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Show Page 8 DIXIE SUN March 13, 1987 Dixie cagers season ended by CSI; Rebels finish tearing off a 23-- 6 run to lead From there, the Rebels could get no closer than 12 points. They (CSI) shot the ball really well, both in the first half and the second, Wagner stated. They forced some turnovers, got a few calls, it was a combination of those things. When asked if CSI was a better team than Dixie, Wagner replied, Well, theyre better at home, they beat us twice. I think both of us have great players. The Eagles were paced by Keith Jacksons 28 points, while region MVP Erick Newman added 25, 19 in second half, and Gomes tallied 24. The Rebels were led by four sophomores, all of whom were playing their final game in a Dixie College uniform. Clint Rossum had a team-hig- h 21 points, followed by Roger McDonald with 20, Peter Johnson 15, and Craig Hopkins 13. These four players have been instrumental in the Runnin Rebel attack this year, and Wagner will have a tough time replacing them. Dixie ended up the season ranked fourth in the nation with a 30-- record, the second best mark in the schools history, and even though they didnt make it to the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, Wagner couldnt be happier with the things his club accomplished this year. I think it was a successful season, Wagner said. Im dissapointed we didnt go to nationals, but there were a lot of good things that happened. We beat a lot of good teams, and ended up ranked fourth nationally. He continued, Our goal was to win the league, and we did that, and then win regionals, but we didnt do that, Wagner said. But I was happy with the way they played for the year. 71-4- Brad Fullmer SUN Editor The dreams and hopes of a second national basketball title in 'hree years for the Dixie College Rebels turned into more of a nightmare last Saturday night in Twin Falls, Idaho. n The Rebels, ranked fourth in the with a 30-- 2 record, went up against the number two College of Southern Idaho in the finals of the Region 18 tournament. Dixie made it to the final game as 7 they held off the Ricks Vikings on Friday night, while CSI destroyed to advance. North Idaho Earlier in the year, the two schools confrontasplit their double-O9 tions, Dixie winning a war back on January 24th, and win on CSI taking an February 20th. Playing before their home crowd of more than 3,500, the Golden Eagles could do no wrong, and stormed to a 9 victory, knocking Dixie out of contention for a national tournament bid. I thought we had a great effort, we 86-7- 112-9- 4 head-to-hea- d 101-9- T 110-8- played well, we missed some key free throws in the first half, said Wagner. But the team kept working hard, even though they got down. Dixie took early leads of 2 and 21-1- 8, but were simply outshot, outhustled, and outplayed by their region foes the rest of the way. Behind the outside shooting of Mauro Gomes, the Eagles stormed 3 back to take a lead, and built that to 0 at the half. Being down by eight, the Rebels were far from out of it, that is, until the second half started. 29-2- 48-4- 1; Ill CSI literaly destroyed Dixie over the first six minutes of the second half. Theyre a great group of young men, they worked hard the whole year, and really represented the school well. Its kind of ironical that the Rebels, after racking up 30 wins, will not get a chance to show the rest of the top junior colleges in the nation just how talented they are. To qualify for the 30-- 3 Its fair (the selection of teams), but I dont thik the best 16 teams are at the tournament. Despite the fact the Runnin Rebels of 1986-8- 7 are not going to the national tournament, they should be very proud of their efforts, after all, its not often a team gets together and wins 30 ballgames. national tournament, a school must win their region tournament, something that has eluded Dixie the last two years. Thats how its always been, Wagner said referring to the selection process of the NJCAA committee. Youve got to be able to beat the teams in the region. 3 ST. GEORGE Dixies Peter Johnson (21) scrambles for the a loose ball against Colorado Northwestern Community College In the first Rebel game to be played in the new Dixie Center Arena back on February 27th. The Rebels won the game 100-8and followed the next night by thumping CEU 1 04-8(SUN photo Kelly Moulton) THE PIZZA FACTORY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NCAA tourney underway The 1987 NCAA Tournament began Thursday, meaning the next two weeks should be filled with some great basketball action. Besides the prestige and glory of winning an NCAA championship, there are some mighty big bucks up for grabs as well. First-roun- d teams are guaranteed at least $200,000, while Final Four schools will rake in oxer $1,000,000 in total earnings. 64 teams earned the right to compete for the title by virtue of either winning their conferences tournament, or by having a good n enough record to be chosen by the NCAA committee. Right now, the top four seeds in the UNLV, North tourney are Carolina, Indiana, and Georgetown. The Runnin Rebels, who sport the naare the tions best record at 33-number-on- e seed in the West, while Carolina is on top in the East, Indiana the Midwest, and Gerorgetown the Southeast. Other teams favored to do well include Syracuse, Purdue, !,f A Oklahoma, and Depaul. With every tournament, there are always many surprises, and this year is no exception. The biggest surprise so far seems to be the fact that the defending national champion Louisville Cardinals will not get a chance to repeat their title. The Cardinals, who play one of the toughest schedules in the league, finished the 4 record, and were year with an shunned by the committee. win marks Other teams with that were not offered an invitation include Cleveland State, Akron, St. Louis, Arkansas State, and New Mexico. These teams will battle in the National Invitational Tournament, which started Wednesday. This years NCAA tourney will feature something never before seen in the past the use of the play and the shot clock. These two factors should lead to some very fast, excting games, and will more than likley cause some major upsets. Following first and second-roungames this weekend, the tournament will hold regionals at East Rutherford, New Jersey; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, and Seattle on March By then, the last four teams should be decided, and they will head to New Orleans, this years site of the Final Four, which will take place STEVE ANDRUS Sieve, a freshman forward from Timpview, averages over eight points and four rebounds a game coming off the bench. Next year, he will be heavily counted on in The players of the week receive dinner for two, and a player of the week from the T-sh- PIZZA FACTORY both departments. irt roger Roger, McDonald a sophomore from Alta High, was second in the team in scoring, and first in rebounds. He is being heavily recruited by NCAA Division 1 schools. d March 28-3The championship game will be played Monday, March 30th. Ancestor Square 628-123- 4 St. George Bivd. & Main |