OCR Text |
Show The Salt Lake Tribune SPORTS Saturday,April 22, 2000 Boys Basketball Teams of the Century 1951-56 Joraan — Legendarycoach ‘Art Hughes anc 6-loct-10 Peart “Polson” Poltard ied the tofwesconsecy. buzzer Bryce Thomberg Todd Wagstall ‘Steve Conde, Eric Staymaker end David semifinal when Vranes hit an 'Stooler athe were 47-1 in two years under coach Clyde ‘hve state ttles (1957-55), the state's only Paul were offer Eagle statwarts. WW 1976-78 Bingham — Led by Fred Roberts. perhaps the best basketball player Utah has ever produced. the Miners became ard teatured BYU's Jared Peterson, the MVP. he University of Utah's Alex Jensen 1 two other staring juniors, John Robison / Jaramie Martin. East 62-42 in the final. In 1956, Jordan played in the championship game for the sadn straght tme 1B 1967 Clearfield — The Falcons won the only team in state history to win back-toback state titles in different classifications by taking the 1977 3-A crown and the 19784-A tte Bob Beers Brad Fullmer and Rick WE 1994-95 Ata — The Hamas went 444 1 two years wih seven players who wOUK gO on to play college basketball, including Taylor Wagner, Adam Sharp. Brad Wiliden. Brent ‘twee-peat i large-schoo! boys basketball Pollard scored 89 ports in tee 1955 tourement games, 2 stale record, and Jordan beat thaw frst and only state championship behind Al-Amencan Kenny Gardner, who would star at the Universty of Utah, Harley Graham, Kay Miles, Don Peterson and Craig Hess. 1972-74 Bingham — Betore he was ‘Schroeder joned Roberts in giving Bingham fourth title in six years. 9B 1978-79 Highiand —Ledbyaurent Bountiful coach Mike Maxwell and Murray coach Gordon Kener, the Larry Maxwell ‘Hawkins, Nate Knight and Nate Carting The Hawks won the state tile in 1995 with the «WV Sharp, Wilden and Hawkins. 1997-9 Mountain View — Led by ‘Scott Henry, Tim Henry, Jeff Gardner and Sports llusated, Bruce Herdy led the Miners to consecutive Ciass 3-A Golden Holt, Wayne Paimer and Lynn Eg- ‘Ment opponents by 110points and cruised io the 1979 tite with an 80-54 whipping of an East High team whose point quard was taller Wn back-to-back Class 5-A state championships. bert also starred on one or both teams. than Highland’s center. Mike Maxwell had ee ae eee, Hewlt Bll Moon ard John Baucom were flr and eeued6-8 MVP Spencer featured on the cover of the Apri 6, 1974 : & : ooEAeeube ars 4A tile wit athictes a team thatGifford wouldNielsen feature (oot. three bal), Vance Law (baseball and Brett Vroman (basketball) and two others who would play for four-year colleges, Very! Law and Kory Sorensen. Provo repeated in 1974, extending its winning streak to 49 games,with the 7-foot Vroman dominating despite playing in the state toumament with a broken foot. 1 1974-75 West — Junior guard Scott Runia scored 36 points in the championship- @ Continued from B-1 Of course, the Jazz and their chances have been mocked many times. In 1993, then-Seattle Coach GeorgeKarl talked about Stockton “T heard thatin ‘94 or‘95, too,” because they make a mistake, we won't have muchof a chance in this seriés.” The Stockton-Payton matchup will highlight this series, though wewinthisfirst series, people will say, ‘Those cagey veterans, they're at it again.’ Andif we lose, they'll all say, ‘The Jazz, everybody knew they were washed up.’ So I guess it’s one of those things you can’t worry about. Thebest thing to do is not worry about what anybody thinks.” Maloneis more concerned with Payton and the Sonics, whosplit four games with Utah this season. “It's not like we don’t know what we're up against,” he said. the Jazz knowcontainingSeattle’s All-Star point guardis a five-man job. “Paytoniis at the peakof his career,” Sloan said. “He’s playing the best basketball of his life. [Stockton] knows what a tough assignment he’s got. But it's not just John. It’s everybody. . . . We have to stop Seattle as a team.” “Gary's the key, without a “We've beento war againstSeattle many times. Theyare talented, and they are a very underrated defensive team. I’m not just saying that.” doubt,” Malonesaid. “We've got a defensive scheme in mind, but ev- Sonics, everyonefigured Utah had For the seventh time in their made its last serious run at a history, the Jazz won at least 55 championship. But since then, the Jazz have compiled a regular- games during the regular season. about “keys” to the series. “To me, that's silly,” he said. “If the so-called keys were end-alls, then it would be easy, right? But “losing a step.” That was seven years before Stockton participated in this season's All-Star Game. In 1996, when the Jazzlostto the season record of 218-78, ‘and reachedthe Finals twice. Maybe that’s why Malone smiles when heis asked if this — once and for all — if this is the Jazz's final chance to win a championship. erybody’s gotto executeit.” Stockton shrugs off a question But they were only 8-6 overthefinal 14 games and appeared they aren’t. Basically, we have to vulnerable. play well. It sounds simple. But we “The biggest thing is for us to get everybody to