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Show For Sports Information Call 237-200-1 Salt fake Sribniu II Sec-lio- For Sports Scores S'.p Call 237-202- 5 Sunday Morning, March 5, 1978 Page One Utah Surges Past BYU in Loop Finale Utes Cop 81-7- 4 Duel Against Cougar Club Sports Mirror by John Mooney Tribune SicorU Hdilor As late as six years ago, Tommy Williams of Duluth was the only native-bor- n U S. player in the National Hockey League, but now U S. citizens number between 0 in the NHL. Along this line, a few years ago the University of Denver was a dominant figure in cii 66-6- 73-6- , 76-7- 2 intercollegiate 65-5- 12-- 2 hockey, winning five NCAA titles 6-- 8 12-1- 8 and finishing second three times between 1958 and 1973. Normally, the Denver U. team was 100 percent Canadian. Michigan and Minnesota Universities rarely have Canadian players on their collegiate teams and this seems to be a trend. The Salt Lake Golden Eagles, for example, have four U.S. citizens on the current roster. 42-3- 4 This comparison of the membership of the teams is not meant to discredit Canada or Canadian hockey players, but to show how the United States is producing its hockey players the same as the Canadian Football League, by limiting the number of U.S. imports, is developing its own native talent. 5-- 1 9-- 5. Much of the credit for developing hockey interest and player talent among the youth of America must go to the youth programs which have been established and are moving into high schools where ice is available. The team representing East High won the first state prep hockey tourna- ment three years ago and Viewmont last two years. Four years ago, there wasnt a high school hockey team in the state in organized play. The first year of won the one-and-o- competition saw eight teams, then 11 the second and 16 prep teams this year. And this is without recognition or financial support on the part of the schools or the activities association. Kevin Nielsen of Brigham Young tries to block pass by Greg Deane of Utah during last league By Lex Hemphill 62-5- st n, (13-14- (11-12- ), ), I game Saturday night. The Utes established an early superiority and took the 4 contest. 81-7- 6) was Webers third straight appearance in the Big Sky Conference championship game, having failed in 1976 against Boise State and in 1977 against Idaho State. It was also Webers third attempt to defeat the Grizzlies this season, having failed by 10 points in Missoula and by two in Ogden during the regular season. The Widldcats never trailed in the overtime and found themselves an unlikely hero in the person of homegrown 7 forward Kurt Moore. Hits Key Free Throws Moore, who had been relegated to a reserve role after starting Webers first eight games of the season, started Saturdays game in place of regular guard Ben Howland and played most of the game, including the entire second half and overtime. Moore scored 10 points, and his last four were the most crucial of the game. With Weber leading by one point at 6-- New Mexico Wins WAC Behind Johnsons Effort 93-7- Terp Runner Sets Record d d ar nt Weber State Downs Montana in Overtime To Win Big Sky Title, Earn NCAA Bid Tribune Sports Writer MISSOULA Weber States sophomores have come of age. The young Wildcats, who have occasionally wilted in pressure situations this season, responded brilliantly to the greatest pressure theyve faced Saturday night in scoring a 5 overtime upset of Montana to win the Big Sky Conference championship. Kegionals to Utah Into NCAA Meet Fans will have the opportunity to see the progress of youth hockey in the The victory pushes the Wildcats (19-9- ) United Slates March when the into next weekends first round of the regional championships will be decided NCAA tournament. The Wildcats will in five age groups in Salt Lake City. team in the Far West play an The regional field will include the regional at Eugene, Ore. champions from the Rocky Mountain-SouthweIt was Weber States first Big Sky district, Alaska, championship since 1973, when the California and the top team Wildcats lost to Long Beach State in from Utah in each division Squirts their last NCAA appearance. ), Bantams Peewee For Neil McCarthys Wildcats, the and juniors midgets (15-1third time was definitely the charm. It We have 66 teams or 1,165 players in youth hockey in Utah," Joe added. Rogers continued, The popularity of youth hockey can be credited to two assets size or height, so important in football or basketball, mean little in hockey, and, our