OCR Text |
Show ( BEN LOMOND BEACON. March 22. 1979, Page 5 Webers Montgomeryleft name to remember on Warriors cage court by Keith Duncan full grown man and to me hes been that since he turned 15 years old, said Coach Dick Conolly, Not only physically, but in every other way. For those who know Coach Conolly and Weber High basketball, matching those comments with the right person shouldnt be too awfully difficult. Its only Mark Montgomery that fits the description. Hes very special to me as a coach and as a person. From the first time he stepped on to the basketball court at Weber, he was quick to learn. He didnt worry about the fact of accepting me as head'coach. He always trusted me I belive, and I always trusted him. I dont believe weve ever broken that trust, related Coach ' Conolly. he had hopes of just making Coach Conollys team. I went around with the main guys and they accepted me pretty good. Finally, as our season got closer their were at least 6 guys that I knew were going to start and I was one of them. The night of the first game we still didnt know who exactly would start and it wasnt until our preand coming back into game warm-up- s the lockerroom that Coach Conolly pointed at me and told me I was going to start, said Mark. All the time he was thinking hed be the first of the bench, but that starting assignment was just the beginning of a long line of starting roles. During his three years at Weber, Mark started in 62 or 64 games, the only two he didnt were games he was unable to because of injuries. Hes just a The Warriors were beaten in their final region game and that knocked them out of contention for a state tourney berth, but the next season Montgomery displayed the consistency hes known for and Weber madeit to the state tourney. Such was Montgomerys year, that pickers nabbed him as a top choice, he being only a junior. The trust that Webers head basketball coach talked about must have been genuine. Montgomery, over three years of basketball at Weber proved to be one of the greatest players ever to emerge in a Warrior uniform. And the coach is proud! Monday night the two of them were in Salt Lake City till late into the evening as Mark practiced with other top players in the state for the upe game. He stands a coming great chance of making the team. Montgomery ended a brilliant basketball career at Weber two weds state tournament. It ago at the will take a long while for someone else to come along and break the marks that he helped to establish. The Weber High star lettered all three years for the Warriors and scored nearly . 1000 points for the Weber teams in three years. As a sophomore he netted 206 points and while a junior, he scored 318. This season the final tally showed him with all-sta- te Basketball has become a year round activitiy for Mark and he would like it to continue. All through the summer of 1977 and 1978 he was involved in either college basketball camps or competing in the B.C.Y. tourney with many of the top players from the State of Utah. The future, well, Montgomerys desire to perform on the collegiate level is heartfelt. At this time he hasnt made any decisions. -' Intra-stat- all-st- ar 4-- A On the gridiron, Montgomery was Webers leading pass receiver for the past two seasons and still he found the energy during the spring to perform in the high jump and the shot put. When I was at Wahlquist, the football coach took over track and talked me into coming out for the track team. I thought why not and stated things just fell into place, Mark. Last season he was third in Regin One in the high jump and was high in the rankings of the shot pA. Still not worn out by all that competition, Mark has managed to maintain a 3.7 grade point average. Working with numbers is a favorite. I have to thank my parents, even though they havent really pushed me all the time, they have always been supportive in all I wanted to do, said Montgomery. Little Joni, Marks little sister, isnt sure whether she likes the constant reminder, Your Monts little sister. She smiled at the thought of it. Greg, who used to be the tallest of the Montgomery boys, can no longer claim that title. His teammates at Weber High used to call him Big Mont and Mark they tabbed as Little Mont. Well, fellows, have to besides displaying tremendous basketball talent is also a member of the Weer High track team. Here he clears bar in high jump at Weber State meet one year ago. He eventually placed third in the MONTGOMERY, reverse the trend now. The Montgomery family has planned their lifestyles around athletics and particularly the past three years with Mark playing. His Its been a mother, commented, learning experience for me. I never realized how much those guys sacrafice to be on sports teams. The hours of practice, the early risings and the early getting to bed has taught them things we as parents can appreciate. Athletics, if anything else, has taught me the value of hard work. I guess its like anything else, you get what you put into it," said Mark. region. Vincent ends brilliant cage season with Clearfield by Keith Duncan Two pictures of Roger Vincent, one with his hand and arm hoovering over the basketball rim and another with his head just shy of the rim, caused a casual onlooker to pose the question, Which college team did that guy play for? Thats Roger Vincent, Clearfield Highs basketball center, came back the reply. The amazed onlooker answered while shaking his head, said, Dont tell me high school kids can jump that 404 points. In rebounding, Montgomerys stats are just as improved. As a sophomore he averaged over 10 a game and finished with a total of 247. As a junior he finished with 261 and this season he had seven more caroms, a total of 268. For the season, Montgomery cent finished with a plus shooting tally from the field. His 52 freethrowe shooting 'came.