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Show Jfrom tljc as- t- March, 1994 THE SAN JUAN RKCORl) Wednesday, March MHS Buckaroos crowned state 2A basketball champions Monticello High School game in St. George. 'It really makes had faced off Templars. They eight seconds to Buckaroos made history last Saturday at the Cedar City Centrum. For the first time in the history of MHS, they won a state championship in basketball. In 1969, 1971 and 1972, the Buckaroos finished second. When this years team made it into the finals, the thought of finishing second was something the Bucks would not tolerate again. These boys simply got better each day of the tournament and that was something the Morgan, the Manti or the Millard teams never expected. The Buckaroos may have saved their very best game of the year at the most important time of the year, the championship game. Coach Mark Hugentobler was masterful in his game plan and really had his team well prepared for each game. His team outplayed the Millard Eagles on Thursday shots by but eight three-poin- t the Eagles kept the score close in spite of a well balanced and organized attack by the Bucks. In a surprise move, Hugentobler used a 3 zone defense 2-- against the Manti Templars, w'ho expected the ever tough This defense. man-to-ma- n really shut down Mantis outside players who are used to driving hard to the basket. They had to adjust to our 67" center and try to beat us from outside, Hugentobler stated. We had debated what we wrere going to do to try to stop the Templars, but Thursday night inspiration came when our entire team attended the CEU-Dixi- Junior College e The CEU Eagles upset Dixie with a good zone. It really inspired our kids to see this giant-kille- r upset and set us up to defeat the 1 rated you feel good Juan County fans join together and cheer for all our great kids." Both teams showed a lot of class and the fans were equally Templars. as classy! Again the Buckaroo On Saturday, the Bucks just pep band was a hit at the state overwhelmed the physical tournament. What a sacrifice Morgan Trojans. Coach for these young people to supHugentobler said, "We knew port each other; the band and this team was going to be cheerleaders even had to pay physical and try to wear us to get into the games to enterdown and we told Chad Tracy tain. MHS really went the exto protect the key and never tra mile and it paid big leave it if possible. This was dividends. once before, in December in but the Manti, to lose 73-6Bucks felt they had learned from their first meeting. This game had high intensity and big defense to start with, and the 10-- first quarter found the Bucks slightly in front. The second period was full of offense as Bunker made two s and Mike Black made six of six from the charity line, but this wasn't enough to hold off the Templars, who outscored the Bucks to half-tim- e lead to one cut the point, Bucks 30. Templars, 29. A noticeable outburst by a 2-- 3 our strategy, but the unexpected also happened, somebody shot Brad Bunker out of a cannon and he lead, inspired and took our team to the promised land." He really got aggressive and was scoring so fast, by the end of the first quarter he had us in the lead and had most of their team in foul trouble. Then our balanced attack kicked in and we slammed the refrigerator door on the Trojans, Hugentobler said. The Buckaroos won this as game going away, silenced the they tirelessly Trojans and sent them packing. This was a history making event for the Buckaroos wrho quietly leave the 1A ranks and blast their way into the 2A ranks with a first ever state basketball championship. It was fun to have, what seemed like, all of San Juan 69-5- 1, County there cheering to- gether for the Buckaroos and the San Juan Lady Broncos. The Buck fans were cheering hard for the Lady Broncos and the Buck cheering section was nearly half full of faithful Bronco fans. One fan stated, 2; 8 three-pointer- First Round - Millard On Thursday, the Bucks 21-2- faced the Millard Eagles in the first round of the tournament. Senior Curtis Black said, The w-- and we never trailed." He was right. From Chad Tracys first period eight points, the Bucks took a lead and outscored the Eagles in the next two quarters to take a 50-4- 6 lead into the final period. Both Curtis and Mike Black, and sophomore Steve Free16-1- 4 stone carried the weight through the second and third periods of the game. Tanner Dowell stated, We have won a lot of games this year in the fourth quarter with our