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Show uirtu, nvn n LUMVIO LtALlbH, APRIL I 1, 1 Poge 6 981 had a identical to that of the Vikes, going intothe battle. When it was all over the Bruins had ended the Viking dreams by knocking off the Vikes by a couple of points. I guess the logical thing for everyone to say is that we overlooked the Mountain View team but I don't think that was the 18-- case." noted Coach Johansen. "It just didn't work out for us. We shot 39 percent from the field that night and still only lost by two points but again the breaks didn't go with us and it didnt work out " . JON COX, one of the players on the team felt the same way. No way did we look past them or anyone else. 1 felt we were as ready for Mountain View as we were for any club all year. Maybe we just wanted it too bad and forced things a little bit." The following night the Vikes were knocked out of the tournament by Davis, a team the Viewmont side had beaten twice during the year. Coach Johansen felt the mental aspect was gone. WHEN YOU have a goal of playing for the state title for three years and then all of a sudden it's over its very tough for a high school player to come back the following day. They can say they are ready all they want but it still has to hurt somewhere down the line. These guys tried against Davis, and the Darts have a good team, but their hearts and minds couldn't have been in it fully. As one player for the Vikings noted before their game with the Darts, We didn't come down here to take fifth." From the supporting bench, to playing aggressive defense THAT SENT the Vikings home, without a final standing in the state tournament. Some said they or surrounding the basket it was a team were the most talented team in the effort for the Vikes. Viewmont didnt were they? "Phystate event sically talented we were the best I feel, but discipline wise the Provo club was head and shoulders go as far as they above everyone, d Johansen says his kids are surmised Coach Johansen. Were the Vikings over-ratethen during the season? No, we proved we could play with anyone all season. We beat Roy, who played for the state title in 4A, and Bonneville who was high in that event. We won the toughest league in the state and that says something in itself," quickly came back Coach Johansen. expected to this year, but coach Ron still champions. No Trophy; But Vikes are Champs By DAVE WIGHAM "The one thing that I hope people realize about these kids is that they are champions. And honestly feel that they will be able to see that in later life." I QUITE A statement from a high school basketball coach, but they are the true feelings of Ron Johan sen when referring to his Vikings this past season. Too many people will judge these kids on their tournament showing and might look at them as losers. Nothing could be further from the truth, everyone of them are winners." he added firmly. Getting Coach Johansen to talk about the tournament wasn't' easy. One could see and feel that he had a hard time coming up w ith reasons, not excuses, for his Vikings showing in the state event. WE APPLIED too much pressure on ourselves and just didn't play well in the tournament. To do '.veil you have to be a little loosey-gooseand we were uptight because we wanted to win so bad." y In the opening round game against Springville, the Vikes got into that stage for awhile and proved too much for the Red Devils as Viewmont pulled away for an easy win. loosey-goose- y THAT SET the stage for with Mountain Yw . a relatively cub from down .Cuin. Truth is though the Bruins unknn AGAIN HE finished, This is the best talented team 1 have ever coached in my ten years. It just didn't work out is all." As for next year, the likeable coach looks at the move to 4A as a natural move. "There really isn't a heck of a lot of difference between 3A and 4A they are very close. If you had to move up from 2A it might be a problem but not from 3A. We played many 4A schools and did well." AS COACH Johansen kept mentioning these guys played well throughout the se-- n fhey shouldn jU(ge(j on three in a state tournament. games They played well for three years and for one week it just didn't work out. |