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Show BASKETBALL PREVIEW Last Years Janiors Make Experienced Seniors Lancers Have Same Spunk As Last Year Patience Is A Key In Dart Camp By By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports KAY S VILLE There is really only one key phrase to describe Davis High basketball at the present time and thats that patience will pay off. THE HEART of the Davis line-u- p and the majority of its returning lettermen, have had no time at all to relax or recouperate from the mental and physical pressures that playing in a state football championship can bring. And because of that, Coach Mike Gardner is preaching the word patience. DIRECTLY FROM playing for a state foot- ' ball title on Friday, those that can, must suit up " in basketball trunks and prepare fora day clash with Cottonwood High. There is no question in my mind, that the kids who played football need a k vacation from athletics, but we cant. Itll take a couple of weeks before we can relax and ' begin to get ready for league play. I CANT pressure the kids, in fact Im not concerned at all about Cottonwood. Getting ready for January is what counts. I believe weve got some good players too, but football has put us so far behind mentally that itll take some time to catch up. During a state tournament you can get so psyched up and get so high, then boom, two or three days later you are playing in a basketball game. Mentally they just wont be ready to play and there is nothing I could do to get them ready, said the veteran head coach. -- . BUT ILL TELL you what, said Gardner, Ill encourage my basketball players to play football till the day I die. I want them to have a total athletic experience in high school and theres things kids get out of football they just wouldnt get anyplace else. Gardner was confident that some of the things gained in football will carry over into basketball. HEADING INTO the new season, Gardner will have five returning lettermen back, all of which saw loads of action their junior or sophomore years. Steve Sargent at 2 started every game a year ago and should be one of Davis better players. According to the coach, Steve has the pure shooting touch but the most valuable asset hes gained has been mental toughness, over a year ago. 6-- ANOTHER IS Jeff Sampson who was the bull last season, the physical speciman inside that will stand about 1 inside this winter. Height will be a problem for Jeff, but because he can get away with hes so muscle-boun- d some roughness, said Gardner. Sampson weighs in nw at 205. But the Darts may miss Sampson for a week or two because of the painful thigh injury that took him out of the state championship game. Gardner just hopes the injury doesnt put Jeff too far behind that it will be difficult for him to catch up. Ryan Smith is the point guard and the ball handler. Youll love kids like Ryan who are gutty and work extremely hard for ya. Smith put a lot of extra time in the gym over the summer to improve his shooting touch. The Davis coaches also like his penetrating ability. Once hes given a step, Ryan is by most defenders and either going for two points or dishing off for an assist. Smith is perhaps the squads best defensive player, too. JUNIOR CASEY Lloyd is another returning letterman, having started in at least half of Davis games last season. Casey also has a with the good shotting touch and loves to drive ball. Lloyd could very well be at the top or near the top in scoring in most games. The final returning letterman is junior 4 of post man, Mike Orton. Mike is the only one the five lettermen, that didnt play football. Because of a broken wrist, he missed football this fall. The cast came off in the middle of October but Gardner said he is ready. At 4 hell be the size and height for the squad, the rebounder and the inside guy with Sampson. Orton started at least four or five games last season on the varsity level. FROM THIS point, Gardner believes its hard to mention anyone else. We just haven t had a good chance to evaluate people. There are some juniors and sophomores that could do well for us, but well have to take some time to let things settle a bit, said Gardner. Mike Woodward, because of a shoulder basketball. He 11 have separation, will not play the shoulder operated on sometime in the first Wood- of December. Gardner commented that 6-- 6-- 6-- 4 DUNCAN 1 4-- A The first year for new kids on the block is always tough, as local prep teams found out with their cluster of juniors last year. But novice juniors grow into bully seniors and the school of hard knocks may reap bounteous rewards this year. ward would have played. DAVIS BASKETBALL might benefit from the products of Kaysville and Farmington junior highs, who played last year for the county basketball championship. Gardner feels there could be some young players that could rise to the top. Kaysville went undefeated and had several good players as did Farmington. Were going to be much better than last But well still be lacking year, the one key ingredient, and thats size. GARDNER COMMENTED that every other team with Region Four had another player 7 or taller. In some cases, the schools had at least two or three players that tall. Well just