-frocent this cent as a sophomore to r i;- season. Coach Craig Hansen of Clearfield, high Needless to say, the surprised onlooker probably didnt visit too many Clearfield High basketball games this past season or his opinions of Vincent and his fabulous jumping ability would have been molded the first time he layed eyes on the Clearfield senior. was well Roger, who stands at 6 known around Region One basketball parts for his amazing jumping ability, in fact that ability made most tremble. He and Gordon Anderson of Layton have earned a reputation as the Slam Dunk Duo," their slam dunks will long be remembered. For Vincent and the rest of the now-a-day- s! 4 1978-7- 9 60-p- m 72-p- er i --- - 4 3, whom saw Montgomery perform for three seasons from the opposing side, said, He was consistent and most of the coaches in this region will agree that he was the outstanding rebounder in the league. Hope he gets the chance to play in college. Game Montgomerys trying out for the team and Utah High School could prove to eventually making it, be valuable. The first step, of a two step selection process, has been completed and 24 of Utahs top prep players await this e game, at 8 p.m. Saturdays in the American Fork High Sdxxl gymnasium. Ten of these talented All-St- ar All-st- Clearfield basketball squad, the 9 curtains have closed on the season. Despite that, Rogers heroics on the Clearfield team will long be remembered according to Coach Craig Hansen, Roger has done more for our program than probably what he even realizes. Some may say he was naturally gifted with the talents he has, but he and the rest of the team know that hard work, desire, and discipline brought those talents to the surface. Every little kid in Clearfield idols Rog and the things he can do with a basketball. The impression he has left with our basketball program will last in my mind for a long, tong time, said Hansen. season will be a For Roger, the highlight in his athletic career, but certainly not the last. His desire, and a genuine desire at that, is to hopefully play college basketball someday. His 63 frame doesnt do much in the mind of major college basketball coaches at the present time, but deep down in the heart of Roger Vincent, there echos the cry, Please, just give me a chance. ar 1978-7- Intra-stat- will then go on to high school the Special Events Center on March from the 30th, to face the all-staState (A Arizona. The players were selected by a coaches committee, with 12 players from the metropolitan area of Salt Lake and another 12 representing the rest of the State. The two coaches selected in this all-stgame is Larry Maxwell who will coach the Metro-teaand Carl Ingersoll who will be coaching the State Team. Montgomery will be competing with such Salt Lake players as John Baucom, Brandon Bennett, Mike Bernardo, Brad Boyle, Jim Brown, all-sta- rs rs 17-- 6 ar m Gregg Grant, Rich Gremillion, Gordon Kenier, Kevin Kuhn, Andy Mates, Mike Maxwell, and Scott Spurrier. Players that will compete with Montgomery for the State team are Gary Beck, Dave Collins, Brian Devincenzi, Fred Fernandes, Russell Florence, Mark McCleery, Jeff Ostler, Steve Sanders, Mark Sindle, Robby Tillman, and Tann Tueller. Loves All Spoils Mark, who lives with his parents and family In Plain City, says from the time he was six years old, he was interested in sports. He can still remember the numerous mornings he -and Benson Roper would get in first the part of trouble for missing school because their outdoor basketball games would go into overtime. The dream of becoming a good as his older brother, Greg. alwa.i ke.t him running. His grandfather, the late Dick Skeen, watched all his grandchildren with a careful eye. During Mr. Skeens early days sports played a key role in his growing up days and he saw the same for his grandchildren. Until he died, he came to everything that we played In, said Mark, It really meant a lot From the little leagues to high school days, football, basketball, baseball and track kept the Mond particulary ntgomery family Mark, completely Involved. But basketball emerged as the favorite. As as sophomore at Weber concluded a brilliant basketball career Weber at High a couple of weeks ago. Here he soars for two in his junior year when he was picked as an points He scored 27 points in that contest. Roger will play anywhere, but Utah MARK MONTGOMERY r. Arch all-sta- te v Club, The Pope and Young A the North American rmi.i kuping organization for bov.huikvrs, will meet March 28-3- at the Salt Lake Hilton. This will be the 11th awards program which the organization has sponsored and a first for Salt Lake City. On display during the meetings will be more than 60 big game trophies. Convention chairman Joe Thompson said the public is invited to join 1 and Young members three-quarte- rs full-rig- for March Pope i State and Snow College are being given a thorough look at now. The Aggies have offered Vincent of a scholarship the first the remaining year and a years, providing he proves himself. Of course the scholarship comes with football, where Rogers talents earned honors last season. him at meetings and displays. He added that a wildlife photography and art contest will be held during the convention and that bowhunting films will begin at 8 p.m. on March 30. The meetings will end with an awards banquet at 8 p.m on March 31, bowhunters from across honoring North America for trophy game animals taken during the last two years. Trophies were measured recently in Salt Lake City and Thompson says that several new world records will be displayed. Tickets to the banquet are available by calling the Utah Bowmans Association at They may be purchased at Consolidated Field Sports, 3008 South Main, Salt Lake and at the Ute Archery City, Lanes, 3130 Highland Drive, Salt Lake 78&-4S9-1. 