was a playei courts this the down and One cage Region up Flying named Mark Reid. Coach Reid of BYU and his present coach, Craig Hansen, claim Mark is one of the most unselfish performers theyve ever had the opportunity to coach. He knows he can shoot the eye out of the basket, the fans know it and so does his opposition, but because ot his unselfishness, Mark continues to get the ball inside to a better percentage shot. He was a blessing to my team last year and Coach Hansen is finding the same this season, reported Coach Roy's superstar athlete, stands for a moment with This Frank. week Fred and his Roy teammates will enter the FRED FERNANDES, Coach Reid said I was going to start the first game of league play last year. It was just after my 17th birthday, said Reid. It must have been a pretty fair birthday present, for Mark says he always hoped for the day he could start a high school game. Now the starting bit is only routine, hes started the last 36 games to a Clearfield uniform. "We played Skyview the first game I started. Coach Reid said I did pretty good, fm thankful for the Way he taught me to play defense more than anything else, said Mark. . , . v , Its really hard to explain to ayone the great feeling that has been on our team this season. Youd really have to be a member of the team to get the true picture. We played really well in the beginning of the year and were starting to get back to that again. One thing, we hate to lose, said Reid. Its quite simple to fiture out the success pattern of the Falcons, but so difficult to find a solution to defense against them. If Russell Florence and Roger Vincent are being denied toe ball, simply let sharp shooters like Reid, Larry Read or Mark Wayment blister the nets. Reid and Read are two of the best ballhandlers to the league and not too many press techniques work against them. Reid commented, Id like to score a lot of pointy but I know that no one in the league is capable of stopping Roger of Russ like they can the guardline. Besides I like to make good passes and assists. Last fall Mark was a an avid golfer and one of the best performers on the Clearfield team. His 3.69 grade point average shows he also spends ample time with his head in the books. A long range goal someday is to become a gym instructor ' andcoach. v Ill always respect Coach Hansen and Reid for what they ve done for me. I remember when playing to junior high and the both of them came walking in. Something just happened to me and I had one of my best games of the season, saiaMark. |