come and play hard,” Coach Jerry Sloan said. “If we get guys whoare intimidated, or don’t play hard, or fall off haveto execute on offense and defense. We haveto stick with what makes us a good team. Then we haveto layit all on theline,all of the time.” U.S. Soccer Team Avenges Losses to Honduras THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HERSHEY,Pa. — The United States got off to a strong start in its quest for an Olympic berth as Chris Albright scored twogoals in a 3-0 victory over Honduras Fridaynight. The United States, whichlost its last two matches against Honduras,easily avenged those defeats in the final round of qualifying for the Sydney Games. Thelast time the teams met, Hondurasdefeated an inexperienced U.S. team in the opening round of the 1999 Pan American Games. The United Statesalsofell to Hondurasin the 1995 Pan Ams. Albright, a forward for MLS championD.C. United, put the United States ahead in the 37th minute. Midfielder Ben Olsen gathered upa loose ball and sprinted up the right sideline, passing the ahead to Albright, whowasracing alongside Olsen. Albright blasted a shot past goalkeeper Belarmino Rivera andinto the right side of the net. “T was going to go for theball first, but Benny is better at handling and passingtheball, so I figured I wouldtryto get on the endofit,” Albright said. “I just made a run near-post, and he played a beautiful ball andI just got my footonit.” U.S. goalkeeper Adin Brownwas spectacularin the opening minutes of the second half, stopping shots from forwards Orvin Cabrera and Luis Ramirez from directly in frontof the net. Brown credited his defense for thwarting the Honduran attack. “Theyplayed real well,” Brownsaid of his defenders. “I only had to deal with three or four shots from about 30 or 40 yardsout, and you're going to deal with them all the time. They're pretty regular shots.” Brown hadtwosavesin the game. Albright got his second goal in the 77th, pouncing on John Thorrington’s shot, whichdeflected offRivera anddirectly to Albright, who placeditin theleft side of the goal. Thorrington added the final U.S. goal when Olsen delivered a passfor his secondassist of the game. As of Friday night’s tame, the Honduran soccer teamstill had nat been paid, the coach said. “It certainly had an impact. It kind of gave the team an anemiceffect, ” Coach Ramon Enrique Maradiaga said through an interpreter. “There is no doubt that someofthe players were treated badly, and then coming here late had aneffect on their play.” The coachsaid, however, that the national federation wasstill promising to makethe payments. Hondurasplays Canada in a second-round matchup Sunday, while the United States will take on Canada Tuesdaynight. With a win over Canada, the United States will reach the semifinals. A win in the semifinals will ensure the team trip to Sydney. 8 1968-00 Emery — The Spartans went «68-4 in Shawn Bradley's three-year career, Placing third in 1988, winning a title in 1989 with a 24-0 record and winning a title in 1990 with a 22-2 mark. in 1989, Emery beat Ryan Cufl-led Richfield 83-82 for the 2-Atitle when Provo Top Boys Hoop Team others, the Bruins became the first schoo! to 1 1997-98 Grantsville — One of the top pions went 24-1, a 25-point average mar- AledSevier who has sqned toandlyagain for Mariana North in 1990-91 in 1996-97 "OUND EenAndGuinie, tured some great teams from 1972-74 with coach Danny Hill. Ml 1996-98 Provo — The their third title in four years in 1996, vn Emery'sSteve Gordon made a halfcourt shot at the buzzer in overtime. Cuff had 44 points and Bradley had 37 in possibly the best game 45-1 in Kenneth Roberts’ junior and seniors ‘season, winning a pair of 4-A statetitles, titles in 1976 and '77, overcoming Devin Durrant's Provo team in a memorable '77 Malonesaid. “The funnything is,if ig.conibuors. twas the third of Lary Maxwars ve state is. won the only basketball title in the school's 106-yearhistory. West, the 4-A champ,also beat 3-A champ Davis in overtime a few weeks laterin a matchup of champions. Quided Nell Roberts’ Eagles to back-to-back Jazz Begin Another Quest for Title 126 state-toumey points and Spencer of the century. ofUtah and NBA player Danny Vranes John Froschauer/The Associated Press coached Rams outscored four state touna- game victory over Skyline as the Panthers 1 1975-77 Skyline — Future University John Stockton passes over his shoulder while under pressure from Seattle's Gary Payton, right, and Rashard Lewis in the teams’ March 24 game.Utahsplit four games with the Sonics this season. Nelson, now at Ricks Collage The 82-33 team went 24-0 fo win the schoo''s frst ite 1 1989-90 Bingham — The Miners were Bingham coach George Sluga tied Granite's Cec Baker and Hiticrest/Jordan's Art Hughes for most state titles (six) with the 1990 cham- pionship. Cousins Justyn Tebbs and K.C. Tebbs were also part of the dynasty. Frampton and Eric Jackson, BYU basketball signee Jake Chrisman started as a sopho- more on the '98 team. game as Murray beat East 72-71in double overtime to claim its first state title since 1931. Utah's Jeff Johnsen also starred on the 22-2 team that included Preston Price, Cory Cariston and Joey Stewart. 