program allows all kids, regardless of ability, to compete in every game, against players of their ability and skill level. At the start of the season we have a ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UPI) -Ftest for all the players, who are labeled orward Marvin Johnson pumped in 32 then A, B and C. The A line plays points Saturday to lead New Mexico to 4 Western Athletic Conference against the A line and the C line against a the C line, so the competition is equal. Add to this the fact a line rarely is on the ice much more than a minute, so all the three lines get to play. Only the goalie is in all the time, so you have none of this sitting on the bench for the less talented players. Thats why parents who have been PRINCETON (UPI) Maryland's exposed to youth hockey claim its the Bob Calhoun set a meet record in the best athletic program for their kids in dash and also captured the long the state, he added. jump Saturday as the 57th annual IC 4A Track and Field Meet began. And in time, Salt Lake Golden Eagle fans may be cheering the feats of some Calhoun was clocked at 6.25 seconds in the of the kids they have watched develop. sprint, and 10 minutes Dave Ford, who played eight games later he took the long jump with a leap with the Golden Eagles a year ago was of 25 feet, 1 inches. one of the first amateurs to sign up for Villanova will attempt to retain its the hockey program in 1962. team title and take permanent possession of the cup in Sundays finals. 'Ward ObcK'rvation Reynaldo Nehemiah of Scotch Plains, N.J., Marylands freshman sensation, diet for two dominated the I've been on a one-yehigh hurdles on months and so far all Ive lost is two the opening day with heats of 7.41 and months 7.31 seconds. Washing-ton-Orcgo- , 78-7- T race Development Joe Rogers, who has pioneered hockey in Utah forever (it seems) admits, The development after the war, when hoc key was concerned with getting kids to play, outdistanced the coaching and refereeing. Now our organization trains referees and coaches each year and we have a national head coach and head official, down through district and state supervisors for officials and coaches. We hold clinics frequently for coaches and referees and consequently, our hockey has improved a great deal. Hockey always has been big in the northern midwest and Northeast, but last year a team from Los Angeles won the national junior championship and my district went to the U.S. finals for the first time, Joe beamed. The individual player skills are developing with the better coaching and officiating, and the Olympic Development Center at Squaw Valley last year was a boon." 75-6- 81-7- 45-5- John Mooney last half. But Runia. Greg Ballif and By John Mooney Ainge cut it to Tribune Sports Editor With six minutes left Utah led, it lrt Utah's basketball team made but Ballif. Taylor and Runia scored to wins in its last 11 games with BYU 4 Taylor score bring the Cougars back to Saturday night, but the fouled out with 4:09 left and Gray made wasn't the whole story of the game. one foul for the seven-poin- t lead, Utah was expected to beat the but Ballifpitch a three-poin- t made play to cut Cougars after downing BYU by 13 the edge to and thats when Utah points at Provo. started missing at the foul line, but And the Utes got ahead by 13 points, Deane was there to salvage the victory. but the Utes couldnt blast the and 22-- 5 The decision left the Utes Cougars, who kept coming back. for the season while BYU slumped to Cinch Second Spot in the WAC and overall. out of his first , seven made Utah already had second place Matheney cinched in the conference and a very nine field goal attempts and Judkins probable berth somewhere in the NCAA two for two from the field in the first tournament picture. So there wasnt the eight minutes and they sparked Utah to a lead. intensity on Utahs part that there might have been had the WAC title been Utahs scoring in the first eight at stake. show and it minutes was a two-ma-n Give the Utes credit for having more boosted the Utes to a halftime lead firepower and defensive tenacity, but over the Cougars. place some laurel on the Cougar brows Sloppy First Half because they gave the Utes an unexpecafter the Utes cooled off, the But tedly tough game. was pretty sloppy the last 12 game 26 with and Buster Matheney, points, minutes of the first period. Jeff Judkins with 21, started the Utes Utah never trailed after Judkins i rolling to an early lead they never a foul pitch and Matheneys two made and