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Show WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, NORTH DAVIS LEADER, APRIL 1, 1981 Bountiful, played the Cinderella Page 2 part this year in the state tournament. Every player had to shine for the Braves to win. Braves on the Warpath By DAVE WIGHAM Each year when the state basketball powers get together for their annual tournament a team comes out of nowhere to capture the crowd and usually ends up playing on the final night. A fete which few ever thought possible when the week long affair begins. THIS PAST tournament was no exception and it was our own Bountiful High that turned the trick. The Braves placed fourth in their league play and then had to playoff with the fourth place club from another region to even get into the event. Bountiful didnt play that well in that playoff game with Ben Lomond but they did play well enough to win and get a berth into the sixteen team tournament. IT REALLY surprised me the way the kids played in the first game against Provo. Especially after the way we played on the previous Friday against the Ben Lomond side," noted their head man, Mike Hall. I figured we could do well in the state meet and after that last second shot against Cyprus the kids got some confidence and momentum." Indeed anyone that saw the Braves play the Scots on Friday would have noted the only way the Braves could beat Provo would have been for the team bus of the Bulldogs to have missed the turnoff. Not so as Bountiful gave the Provo bunch, who went on the claim the title, their toughest struggle of the tournament. TRYING TO pick out a key to their success might be hard for some folks but Coach Hall knows exactly why he feels they faired so well. "In a state tournament you know the games will be close and you have to hit your foul shots. Last year we had a pretty good team but we didnt shoot real well from the line but this season we hit on 73 percent of our tries. If we had done that last year we just might have won the thing. In their opening round game, the Braves hit on 72 percent of their charity attempts, then for 79 percent against Cyprus. The high was the following night with 81 percent against Jordan and then on the last night they shot 67 percent against Springville. "If a team fouls you and you miss the foul shots then that's just like a turnover and you dont win with many of those, he added. and gave us the lift that we needed. A good rebounder who has a good touch around the basket." ONE OF THE reasons for the surprise of some folks is the youth on thftside. At times Coach Hall had one sophomore, three juniors and one senior on the floor so the future looks bright at Bountiful. We could be just as young next year. We have three good big people that are sophomores this year that will battle for a varsity spot next season. The guards will be hard to determine also. We have some good juniors as well as sophomores. Its a nice predicament to be in though, better than not having anyone back I guess. AS FOR NEXT season and the move to the higher 4A rankings. Coach Hall is very honest. "I expect more out of myself and the kids. I honestly feel we have a good shot at anyone next year in 4A. Our goal will certainly be to win the title." They had a successful season this past one and with the talent and height they have back one can t blame Coach Hall for his optimism. THE YOUNG coach had a few remarks about each of his players that he used throughout the year and the tournament: Terry Ferrell: "Terry was a senior and our captain and I really believe he showed some great leadership in the state tournament." RICHIE WEIGHT: "Richie was the nice surprise of the year. He had no real basketball experience to speak of and it was his development club." that sparked the Danny Bell: He was a good solid player all year for us. It took him awhile to shake off the layoff he had with his injury last year but once he got going he was one of the best around." MIKE WOODBURY: "Woody was a great rebounder for us. Also I feel he was our best defensive player. He shot Dave Heaton of Provo down as well as anyone did in the state this year." Alan Meldrum: "At times Alan came off the bench this season . I |