8 1991-93 Viewmont — The Vikings — Jay Drew “There were theselittle leprechauns that climbed out from under the bleachers and woyld neverlet us lose. That gym was worth seven or eight points beyond the usual homecourt advantage.” Craig Drury @ Continued from B-1 Provo basketball coach =e “It’s simple,” Riverton coach Steve Galley says. “Fourteenstate said. gym was worth seven or eight championships. Who else compares?” Perhaps more impressive than the 14state titles is Provo’s league dominance. The Bulldogs have won 13 region titles under Drury. They won 12 under Spencer and 18 under Condie. “In a word, it is tradition,” ‘That 1972-73 team went 25-0with Gifford Nielsenasits star, and is probably the greatest team in Provo history — perhaps even state history.It might be rivaled by the 1973-74 bunch, however, that featured 6-foot-11 Brett Vroman, Vance Law and6-6 Dave Card. The Bulldogs of "74 went 24-0 andtheir 43-42 win over Oremin the state championship game gavethe program its 52ndstraight win. Provo wonits first two games the next season, and the 54-game streakstill stands as the best ever in Utah prep boys basketball. Nielsen played professional football after starring at BYU, the Law brothers pro baseball and Vroman pro basketball after a career at UCLA and UNLV. But Spencer says Devin Durrant, a BYU All-American wholed the Bulldogs to the 1978 title,is the points beyond the usual homecourt Drurysaid. “I did not buildit. [just maintainit. I feellike a custodian. Sometimes I put on some new paint, doa little remodeling, things like that.. . . Every time welose a game, I think of Jim Spencer, and whathe would be thinking.” Although Provo wonfour titles before him, Spencer is generally credited for building the dynasty. Retired, he lives in Orem and keeps a close eye on both the Bulldogs and Orem High, where his son, John,is the principal. Spencersaid helearned a lot by coaching against the legendary Art Hughes of Jordan for 10 years before arriving at Provo in 1969. “WhenI wentto Provo, I had my mind made up what I would do,” Spencer said. “We developed a defense that Craigstill uses today.It is good, hard; pressure defense, based on the principles of man-toman. You havegot to pressure the ball. Championship teams, at any level, know how to pressure the Spencer says he sat between a couple membersofhis 1973 championship team, Vance and Veryl Law,whenProvo wonits lasttitle, two year's ago. “Hey, coach, could these guys have beaten our team?” Vance Law asked. t “Nah,” Spencersaid. “That's what we thought,” Law LARGEST DISPLAY OF TABLES IN THE STATE most versatile player he ever coached. Drury says he could “go through a list of about 50 great players,” including one of his teammates in the late 1960s, Utah State Coach Stew Morrill. But the only two Bulldogs to havetheirjerseysretired area pair of 1998 teammates, David Liddiard and R.J. Staheli, who died together in an automobile accident a few months after graduating. Their jersey numbers, 4 and 45, are displayed on a wall inside Provo’s new gym. Drury says Provo was “darn- near unbeatable,” in the old gym, a dark, cramped, worn-out place which opened in 1957. “There were these little leprechaunsthat climbed out from under the bleachers and would never let'us lose,” the coach said. “That advantage. The band would sit above the visiting team in the balcony, andplayall through a timeout. There’s no way the visiting kids could hear their coach.” Provo moved to its new gym in 1995 and immediately wona state championship,then did it again in 1997 and 1998, with current BYU player Mekeli Wesley thestar. Although Provo was clearly Utah’s top program ofthe century, schools such as Jordan, Bingham, Granite, Gunnison, South Sevier, Highland and Lehi have had their moments. Coach George Sluga, voted by his peers three years ago as Utah’s best basketball coach, has led Bingham to six ofits seventitles, and could have beenthefirst coach in state history to win seven championships. His teams finished with just twolosses each ofthe last two years. Lately, Mountain View came canes when they were not expected Genie‘was the dominant program inthefirst halfofthe century, winningall six ofits titles before 1948 underCecil Baker. Wecarry everything for your home game room.All tables include a complete accessory package, delivery & installation. The Sheraton Free delivery I i The Montrachet rt Ol tom 4e aa] FINANCING! and Brighton have established themselves as top large-school programs. Jordan dominated in the 1950s, playing in six straight championship games from 1951-56 under Hughes. The Beetdiggers are still the only large-school team to have wontitles in three straight seasons (1953-55). Highland has won six championships, including five with coach Maxwell. Maxwell's 1965, '66 and '79 teams were loaded, while his winners in 1991 and 1994 be- Lifetime Guarantee Financing Availal |