And Buster was it relinquished. lead. Runia Jeff the Utes went to when the points baskets gave the Utes a scored for the Cougars, but Matheney were needed. the Utes out in front again, 3 and But give the Ute defense credit it put 11-held the Cougars scoring leader, Then the Utes went into a cold spell Danny Ainge, to one basket in the first half and only six field goals in 22 and couldnt hit from the field and was called with three fouls in a row which attempts for the night. cut off the Cougar scoring, too. Heroes Cougar With the Utes ahead, 11.7, Judkins Heroes of the Cougar fight to stay in made two baskets and Rice one for the the game were Keith Rice, with 14 Cougars, but Matheney came back with points ; Scott Runia, with 12, and Alan two quick ballets from outside for a 10. 15 wound up with Taylor, Ainge 19-- 9 Utah lead. cold streak hurt points, but his first-hal- f Utes Torrid the Cougars upset hopes. Even though cooling off after that Sparkplug of the Ute drive to stay first onslaught, Utah shot a very good in was minutes the closing alive Greg 58.6 from the field on 17 of 29, while Deane. Three times Utah went to the BYU made only 13 of 40 field goal foul line in the final hectic minutes and attempts. missed the front end of the bonus pitch. Particularly frigid for BYU was Ainge, their scoring leader, who went But on the first miss by Michael 13 in the opening period and got Gray, Deane recovered the rebound for one for his only basket with less than two the Utes. Deane then added a field goal minutes to play in the half. which gave Utah a 2 lead. Matheney wound up with eight for 14 Utes Miss Again field goal attempts for the half to lead Judkins and Gray again missed from all scorers with 16 points. Judkins had the line, but Matheney got one rebound four for six from the field and Vranes fouled and was next time Deane and the three for five to boost the Utah shooting he made his two foul pitches. percentage. It was a game the Utes almost let get Runia and Rice of the Cougars each away. Utah led by 10 in the first half had eight points to keep BYU in the in the and had a edge midway game. Utah Widens Lead Utah pushed its lead out to 21-- 9 on two foul pitches by Greg Deane, but the Cougars came back to cut the margin with 10.22 on four foul pitches, left. Utah then picked up a basket by Gray, but then suffered a cold spell as Taylor and Runia scored to offset two foul pitches by Gray and Runia and Richardson, Montanas only scorer in Rice scored from the field to cut Utahs overtime, hit two more foul shots with with sii minutes to play. lead to but then 59 seconds left to make it The best BYU could do thereafter in Moore answered with his critical foul closing the gap was pulling up to 4 shots and the Wildcats were on their on a basket by Rice and a foul pitch by way to Oregon. McGuire. Collins was named the tournaments In the last five minutes Utah scored most valuable player and was joined on 13 points to BYUs 10 in pulling away to team by Smith, the the eight-poimargin at the intermisRichardson. Idaho States Lawrence sion. Connor. Steve Butler, and Boise States It was a deservedly tight game from Entering the game, Weber had hoped in the first to shoot well enough to pull Montana out the officiating standpoint with at least half of the 25 fouls half of its 3 zone. But it certainly didnt whistled of the careless or stupid shoot well enough in the first half, and variety. the Wildcats went to the locker room Williams of the Utes picked up three trailing, fouls and played but little in the early The Grizzlies got 10 points each in the first half while Vranes also had three first half from Richardson and John along with Chambers of the Utes. Stroeder, and six from Craig Henkel. Taylor of BYU had three fouls in the half to become the only Cougar in jeopardy. victory over Wyoming, giving the Lobos the WAC title and a spot in the NCAA playoffs. Johnson, who scored a conference record 50 points Thursday against Colorado State, hit 19 points in the opening half as New Mexico took halftime lead. command with a 43-3- 2 advances into next playons, at Tempe, Ariz., with a 24-- 3 record. The Lobos the best finished the WAC at 13-record in the leagues history. 