4SS-23- City 468-682- 1. Vincent will visit Snow College on Thursday of this week, making preparations for a big decision in the future. Shyness Left twice in Anyone that can slam-dun- k a packed Layton High auditorium, certainly can't be classified as shy. But there were days in the youth of Vincent, that shyness was part of him. Athletics has helped me grow out of that I suppose. It's funny looking back at it now, the change Ive made since those days, stated Roger. And a change it was indeed. From medicore play as a member of Clearfield's city recreation to his One team, selection to the the change has been superlative. Vincent is consistent, that's the best way to describe him. It's not only the consistency fans see out there on the basketball court, but it's the consistent hustle in practice, the extra laps around the block at home, and the consistent wearing of ankles weights to increase his jumping ability. Those are the small things that have made him great, said Coach Hansen. The wearing of ankle weights has started a trend at Clearfield, and why not? Clearfield cant lose their reputation for having a Never Coaxed Id really have to admit that no one ever really coaxed me into playing sports. I used to watch TV and always wanted to do the things I saw great athletes do. Then Id go to a high school game and I remember I couldnt wait till I got my chance to play a Clearfield. The desire has always been with me to excell in sports, said Vincent. r'And Im thankful for what sports has meant to me. Theyve taught me the value of hard work and that you can get anything if you want it bad enough, said Roger. From the time he first stepped into a Syracuse football jersey until this year, Vincent has been a three-seaso- n sports star. His excellence in football, basketball, and baseball has earned him many trophies that cover dresser drawers at home. It wasnt until just this spring that Vincent has decided not to play baseball, but has opted rather to participate in Clearfield track. Hell be running a leg of the 440 relay team, running the 220 and performing in the long jump for Coach John Flints track team. When Vincents confidence was at its peak, opposing teams were in for it. Like the time he tossed a in an All-Stgame in Sunset. Another exciting moment was winning the Clearfield City Recreation title and taking home a trophy one year. At North Davis Junior, still it was football, basketball and baseball, and Roger excelled in them all. slam-dunke- r. forget Coach Reid for the motivation. Coach Hansen is one of the best coaches Ive ever had. As much as remembering the wins we got on the basketball court, Ill never forget the spirit of the school and the way the community backed our teams, said Vincent. Motorcycles, snowmobiling, water and snow skiing, hunting and fishing, and outdoors in general are close to the Vincents human nature. And hes even a great cook, said Mrs. Vincent. Its just plain determination and desire that has won him success, said Mr. Vincent, Its going to be hard next year figuring out what we'll do with our spare time. Roger's athletics have simply been just part of our lives. Roger is the son of Robert and Beth Vincent and is one of six children, he being the youngest. Steven, Jeanette, Evelyn, Alan, and Scott (deceased) are all older than he is. Twenty grandchildren also make up the family tree. Though last but not least, Vincent has left name to remember in Clearfield basketball traditions. no-hitt- er ar Roger admits that basketball has always been his first love. As soon as his athletic career ended ;at North Davis, Coach Roger Reid of Clearfield had Vincent and others attending basketball camps during the summer For the next three years, Vincent attended the College of Eastern Utahs basketball camp. As a sophomore at Clearfield, Vincent was the leading scorer and rebounder with the sophomore team. Highlights in the season came while playing big amounts of time in junior varsity games and finally dressing for the state games. As a junior, under the direction of Coach Hansen, Roger and his ' teammates posted a 17-- 2 record as a junior varsity team. His football and baseball heroics were good for mentioning also. Vincent began at a number of positions on the gridiron, but eventually settled into the tight end spot where he developed into one of the school's best ever. ' His best year of baseballl came while as a sophomore, but his interest in the spring sport gradually decreased as high school days wore on. Leg weights, a jumping rope, and just plain desire helped develop Vincent into one of Region Ones finest cage stars. He and the Falcons claimed their first ten straight games this season, but fell into second place as the season came to a close. Tendinitis in his knee made a few shutter. The happening took place in the Bonneville football game this past season. Roger was hit on the knee with a helmet and was forced to sit out the final game of the season with Roy and the first couple of weeks afterwards. During the basketball season he wore a football knee pad to protect the knee. And Roger people I owe There's my everything to ROGER VINCENT is thankful. A lot of for what I am now. family, theyve done support me. I'll never in two gam. literally drops Clearfield during points |