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Show I I ij Clearfield Courier, March 26, 980, Page 7 1 ( i Sun Chronicle, March 27, ' I 1 Ben Lomond Beacon, March 27, 980,' Page 7 980, Sun Times, March 26, 1980, Page Page 7 Sporfstaculor Warrior Bnardlwoodls 5dk CoimoilQy: Wizard! By Keith Duncan Two weeks before the 1980 regular season was to get underway and several miles from Coach Dick Conolly and his Weber basketball team, a basketball fan suggested to a head basketball coach at a high school, Conolly is all washed up, look at their record His kids dont like him anymore, I think hes through after this season A moment of silence settled over the remarks Then without hesitation, the coach looked the fan straight m the eye and said. I hoDe vou arent eating your words when state tournament time rolls around Maybe the fan has apologized by now, if he hasnt, maybe he ought to The 1979-8season was rewarding m more ways than one to Conolly, who led his team to the Region One championship and is being selected by Sportstacular as the Coach of the Year in Region One After a dismal campaign the year n before and a shoddy that fans go by, only record, something just had to go nght for the Wizard of Warrior land The Warnor coach was beset with the remarks like the one above but overcame them all in finding the right kind of formula to go on to claim the championship and enter the state playoffs for another time After completing his 12th season as the head cage coach at Weber, Conolly looked back and said, One of the very reasons I went into coaching is because I thought I had a keen desire of studying the game. Even though I didnt consider myself a good player, I enjoyed learning about the game and working with people Perhaps its those sort of elements that brings out the greatness in this veteran prep coach Players had loved him, parents have grown to appreciate the man and fellow coaches around the state have respected his abilities from the first he came to Weber as a student assistant in 1963 Alter assisting Paul Salvo and Mel early years at Weber and a brief stmt as the head football coach, Conolly began his brilliant basketball coaching career in the fall Mood in his of 1963 In 1971, a memorable year in his career, Conolly led fifteen youngsters to the state basketball championship Rut moie than winning a sports champior.ah.p Conolly seriously contends he thought more of each kid s character and what it would be like 10 yeais from that date It there is anything more enlightening, its looking back and seeing where those 15 state championship bal'plavers are today, said Conolly ' Nine of the fifteen served LDS missions while the others are married and are very successfull people Conolly s voice cracked and his That's eves moistened m saving, where the championship is won Basketball Is More Than pre-seas- 0 Spoi t Basketball is more than just a sport foi the veteran coach, who has now coached at Weber 18 years As a youngster with parents separated I was constantly on the loose I was having problems that youngsters can haie who roam in groups and not much of a goal in life If it hndn t been for basketball, I would have had real problems of con-strting anv real way of liv mg life I think basketball provided a way for me to discipline myself and to be part of a winning team that learned how to work with other people, said Conolly after looking back Manv vears later and now a man idled by youth in the area, Conolly works to direct the lives of those he wmrks closely with Its because ol this, that Im not in this game just for the winning When it does come to winning, Ive always thought it import int to look back on who you beat, and when you beat them We ve had a strong tradition s.nce 1 v e been coach, to w in in the state tournament, said pre-seaso- COACH DICK CONOLLY just ended his 12th season as the head coach at Weber High School and he couldn't have done it better, while leading his players to the Region One championship. 1 1963 Memorable Years Conollv It s not hard for me to accept a loss, it just depends on how we lost it, said the Weber coach Personally I don t have any nervousness problems the day of the game, its the night of the game or the night after, he said Conolly claims after a win hell usually have his wife bring them home a dinner of egg sweet and sours and a little shrimp I probably never get to bed before 2 a m after the night of a game," he said Mrs Manning Had Impact Probably the first time Conolly ever created a liking for the game of basketball was in Mrs Mannings first or second grade class She was the mother of a former Weber High principal From there, Dick moved with his father to Ogden where Carl Taylor became an important part of his life Mr Taylor