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Show I SunAdvocsb 6A Thursday December 12, 2002 Inexperienced Viking team strives for improvement ' By KAREN BASSO Sports writer the time that the third quarter of competition kicked off, the East Carbon team continued to With several changes occur- ring in East Carbon, its no won- der that the boys basketball team is finding it difficult to adjust to preseason competition. This Is the first year that the team will be coached by Jeff Cisneros. Not only is the team under a new coaching staff, but it'salso the third coaching change the team hasseen in the past five years. This makes it difficult for a team to conform to a specific playing method. t To add to the confusion on the court, the team only has nine piny-ere, two of which are seniors, Therefore, the Vikings lack size in numbers and most impor- tantly, experience. Its like starting from scratch, Right now, we arc working on the fundamentals of the game. For most of these kids, they have not had the chance to learn these skills and that makes it difficult to compete well against experi- enced teams, explained coach Cisneros. Although the team is still working on improvements, they have already jumped into pre- season competition. This past weekend, the Vi- kings traveled to Salt Lake to compete in a two day tourna- ment. The first opponent on East Carbon's list was the Manila Mustangs whom the Vikings faced Friday aftcrruxm. Aftcra mugh start, the Vikings found themselves trailing the Mustangs 30-- 1 8 by the half. By struggle for control of the game, The third quarter proved to be frustrating for the Vikings who was outscored by Manila, 23-By the time that the final buzzer 3. sounded, the Vikings were handed their first loss of the tour-nament by the final score of 74- 27. The main problem the Vi- kings faced was scoring. Only four East Carbon players man-- 1 aged to post points on the board against Manila. Leading the way in scoring for the Vikings was Tony McFarland who finished the game with 1 1 points. McFarland was followed in scoring by teammate Shane Wixtd who posted eight points while Josh Griffins finished with six points. ITie following day, the East Carbon team fciccd fellow Region 18 team, the Tintic Miners. In this match up, the Vikings showed several signsof improve- ment which in Cisneros opinion, is quite a confidence booster for the team. Tintic is a talented team whom we face several times dur- ing the season. Because they are in our region, it was important to the players that they compete well against this team. Although we didnt gel a win, we did play belter than the night before, ex- plained Cisneros. Tintic opened up the game strong, hut the Vikings stayed focused and trailcd-9-by the end of the quarter. ( The second quarter was a dif- ferent story for East Carbon as they stepped up and outscored thus leading to the M iners 1 the Vikings lead at the half, 14- 1 0. The second half proved to be a back and fourth game for the two Region 18 teams as they battled for control of the score board. The final winner of the hardwood battle was Tintic who outscored the Vikings, 32-2- 7. We're getting better each game and I think that the Tintic match up proved this. The team really held on tight and came close against the talented Tintic team. This was a bit of a confrdence booster for us to come so close against a team in our divi- sion, commented Cisneros, Once again, McFarland lead the team in scoring with 12 points. Wood followed with eight points, Tyson Davis completed the game with five and Andy Farlaino finished with two points, Once again, the Vikings only had four players post points on the board. It has been determined that this is the biggest obstacle that the team faces. If the Vikes can improve on their shooting, the team will quickly become a stronger ball club. At the conclusion of the tour- nament, it was determined by die 2-- 1, 8. We were just overmatched. Sure were still learning, but it's still disappointing for the kids, We know that well get better as the year goes on, but we also know that we will get our fair share of bumps and bruises in the hand during the match up against the Lions.' By the time that the half rolled strong performance, The Vikings took a much off and then it needed two-da- ys was back to competition: East Carbon played on the Carbon Lady Dinos capture their fourth consecutive preseason victory RICHARD SHAW By KAREN BASSO Sports writer Sports writer East Carbon's Lady Viking team is a better team than their record indicates. With an 3 start, it hasnt exactly been a great season yet, but the flashes of a 0-- ,1. - good team arc there. In the last week they have lost two games to two tough opponents. Last Wednesday they lost in a game at home to The Lady Green River 63-3- 0. Pirates arc highly rated in the state and the fact that East Car- Mo vs Hi If the preseason is a preview of things to come, the mm, ayMW? Carbon Lady Dinos have a lot to look forward to during the upcoming basketball season. After competing in only six games so far, the Dinos find themselves with a 1 record, with four of these wins com- -' ing since the Thanksgiving break, and all in a row. It seems as' if the Dinos have found their groove and no other team can break it. The most recent opponent to fall at the hands of the Dinos wasUintah who hosted the Carbon team last Tuesday Uintah bon was down one starter (Chelsey Timothy) who was injured in a game against Tabiona earlier in the week. However, Timothy returned in time for the game against 13 9 . 