fight our guts, said Gardner. said Gardner, 6-- the star of the win over Roy and played quite a bit in the tournament. "Darryl is probably one of the quickest kids Ive coached, said Moon who also likes Martin's court sense. Tom Kidd isnt the kind of player that w ill score a lot of points, but he will give on the defensive end. Kidd will become a floor general for the Lancers this year, which isnt anything new. After Williams left the club last season, it was Kidd who came off the bench to start and the job he did was brilfive-overti- LAYTON -- - Remember the 1982-8- 3 Layton High basketball squad, you wont want to forget them. Because in many respects, the upcoming season will present a club almost exclusively like them. LAST YEARS Doug Moon coached squad had enough crash down on them through the regular season, that many wondered if all aboard mutiny would occur. First, the Lancers were picked to battle for the region title by many observers, but found themselves no where even close later on. Another twist thrown in their faces was the departure of Keith Williams from their team, a guy who had the year before stood out as the leading scorer and floor general. After Williams exit, many expected the club to nosedive and perhaps even miss a berth into the tournament. BUT...ALAS, it never quite happened that way. After Williams left, Coach Moon was the first to say he wasnt giving up and the kids followed after him. Moon, who has coached for 9 years and 3 at Lay ton High , said , In all my coaching years, through the good and the bad. Ive never had a more inspirational experience than seeing those kids last year put things together and win like they did in the tournament. It was kinda special for anyone that was a part of it. Last years unit qualified for the tournament and met a powerful Brighton team in the opening round where they lost. But nine or ten kids huddled together after that loss and vowed to give it their best from that point forward. With Coach Moon at the helm, Layton won their next three ballgames and won the 1983 consolation championship. AND MOON now says the present team has much of the same character and attributes of the team of a year ago. At least three players this year, were a part of what took place last season and they include Steve Pearce, Darryl Martin and Tom Kidd. Said Tom about last years finish, Its something that none of us will forget and I hope like heck we can do it again. THOSE THREE players, Pearce, Martin and Kidd saw a lot of varsity action last year and Moon will probably build things around them. Pearce is one of the most experienced players Layton has, having played a little as a sophomore and become the sixth man on last years club. At 2 hell be counted on heavily to help on the borads as well as putting the ball in the hoop. PERHAPS one of the darkhorse players of the region and a kid that Moon is counting on heavily, will be Darryl Martin. At slightly t, under Darryl came on and played bit at the end of the last season. He was quite a 1 two-wee- THE DARTS can be expected to take their first few games at a slower pace , play ing a lot of people and generally just letting time work out their quirks. And just as the players are exhausted at pre- sent, so are the coaches. Gardner gave his all to the final week of preparation for Alta and he could very well use a rest too. Of course his assistants. Ward Sawley and John Robison have seen plenty of football too. KEITH Journal Sports 6-- six-foo- nt liant. JUNIOR DAN Bankhead is a good shooter and Coach Moon will probably use him as the third guard, and will see a lot of playing time. Bankhead is very quick, an asset that hasn't hurt him at all. James Beauregard will probably become the team's starting center at Hes not real big, but Moon likes his ruggedness on the court. James is described as an excellent rebounder. Hell help us out, said Moon, Everythat thing goes up he wants to get a piece of when it comes down. He plays more like he is 5 with his good jumping ability. 6-- 3. 6-- and Dave BOTH JAREN Campbell, will battle for the remaining forBrimhall, ward spot. Coach Moon claims they'll probably see equal playing time. Brimhall is the more rugged of the two, but both of them can shoot the ball real well. Todd Murdock has his aggressiveness working for him right now. Coach Moon said it was hard to cut a player like Todd, because every minute he is in there, hes always battling. Todd will probaly play behind Pearce at one forward spot. Got to have that kind in the line-ujust because of his determination, said Moon. 6-- 6-- 4, p, PAUL BARNEY comes to Layton from Brazil. His older brother Dave, played a few years back at Layton. Barney handles the ball real well and could be an asset if the other guards get in trouble. Shawn Moss is another one of Moons kind of players. Hell battle at a guard forward spot. His hustle and determination helped him make the club. TWO SOPHOMORES that are coming on strong include Rex Brimhall, the younger brother of Dave and Bobby Fresques. As Moon talked about his new squad, he did so with a lot of smiles and optimism lighting his voice. I enjoy this thing, said Moon, But if you dont enjoy it, why do it. I WONDERED ABOUT this year for a while, but