foul shooting. That is exactly what the Buckaroos did the officials at half-tim- e may have caused problems for the Templars in the second half. They were in very early foul trouble in the second half and that may have made a difference. The Templars outscored the Bucks again in the third, to tie the game at 43-aafter four ll minutes of plav. Back to defense in the fourth period as each team was very careful and did not want to make a crucial mistake. The Bucks may have been a little too careful, as they missed the front end of three foul shots that may have won this game outright for them. But after 32 minutes, the decision was still up for grabs and both teams sent their troops to do battle in the over- again. They made 12 of 15 free throws in the final quarter. Millard made 5 of 12 in the same quarter and the Bucks had successfully accomplished step one of their goals, with a score of Monticello 70 and Millard 65. Balanced scoring for the Bucks was also evident: Tracy 19, C. Black 15, Freestone 15. M. Black 13, Dowell and Bunker four each. l victory over Manti in overtime Friday nights game was a classic, when the Bucks faced the time. Monticello got the tip and scored first, but the Templars answered. With less than one minute on the clock. Manti missed an 18 foot jump shot and the Bucks had the rebound. (urtis Black drove the ball and dished off to (had Tracy -of reminding many the 1967 Bucks vs Grantsville Cowboy state championship game in the old Smith old-time- four-foote- Bucks were ahead! Manti had a chance with All - You - Can - Eat Mondays a ": 5-- 9 rs Fieldhouse at BYU. Tracy r and the nailed the Manti undefeated 0 Manti Assistant ('each with first round game is always could feel important and the pressure to win and it made us a little tight, but wo knew wre had to win this one Semi-fina- but a fumbled ball is tipped away by Dowell and their final shot, only to see San Specials pm jjC Mexican Buffet a little more rewarding. Farmers (jJJIiVednesdays Insurance offers special benefits to teachers. 5lsh Fridays Kris Black 97 South Main (435) Monticello 587-223- 0 farmers farmers. com & 5-- 9 5-- 9 pm Chips pm Buffet MONTICELLO 8 133 E. Central Monticello (435) Open Daily: 5:30 am to 9:00 pm 587-504- go. which was short anyway, comes after the buzzer. The Bucks come away with the biggest upset in the tournament, beating Region 12s 1 team (and the one most experts" picked to take the state title) in a overtime thriller. Balanced scoring again was 60-5- 8 the key to victory. Tracy scored 14, C. Black had 13, Bunker math1 12 points, M. Black had 11. Dowell eight and Freestone two. Championship Game -- hig win over Morgan Saturdays championship c game was almost as Monticello, the number two seeded team from Region 13. played the number two team from Region 12, Morgan Troanti-climati- jans. Bunker nearly single-handedl- y led the Bucks as he blistered the nets for 13 of the first 15 points for Monticello. He said, just wanted to win and be part of a championship 1 team." Actually, Bunker, Dowell, Tracy and the Blacks were part of a team which had played for six years together. In th( seventh grade, these boys sot a goal to be the State Champions in their senior year. They worked toward that goal for six years and were at the deciding point on Saturday night. first period After a lead, the Bucks began to spread around their scoring wealth. Bunker and Curtis Black stunned the Trojans with their shooting from becircle and t yond the in intimidator the was Tracy the middle with eight blocked shots and 11 rebounds. Mike Black's defense was 19-1- 2 three-poin- critical and Dowell, tbo workhorse of the squad, quietly collected a game high 12 rebou nds. Going into the locker room the Bucks had a at half-timcomfortable lead of 38-2In the second half, the Bucks e, 6. continued to fluster the Trojans with their play. They were never outscored in any quarter. In the final five minutes, the Trojans decided to foul the Bucks and see if they would miss their free throws. This was a big mistake by the Trojans. The Bucks hit 16 of 19 fourth quarter free throws and won Bunker the title easily, scored 25, C. Black had 16, M. Black had 12, Tracy made 11, Dowell scored three and Freestone two. 69-5- Being a teacher just became u;. i: 17, 2001 Monticellos 1. Buckaroos thank all their fans and friends for a great season and presented the championship to all of San Juan County to enjoy with them. He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery. Samuel Smiles |