who was Conolly s fifth grade instructor, sponsored basketball contests with Mr Peterson against other schools in the area I remember distinctly that there were few arguments or quarrel m those games, probably because there werent any parents who ever attended them said Conollv From there it was to Central Junior High where young Dick played on the city championship team and where a second individual, Chuck Combe, became another valuable leader in his youth I remember Chuck as a very patient man, always looking out for Chuck was more me, said Conolly interested in the person, rather than the numbers of the players," The third figure that left a life lasting impression with Conolly was MarkBallifSr whom Conolly became familiar when he entered Ogden High Mr Combe did lead Dick and his to a second place finish in the city was ninth graders Our biggest competiton always seemed to be Mound Fort, who later were to become our big rivals in high school when they w'ent to Ben Lomond and I was to attend Ogden I can still 0 remember our victory over Mound Fort, when playing almost a perfect game to beat them, state fidence, the attribute many of Conollys players have felt theyve learned from their coach teammates 56-5- Coach Balnf noticed Dick m a nhvsical education and class to him that transfer into later athletic Conollv saw plenty of suggested he might class varsity ac tion as a sophomore with only one senior on the club who eventually broke his foot As juniors, Conolly and his team won the state consolation and as a senior, Conollv led his team mates e team captain Coach Ballif was like Chuck and Carl he cared for us as individuals rather than mere numbers, said Conolly In 1957 58, Conolly signed to play with Weber Junior College and while playing as the sixth man helped his team to a second place finish among the top junior colleges m the nation The banner year was to follow when the W'eber team was o go all the way to win the national ch impionship for junior colleges While a membtr of that team Conolly played witb such plavers as Joe Carter, Gene Combes. Gordon Milenburg and Alan Holmes who later went on to play w ith the Umver sity of Utah He averaged 28 points per game with the Weber junior college team who won 30 of their 33 games their championship season Under Coach Bruce Larsen at Weber, Conolly felt he learned con- Needless to say and probably proud to say, Weber High School will probably never have another coach like Conolly where individuals and character have meant more than all the championships 12 years could bring Conolly Royal cagers awarded Seven By Bliss Fullmer awards were given at the annual Royal Basketball Banquet at Roy High School, last week, and five athletes claimed all seven Season Bert Ricn averaged 11 9 points per game to edge out Rylan Weidemeir, Robb Thomas and- - Dennis Adams, who each averaged eleven points or better Highest total rebounds Robb Thomas pulled down 159 rebounds to claim this award Most Assists Cort Murdock was credited w ith 45 assists to w in this one top-scor- Best RAY MEIBOS, assistant basketball coach ot Clearfield High, presents "Top Defensive Player" award to Jeff Gorringe. SGCTT WALLACE receives "Top Rebounder" trophy from his head cooch, Craig Haven during bmquet last week women's classic to feature Coach Margo Jones and Karlene Peart 1980 The Girl's All Star game will be Saturday, March 29, at 5 15 p m in the Special Events Center The best female basketball players from 4A and 1A, coached by Margo Jones and Diane Congoon, will battle it out with the best players from 3A and 2A, coached by Plnl Russel and Debbie Peel The team members were selected after coaches through out Utah nominated the best female basketball players from their divisions, then voted by secret ballot for those girls to make up the All Star team The team consists of (oaches: Margo Jones, Clearfield, and Diane Congdon of Kearns. Team: Karleen Peart, Clearfield, Helena Townsend, I.ayton; Lisa Monson Kearns; Lori Hreeken, Skyline: Cindy Lyon, Olympus; Jo Simonson, Green River: Julie Tucker, Altamonl; Annette Hunt, Enterprise; Tammy , Jensen. North Sevier; I iz Jones Brighton; Marie Neilson (alternate) ( ottonwood team consists of: ( oaches: Phil Russel, Ogden; Debbie Peel, Woods Cross. Team. Jill Kutich, Ogden; Carolyn Martineau, Woods Cross; Debbie Woods Cross; Karen Nielsen, Provo; HickAsper, iewmont, ( him freer, Kenna Baird, Grantsville; Charlotte Lehi; C Ingle, us, Beiky man. pi Gibbons San Juan ( bery l Cleverly, Woods Cross, Vera Nelson (alternate) 4A--1- A .IA--2- Morgan. This game promises to be an exciting battle involving the best fema'e "basketball talent in Utah1 The Girls basketball game is part of a two day March 28 and 29, that will include