I dont anymore. Ive got the kind of kids that never give up and like to work hard. Of course, that makes a big difference. No Longer Basketball Beginners At Clearfield By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports CLEARFIELD --- Last March, Craig Hansen and his Clearfield High basketball team spent their time in a very unfamiliar place, up in Row RS instead of down on the court where you could usually find a Falcon basketball team that time of the year. SO WHAT IS the primary goal this season? Getting back to the tournament, answered Hansen as his squad prepared to take on Bouncontest this Wednesday in tiful in a Clearfield. In two years, Hansen learned quickly the true meaning of rags to riches as his 1981 squad excelled all the way to a final fifth place showing in the tournament. But a year later, in league Clearfield could do no better than nine their last league games in a play, losing row. BUT THE REAL positive thing about the upcoming season is that Hansen probably will bounce back with a team capable of doing immeasurable feats. Of course the No. 1 feat is to land a spot in the tournament, but they could do even better than that. The reasoning for the optimistic outlook in Clearfield has much to do with the fact the Falcons have three returning starters in Jeff Parry, John Grotzky and Hal Schofield. Then there are a list of others that will definitely surround the first three and blend in well. ONE SUCH PLAYER that will do some good blending in, will be senior guard, Curtis Cook. Cook is a smart player with better-tha- n At average shooting ability. He played a ton of junior varsity ball last season, helping Ray Meibos to a fine winning record. Hansen also likes his passing abilities and the fact he works hard all of the time. Cook, along with Parry, will serve as the team captains for the pre-seas- Hes an outstanding leader and well need his direction out there, Hansen reminded. THE MAN to play the Falcon post position will be another returning starter in John Grotzky. Like Parry, John started most of Clearfields league games a year ago and the experience gained will be invaluable. Grotzky has the ability to shoot well from the outside, as well as licking the opposition with his inside stuff. Hal Schofield perhaps saw more action as a junior than anyone else and hes back for another campaign too. The 1 slender forward can do just about everything it takes to make a good player. He plays excellent defense, can rebound, can pass, shoot and dribble and will just be valuable each night out. 6-- THE REMAINING , forward spot is still up for grabs as of last week. Three players that Hansen was taking a serious look at were 3 senior Phil Peterson; that Hansen was taking a serious look at 6-- THE REMAINING forwart spot is still up for grabs as of last week. Three players that Hansen was taking a serious look at were 3 senior Phil Peterson; 3 Steve Labato, another senior; and finally 4 junior, Eric West. Peterson is a solid player with good jumping ability while Eric is another blessed with talented jumping ability, perhaps the best jumper on the team. 6-- 6-- 6-- 6-- 1, upcoming year. Parry is one of the best athletes in the school this year, if not the best. He stands just a and will play guard next smidge under to Cook. Parry is one of the three returning starters, having seen a bunch of action especially once the Falcons got started in league play last year. Under pressure and in tense moments, Parry probably will be the man to look for. But still another key to Parry, according to his coach, is his leadership on the floor. six-fo- LABATO WILL be a horse inside, weighing in at over 200 pounds. Hansen likes his size down around the basket and he likes his shooting touch for a big guy. The list continues with Mike Call, a junior, being added to the guard list. Hansen really likes his defensive ability and passing skills. Hell come in and help us on the guardline from time to time, said Hansen. ANOTHER TALENTED junior is Troy Markham who did well on John Flints sophomore squad last season. with good jumping Greg Boykin at skills, will probably see some action on the varsity level as well, especially at the center spot. Greg has a way to go, but I like what Ive seen so far, said Hansen. 6-- 4, Part of this year's Clearfield Grotzky and Phil Peterson. team that saw extensive action as juniors is John WERE JUST looking to comeback, said Hansen with a chuckle, We feel out of place if were not included in the state tourney. But even with good players that Hansen has to work with, theyll be battling in a region packed with basketball tradition. Outside of Box Elder, which no one really knows a lot about yet, Clearfield will be tackling the likes of Bonneville who won last summer's state BCI tournament. Theyve got everyone back, except Moore, said Hansen. And that makes them a little more balanced. WEBER IS always tough with Dick Connoi-l- y at the helm and when has Roy ever fielded a team that hasnt won their share. Hansen always says to be aware of Layton, who he says : ; will win their share of games. After Clearfield gets their opener out of the way, theyll hit the road and play American Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 29. |