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Show Heath Brothers Blister Freethrow Nets IFm Tm Stem: A by church, kids and you guessed it, athletics. By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports ATHLETICS have been everything to us, from the days Mike was playing at Davis and I was at Ogden, to bringing the entire family to the fieldhouse io watch us beat Viewmont last Friday night. It s just been a natural thing for both of us." said Mrs. Gardner. Linda Gardner, Joan Hansen and Beth Moon have at least one genuine thing in common, theyre pretty special women. cheer-leadin- THAT earmark of being special comes from being a mother, a e homemaker, sometimes a bread winner and most of all, being a tireless wife of a high school basketball coach. Linda is the fearless wife of Davis Veteran coach Mike Gardner. Joan is the better-hal- f in the part-tim- Craig Hansen family. Beth Moon is the spouse to Layton coach Doug Moon. THE HIGH school basketball season seemingly lasts 22 months of a 12 month year. But these lady stalwarts never give up and perhaps brave it better than the husbands. It's everything from silent Fridays to silent Friday nights if the prep team lost. Its late dinners every night of the week because of practice and an eratic schedule during state tournament time that would drive most wives to the nut house. ITS PAIN in the stomach in defeat, but a special feeling when they win. Its reporters who always seem to bug in just at late-calli- the wrong time. Its sitting in the stands and hearing those choice things some fans wish to label your loved one by, or even some high school player. And its not being able to throw something at the loud mouth. Yes , it s a lot of things most of us Would never like to settle down with. But if youre Joan, Linda or Beth, its a way of life that seemingly has the thrills that makes everything else all worth the while. Beth Moon LAYTON Doug and Beth Moon have known each other for a good number of moons which has proved advantageous in many ways. THE TWO of them attended Davis High together and started dating at the end of their junior season. They enjoyed a memorable senior stint and then were off to the University of Utah where they were married in the sophomore season there. Having known Doug all through those years, I knew from very early on that he wanted to be a head basketball coach someday, said Mrs. Moon. BETH, WHO was a cheerleader at Davis while Doug was a player, didn't mind the idea of having a high school basketball coach for a husband and basically with that kind of commitment, these two have made it through a string of basketball filled years. I guess our biggest decision coming out of college, was where to go rather than what to do, she said, We finally ended up in Ver By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports - KAYSVILLE After losing three straight games and falling from a potential chance to win a region championship, there wasnt a 'whole lot to choose from in Davis' bag of tricks. BUT HOLD on folks, there was still one thing left. It wasn't a trick but a trait called character. IT TOOK three quarters for Davis to find it, but the Darts came storming back in the final quarter 2 and by outscoring Viewmont winning that crucial Region Four 20-1- contest 58-5- 1. The truest fan is always the coachs wife. These three, Joan Hansen, Beth Moon and Linda Gardner, are the No. Craig Hansen, Doug Moon and Mike Gardner respectively. nal, a place we both thought was somewhere down south. WE ENJOYED that stay and needless to say we learned a lot. I think one of the times I was involved the most was during the year Doug and his boys took the state championship there. It was an exciting time which any coaches wife will attest to. Those were unforgettable games and moments for both of us, continued Mrs. Moon. Like any high school coaches spouse, Friday night ws it. Nothing came in the way of basket ball. I cant imagine not going to the games when youve got a husband coaching or a son playing, both of which Ive experienced. HAVING dated Doug through high school and college and watching him play, its just developed into a natural thing to watching him where ever he went, Then when Troy, Jeff and Lance started playing, its only natural to watch them too, she said. After games, especially after defeats, Beths response was sincere. Ive learned that if Doug wants to talk, then well talk. If he doesn't then we wont. You play it by ear from week to week. BUT IF we win, there is a difference. Its very tolerable then. I believe its really hard for Doug to accept defeats when the kids dont play well. Hes pretty level headed about the whole thing, said the veteran Layton coaches wife. ONE OF Beths most interesting years was just a couple ago while Jeff played for his dad. It was hard for Doug because he found himself getting on Jeff more than what he would have liked. But he wanted his own boy to excell to heights he knew he was capable. That was a season where Doug thoroughly