OCR Text |
Show IN GIBSON ACE KASTELER work, work . thats what the basketball tournament Work, meant to the nine players on the Baldwin Park California team. Thats also what Neil Howard, veter-acoach of almost 15 years of basketball teams, yelled over and over at the Baldwin Park players whenever the score board showed a margin either way. The Baldwin Park team, like the 79 other teams that participated in the tournament had hopes of winning the 1969 basketball tournament Last years efforts by the Baldwin Park team during the final game takbrought them within eight points of Calito home first the trophy place ing fornia with them instead of Holladay Third Ward adding it to their trophy case. We decided that very night after the championship game almost one year ago that we were coming back this year said George and do even better, of the one players. Bayles, Of the nine that played here this year, four returned from last years team. Bill James, one of the Baldwin Park team players wasnt a Church member, but coach Howard pointed out ho attended all the required Church meetings. Our bishop is really strict on that. All the players have to attend the meetCoach ings or they Just dont play, Howard said. Seven of this years Baldwin Park players were returned missionaries. Traveling with the team were the wives of four of the players. We get almost as excited about the games as our husbands, Mrs. George Bayles said. Several babies, also in Salt Lake with the team, didnt seem to pose many .?. n ' V. : vV two-poi- problems. The wives take care of the children when we play ball. We try and help by W.ug u v4r4-,xvv- .r' - Before the game players and coach pause to pray for strength to do their best out on the floor. baby sitting during the day, Cony son Jones, father of a explained. Corry, who was selected as one of the four Most Valuable Players following last years tournament, scored 45 points in the championship game last three-month-o- year. Also traveling to Salt Lake with the of seven cheer lead- team was a band ers. Shouting out cheers of We gotta a and We wanta basket, tlie9e five enthusiastic high school girls, were out on aided by two die floor leading the Baldwin Park spectators every time there was a time out or minute lag in die basketball action. Sharon Halstead, one of the cheer leaders said the girls led the cheers at every game the team played this season. Win or lose, Baldwin Park team like all the others probably returned home feeling they fought a good fight, played good ball and had a lot of fun. |