5 and Wyoming, which finished in the WAC, was led by Lonnie Buchkner with 27 points and Gary Phillips with 23. team The Cowboys, the seventh-plac- e in the conference, were no match for New Mexicos cxpolsive offense which this season has led the NCAA in scoring with an average of 98 points per game. As has been the case most of the season, Johnson was supported by teammate Michael Cooper with 18 paced the points. The two Lobos to their first conference title since 1974. New weeks Mexico first-roun- d 12-1- 3-- I seconds remaining in overtime, Moore hit both ends of a and then repeated the trick 3 11 seconds later to give Weber a lead and a lock on the champior.shoip. Montanas brilliant Michael Ray Richardson, who topped all scorers with 25 points, hit a jump shot with 27 seconds left to pull the Grizzlies (20-back to within three. But then Richardson had to foul, and he hacked Webers Bruce Collins with 15 seconds remaining. It was Richarde sons fifth foul, and Montanas e leading scorer left the Adams floor for the last time to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd. Collins, who finished with 17 points e tournament, and 45 for the and then hit both ends of a scaled the game with a slam dunk at the buzzer. Montana, which had beaten Weber five straight times in Missoula, seemed ready to continue its dominance when it lead at halftime. built and eight-poin- t Weber Comes Back But the Wildcats, led by Collins and David Johnson, roared back with a 12-- 2 run early in the second half to take a 2 lead with 12:30 to go. The teams then traded baskets for the next six minutes, but the Wildcats seemed to be in control when Johnson scored on a break and Richard Smith, who wound up with 16 points, scored on lead a follow-u- p to give Weber a with 5:50 remaining. But Montana went back ahead when Allan Nielsen hit two free throws with 5:05 left and Richardson scored on a break with 2:42 remaining to make it 54-5- 3 with 44 58-5- 8) all-tim- Fiel-dhous- two-gam- 21-1- 3, 25-2- 1 54-5- 3, 27-2- nt 2-- 28-2- Extra Togs Save Lobo Cage Boss Cage Coach Gains ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UPI) -r Mexico co.ch Norm took an extra set of clothing to his teams game with Wyoming Saturday, and the Lobos made sure he needed it. New 34-3- 47-4- 4 48-4- 7. Smith hit two free throws with a minute remaining to move Weber back in front, but Richardson hit the with 21 front end of a seconds remaining to tie it at 49. Weber got the last shot of regulation, but Smith missed an inside jumper with four seconds remaining, forcing the overtime. Welier jumped right ahead in the overtime on a jumper by Rob McKor.c, his oidy points of the game. Collins hit a free throw with 2:25 to go to make it 49-4- 8, one-and-o- 52-4- Richardson hit two free throws to cut the lead to one, but Mark Mattos answered with two of his own with 1:26 to go to get the lead back up to three. Sixth-ranke- Citadel Contract Ellen-berge- New d Mexico cap- tured the Western Athletic Conference title with a 4 win over the Cowboys to advance into next weeks first NCAA playoffs at Tempe, Ariz. Afterwards, in the Lobos dressing room, the league champions scored almost as many dunks in the showers as they did on the court with Ellenberger the first to take the traditonal title dousing. I was planning to win. I never EUu-bergconsidered losing today, said as he pulled out a dry set of clothing. Never at a loss for words, Ellenberger also took time out to blast the n tournament format which some conferences are using in determining the NCAA representative, rather than giving the league champion an automatic bye into the playoffs. field has been en"The riched by all these ridiculous tournaments, said Ellenberger. "To allow teams which you have beaten all year to get one last shot at you is ridiculous. 93-7- er post-seaso- CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Citadel head basketball coach Les Robinson has had his contract extended for an unspecified length of time, the school announced Saturday. He first came to The Citadel as an assistant coach just before the 1970 season and served in that capacity through the 1974 season. When he was named head coach, he contract. The Bullsigned a four-yea- r dogs have since posted season records and of 10-1- 8-- Races Washed Out - The U.S. ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) Auto Clubs doubleheader openers, the Datsun Twin 200 for championship and stock cars, were postponed Saturday because of rain. Qualifying for the races will be resumed delayed March 24. 200-mil- e Swedish Skiers Win FALUN, at-lar- world-champio- n Sweden (AP) mens Swedens relay team won the event Saturday at the Swedish Ski Game, finishing 17 seconds ahead of Norway. Czechoslovakia finished third, 1:24 behind Sweden. cross-countr- 1 P . |