enjoyed himself. The kids came together in the end and The kids showed their character again, said Mike Gardner, We were battling unbelievable odds but the guys wanted to finish their home schedule on a positive note and we did." THE WIN boosted Davis to 4 in league play and sets up perhaps an even more important game on Tuesday of this week when Davis travels to Woods Cross to try and clinch a 1985 state playoff berth. If Davis wins that game, theyre in. If they lose then theres a mirage of details that have to be explained whether Davis would still have a chance of going, but the chances are etill there. The difference in the clash last Friday was Davis ability to get a few breaks at the start of the fourth 5-- won the consolation championship which was really special. BEING A coaches wife isn't easy all of the time, but you realize after a few seasons that its a love Doug has that goes way down. You appreciate his love for the game and kids and you begin to want to support him in all that he does. Be- fore long it becomes a priority. Watching Doug play in college probably helped me more than anything. Its not the time they put in that you worry about, its whether theyre happy, she concluded. Tom Hansen CLEARFIELD - Joan Hansen was her husbands fraternity dream girl at Weber State and frankly speaking once these two finally got hooked up life has never been the same for either of them -- since. THEIR FIRST date was to a Weber State homecoming football game and in the same night they even got a little bowling in. As Joan put it, Our lives began with athletics and have been oriented that way ever since. But having been so involved with one thing, it hasnt been a bad idea to regroup at times and make sure they were on the right track. Afterall, Craig hasnt only been the head basketball coach at Clearfield High for seven years but has also led the Kaysville Recreation Department for a long stint and had his hand in a half dozen other things too. WEVE regularly sat down and laid everything on the table. Its the type of thing where weve talked about the direction were headed. quarter. The Vikings were leading at the start of the final eight minutes but a lay in by Jon Rees, a beautiful double fake layup by Casey Lloyd, a steal by David Kinard and finally a bucket by Scott Moon gave Davis a lead, their first lead since taking a lead after the first quarter of 48-3- 8 44-4- 16-1- 3 5 play. THE THING that excites me so much is that the kids reacted to the pressure in a positive way, said Gardner, Even after we took the lead we had to regain it again and use some pressure defense to preserve the win. These are intelligent kids I'm working with. Kinard is a 3.6 student, Moon is 3.6, Mike Taylor is 3.6, Casey is a 3.7 student and what things need to be cut out and what things need to be added. With Craig being a coach weve needed to because of the hectic lifestyle. But without sounding too Ive always tried to make sure a lot of things didnt interfere with Craigs involvement with high school athletics. Ive set that as a priority but I dont hang on his coat tails either. Its just the way weve wanted it and honestly, we couldnt be happier, said Mrs. Hansen. BEING A coaches wife isnt always like strawberry shortcake. For instance, when Clearfield loses a heartbreaker or if they lose and didnt play well, what does Joan say hours after the game is history? Immediately after a loss. Ive learned I dont say much. Craig needs time to himself. But Craig is good too, not to bring the gymnasium home witji him and moan and whine all night. AT TIMES Ive found I can point out the positive things but more than once Ive ended up sticking my foot in my mouth because I dont know that much about basketball. Im not the best critique, even after all these years, Joan said. The two usually get away once in a while and talk about the season, the players and anything that needs talking about. Its important that Craig release some of his feelings and he does, when the time is right, she said. g, JOAN IS at every game and commented, If a coaches spouse cant enjoy being there and isnt his No. I fan, then the pressure to find a new occupation will soon creep in. But Im not only Craigs No. fan, but am one of the best fans for the entire program which includes all the players and their parents. As the coaches wife you really want 1 Meier is the same. They reacted extremely well to what we as coaches were telling them in our huddles during the last eight minutes. AFTER ANOTHER Moon basket in the mid part of the fourth quarter, Davis took the lead for good 48-4Taylor, Lloyd and Meier were able to can some crucial freethrows in the final minutes of play to put the game in the win column. The high point, man for Davis was sharp-shootCasey Lloyd who canned 20 points with nine 7. er field goals and two for three freethrow shooting. Lloyd hit the Darts first five shots of the second quarter and was a key in Leeping 1 fans of the most for each individual. WINNING IS important too and as Joan