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Show 2D Lakeside Review North, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1983 d 9 KENT SOMERS Review Sports Editor According to coaches estimations, the final finish in Region One could be the biggest p since the Jimmy Carter flip-flo- days. Clearfield and Weber, two teams that finished in the depths of the region last year, are predicted, .at most, to be contenders for the league title, and, at least, challenge for one of the four state playoff berths given to the region. in region play Clearfield, last year but with three returning starters back for their senior years, should be able to matchfaup with another vorite, Bonneville, fairly well. The Lakers lost only Sie Moore off last years team and won the bus pulls into your parking lot about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday night, And then hesitate. This region is always strong from top to bottom, said Clearfield Coach Craig Hansen, who knows as well as any coach how competitive the league can be. Even so, Region One ciubS' seem to have problems winning' the state championship. Not since the 1971 Weber High squad has a team that is now in the region won a state championship. Blame the jack of state championships on a lack of height as much as anything else. Region One schools have had problems in the past starting front lines that averaged over and this Basketball Congress In- coming year does not seem to ternational Tournament this be an exception. Even Roy, traditionally one of summer. But, coaches predictably said, the taller teams in the region, team Region One should agaitl be a has only an average-siz- e at best. thoroughly competitive league. ; Ted Smiths Royals, however, Translation: Dont put a W" in the win column until your have a notorious way of being a , ... 1- -9 pre-seas- hdvo to play ccncictcntly cinco ito tough to coma bach if you loco V7o thrco or four games in a row. Roy High Coach Ted Smith. 6--4, . 1 better club than anyone thinks, And if you need further evidence, just look at Roys win over Highland, a team many are picking as one of the top clubs in Region Four, in the , opening game of the season last week. ' ; - , But one unknown factor in this years region action will be the quality of the Box Elder team. The Bees .will be playing their first season in basket 4--A Last: Y oar item ball in quite some time, but they proved during football season that the jump may not be as big, or as disastrous, as some people had expected, i 'But Box Elders entry into the region did bring sonje good news: No one will have to deal with Clyde Nelson and his Sky View Bobcats, who moved to ranks. the Another team to watch in Region One could be the Layton Lancers. Layton has some key ' players returning from its surfinish in prising seventh-plac- e last years state tournament' If the Lancert can rally like they did last year and play solid basketball, then they could also, contend for a playoff berth. Weber, as you might have heard by now, should be an im- -' proved team over the 1983 version, and the Warriors are led e coach Dick Con- by 3-- 'Jr . . True enough, but in Region teams have One, the a tendency to. bring people down with them. last-pla- First, battlihg it out for the top spot in Region .One will be Bonneville and Clearfield. The ' Falcons played well against a good Bountiful team last week and have the height, experience and talent to win it all. ' 1 ce ' t. ' The key to making the playoffs, so. the cliche goes, is con- schedule, sistency. In a a team cant afford to start having serious problems. A Put Roy in the third spot, behind Clearfield and Bonneville, because the Royals ate not hurting like sbme people think. Mike-Coand Marc Webster are players and a way of the Royals just have ' . winning games, 10-ga- And Roy!s Smith has the same belief as many other coaches about possible breakdowns,' and he probably speaks for every team when he said: There are certain things we have to do. We have to play consistently since its tough to come back if you lose tjiree or four games in a row. e above-avera- mid-seas- -- . But, as you can read in the teams previews, hope and.opti-misrun as freely among bas- -. ketball teams and coaches in m No, there PREDICTIONS is no army of reporters picking favorites ' thi years like the big boys in college pre-seas- - ?v' LAYTONS DOUG MOON i ge . long-tim- nolly. u ROYS TED SMITH have. But, and this is guaran- -' teed, these picks are as equally unreliable, So, here goes, the winter as mountain streams in the spring. Surely someone, you have to ask yourself, has to finish last. Now, 'for the fourth spot. This is too tough to make a pick. How well Weber,. Lay ton and Box Elder will play is unpredictable. Any one of these clubs could easily finish in the fourth spot, or in the top three. ' A playoff for that fourth posi- tion is entirely possible. After all, this is competitive Region remember? One ' CRAIG HANSEN CLEARFIELDS Region 4 Looks Strong For Season 1983-198- 4 thisyear after losing its top eight' players - from last years ehampionship team KENT SOMERS Review Sports Editor . . If you wanted to place a bet now, with the basketball season in the toddling stage. on what region would fare the best in the state touma- ment you would probably find that the Region Four choice is off the boards. A quick look at the histo- ry of the league in the last to graduation. But a rigorous schedule w-'pre-seas- that includes PREDICTIONS VIEWMONTS RON JOHANSEN - strong teams such as Og- den, Judge Memorial, Orem and Brighton could make Woods Cross a better club and prepare them for the long and equally rigorous region schedule. s ; V, V Al- though Woods Cross hopes to improve during the season, it will be extremely difficult for them to challenge for one of the four playoff berths. It is difficult to pick a league favorite in Region Four because there are five teams that look to be equal in talent Highland and East have good players and Highland also has another advantage Coach Larry Maxwell, the winner of three state championships. . ' Likewise, Davis and Bountiful could also finish in the top spot in the region and both of those clubs ' have winning traditions and Braves Coach Mike Hall Mike Gardner . and Davis have both won state championships. So, when all the bleachers are clear, heres what' the predictions for Region Four looks like. Look for Highland, Davis, Bountiful and East to have an excellent chance of win-- . ning the region with a slight edge going to East and Davis. Viewmont could also be , in that race if Coach Ron Johansens juniors play up to their capabilities. Five teams playing for four spots will make the region competitive,' as usual, and should make the $2.50 spent on game admission money well spent. And if you can find someone who will bet you that Region Four teams wont do, well in the state touma- ment, take the bet and laugh your way back to the bank. DAVIS. MIKE GARDNER 4 . j those youngsters react in varsity action is unknown. Every area coach agrees that Woods Cross is down a 4 i , 0i ''' w A "") f ifli ' '& A i ,V . A t f fa info!:;: WOODS CROSS CLYDE JACKSON A AJ .up ncui |