Boys All Star teams from ' Classic, fulilnrnid. Nevada, Colorado and Utah A drill team competition is also scheduled with the winner performing their exciting routines during game ' halftimes , a I' go tc mport Camp Kostopnlns and Utah m(Is u'ult1 at ' $2C ' Charity Basketball All-St- Classic has been completed Twenty-fou- r high school semois will vie for the ten available spots on the Utah team and The state champions are represented by Bob DeMarco Marc Brown and Gene Plavci (Hillcrest), and Aaron McCarthy Terry Murnin and Joel Rotta (Judge 3-- 4-- The Utah High School Girls All Star basketball teams have been chosen This is the second straight year that the girls have participated in the All Star Classic, which has been an annual event for seven years now. percentage Bei prepare for March 28th game All-sta-rs The preliminary selection for the all star team to represent Utah in the All-st- ar free-thro- Rich hit 72 percent from the line Most improved player Rylan Weidemeir earned this honor Best defensive player Cort Murdock got the nod for this aw aid Hustler award (voted by the team players) Mitch Brown won in this category ) Other hopefuls are Brent Applegate (Tooele), Greg Brown (Dugwuy), Marty Cowin (Park City), Ohes Dotheiy (Ogden) Jeff Emery (Davis), Kimball Hansen and Dennis Fox (American Folk) Also tiying to win a spot are Scott Hill (Box Elder), David King (Pay son), Bient Maxwell (Highland), Dave McGinn and Chris McMullm (Oiem) Othei possibilities include Tom Roberts (Bingham), Drew Skeen (Weber) , John McKenna (Skyview), Matt Almond (Granger), Troy Bucy (Alta) and Willie Wright (Olympus) Coaches Carl Ingersoll of Alta and Jim Yerkovich of Judge will select the final ten on March 22 after a week of tryouts and practices to be held at the University of Utah The Classic will feature a girls inand state game matching stars against the girls from the all-st- 3-- and 2 A divisions The girls will play prior to the mens consolation game March 29 The Classic pits California against Colorado and Utah against Nevada on March 28 The consolation and championship games will be held March 29 Proceeds from the Classic are the primary source of funding for the Utah Special Olympics Prep track to accommodate metric system By Bliss Fullmer changes are taking place in Roy High School track, this season For the openers track has been A lot of converted to accommodate tor measurements in meters, rather than yards, as in the past, and all events will be reported in metric Team competition begins this Thursday, as a team from Evanston, Wyoming, and Viewmont High School will be coming to town for a with the Royals Former Royal, Steve Smith, now a coach in Evanston, will be in town to test the stride and strength of the Vikings and Royals The opening gun will be shot at 3 p m ROYAL TRACKSTERS tri-me- 1980 Dan Sheffer is lacking in depth and experience, but not in optimism. He has several veterans from last years team, but he has som6 youngsters in the junior and sophomore ranks who are going to win some gold. Coach Sheffer listed the following cv nts for his team Track Coach Jones and Richard Hess, 1600 Meter (Mile Run) Art Hansen, Jphn Alberts and Dan Richards, Distant Runners. David Boren, Dan Davis and Bill Winters, 100 Meter Run: W'airen Bud Jason Wheelwright, Hurl Bassett and Scott Reid, 800 Metei Run Jim Puffer and Kevin ault: Roger Thompson, Pole Gaioutte and Jones, High Jump: Mike Reske, Scott House and John Shot-PuBill Venstra and Nigon Keith Kent hopple, Long Jump: Crockett, Ken Huddleston and Ran Jones, Javelin. Ralph Anderson, Volker Moulding and Neil Lewis and the Discus: Robb Thomas, Bill Venstra, Kent Kepple, John Nigon Roy is scheduled for several invitational tournaments, as well as dual meets, a region meet, and the slate 4A meet The Royals may attend an Ice Breaker meet in Provo on April y 12, but plans may change to a tournament, because of the energy crisis On April 19th, Roy will compote in the Weber State " a. ,1 Ran t. city-count- N Region One action in dual meets begins on April 2, when Clearfield comes to town Next the Royals travel to Sky View for an April 9 meet, and then entertain Layton on April 16 On Apnl 23rd Roy travels to Weber, and then to Bonneville on April 30 for its last dual meet of the season The Region One track meet, this year will be held at Clearfield on April 30, and the state finals at B Y U on May 16 and May 17 Judo Club hosts meet Hill Judo Club is hosting its sixth Annual Salt Classic Judo Tournament to be held at Layton High School, Saturday, March 29 This annual event is the largest judo competition held in Utah and is greater and greater receiving National lion recognition ' 1,1 since its in- itliP nMty; SPEEDSTER, KEITH CROCKETT, is |