admitted, It would be awfully discouraging if all we did was lose. Luckily Craig and his kids have been fortunate to win their share. Joans greatest anticipation as a coaches wife probably occurred during the first couple of years after Hansen was appointed as the head coach. As she said, Craig's dream was to be a head basketball coach and finally he achieved it. But as the years go on, you lose a e exlittle bit of the citement as the building of people and relationships thing becomes more convincing. THERE IS more to the game than winning. Its good that theres people like Craig, Doug Moon and Mike Gardner around that can be something to these kids in our area that their own parents cant always be to them. game-to-gam- Linda Gardner KAYSVILLE -- - Cheerleaders and basketball players one thing in common, show up in the same same time adoring a loved by millions. have at least they always place at the sport thats LINDA Gardner just so happened to be a cheerleader in her younger days and Mike Gardner was the basketball player. They both claim to have been the best on the court in their chosen fields. One thing led to another and when these two finally got to know each other as freshmen at BYU, a marriage took place that has been molded together through the years Davis in the game as Viewmont was having success in feeding the ball inside to Bill White. CASEY CAN shoot it with anyone around and it puzzles me why colleges arent recruiting him. Teams continue to box and chase him but he continually puts the points on the scoreboard," said Gardner. It was surprising to see Viewmont fade in the end the way they did. The entire game they had been fairly successful in getting the ball inside and what outside shots they did have, they were medium range successful bombers. BUT THE final three or four minutes saw Viewmont shooting from the parking lot. Since the Darts had the lead they were con g BECAUSE things come so natural. it really wasn't difficult according to Linda when Mike landed his first head coaching job with Spanish Fork. "Mike graduated right from BYU and was coaching just like that. To me it was as smooth as it could have been, the adjustment was nothing at all. I was used to him being gone when playing and being gone as a coach wasn't any different, she continued to say. Linda summed up her entire feelings about being the w ife of a high school coach by saying, I've loved every minute being married to a high school basketball coach. IVE HAD friends that have hated being married to coaches but Ive never regretted it once. We've loved it so much that weve seldom if ever got babysitters for even our really young kids. Its been a big deal for the kids to go see their daddy coach. Of course were even more involved today because the older kids are so involved. FRIDAY nights are basketball nights with the Gardners. Mrs. Gardner made it plain again, "I've had nocomplaints, its been delightful for all of us. LIKE MOST coaches' wives, Linda has made it a practice not to talk much after a defeat. Those are tedious times she will admit. Mike isn't the kind to come home and put his hand through a wall and its surprising to me how many people ask me how in the world I'll be able to go home after a terrible defeat. But Mike isn't horrible to be around other than the fact he wont talk much. I USED to blabber on about all the positive things but that doesn't work. Since Mike doesn't eat on game days so I'll usually cook him a nice big meal and let him eat w hile I go to bed or stay up and read. One thing is for sure, Mike likes his privacy after a game and won't party afterwards," said Linda. LINDA IS like any other coaches' wife, in that she appreciates the good with the bad. Perhaps the funnest times we've had together were when Mike's kids won the state championship in It made all those the medicore years worth it, even for those who played on those teams before the state championship year. mid-70'- s. But I believe too, that when the team is winning it puts more pressure on Mike than when he's losing. It's a big. big deal when you get down to the end of a possible state championship year, said Mrs. Gardner. M OULD OU do it all over again the same way, Linda? Wouldn't change a thing." she said. It's given all of the kids in our family a chance to be someone. Even feel a little special at times. tent to spread it out. doing that better than any team around. The writing was on the wall which was spelling the demise of Viewmont. This was the 16th season in which Gardner has wrapped up a home schedule at the Sam Morgan Fieldhouse and with talk each year that Gardner might be retiring, he had this to say this time. I love this gymnasium and this school and to me there's no greater feeling that winning the season home finale." LLOYD, WHOS looking for- ward to the state tournament, stated "We tried to get the ball into Scott (Moon) and he did a great job kicking it back to us who were open. We've been an unselfish teams and that s why we won on Friday night. |