18. 4 14 12 14-4-9 3--28 Chelsey Warburton 26, Morgan Wbrburton 14, Brittney Pollastro 6, Andraya Newby 2, Danielle Julian 4, Ashely Rowley 2, Cassie Christman 2, Michelle Ruden 3. Three-poifield goals-- C Whrburton 4, M.Wfcrburton, Ruden. 3-- non-leag- nt - evening. Dugway on Tuesday evening and the Lady Mustangs, one of the powers in Region 18, had all they could handle on their trip to the eastern side of the state. The Green River game began well for the Lady Vikes as they took an 2 lead over the Green River girls at the end of the first quarter. A combination of good defense and poor shootingby the kids from Emery County made it a good quarter for East Carbon. But the second quarter was a different tale. Behind projected player Tawni Bigelow and teammate Ciji Vetere, the Lady Pirates came out hot in the second quarter and never looked back. They outscored East Car- During this match up, the Dinos played strong and didnt allow the Utes to rally much of a comeback. With the assistance of Dino senior, Chelsey Warburton, Carbon rallied a shooting frenzy against Uintah. Warburton completed the game with 26 points as the Dinos moved on to capture the 8 preseason victory. Currently, .Warburton is ranked third in scoring in the 3A standings with an average of 21 points per game. This average comes after Warburton 8-- 39-2- all-sta- te scored 103 pants in five games. Also offering continuous assistance to the Dino ball dub is Morgan Warburton. The second year Dino has turned heads bon 23-- taking a 3 lead into the locker room. When the teams came back out on the floor. Green River took off immediately, but the East Carbon team played better 3, 44-- coaches that McFarland had earned himself a spot on the all- tournament team roster for his East Carbon girls barely lose league home opener to Dugway Mustangs By meantime," concluded Cisneros. The Vikings will resume play ; Fridays they travel to Escalante.; They will also compete in their first home game this year next Wednesday with the junior var-sity scheduled to compete at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7p.m. around, the Vikes were behind, road against Intermountain Christian Tuesday evening. Al- though the Vikings had im- proved during the second game of the Salt Lake tourney, the team failed to regain the upper 23-1- defense and held the Lady Pirates to only 17 points while scoring 11 of their own. In the final quarter, Bigelow went nuts, scoring most of her 25 total points in the game in that quarter, with herteamputup23 points once again. East Caitron's Joyce Clark was one of the leading scorers in the last two games the East Carbons leading scorers , Lady Vikings have played in the last week. in the game were Misty Valdez and Joyce Clark, both with seven Then came the second period, Dugway riding honft with the which once again was the death win. points each. From the first three games, it bell for Ihe Lady Vikes. Dugway Balanced scoring was once ' appeared that East Caibon had a outscored them by 9 in the again the order of the day with balanced scoring fine, with no and despite a comeTimothy and Clark each putting real star, but with many players back in the second half the East in eight points and other teamcontributing. What was really Carbon girls couldn't make up mates contributing dose to simi-l' numbers. qeeded was a more balanced de- the difference. They trailed at 24-1Tueson and that all the Best defense of was betfense, halftime, they got Muswill In the which third the over the long the ECH ter, Lady night against prove day quarter, tangs. grittiness came out and the team i run to be the bearer of victories In this game the fady Vikes scatched and dawed their way to for this spunky team. The Lady Vikes next test will proved they can play with almost a 13-- 6 superiority in points in the come against Wendover tonight anyone. Respite losing one of quarter. In the fourth period, the Lady (Thursday). The Lady Wildcats their key players from last year to graduation, Dugway, as always Vikes had their chances to take' are not die power they have been is very strong again thisyear. back the lead, but just couldnt in the last few years, so it will be In the first quarter East Carquite get over the hump. The a good chance for the kids from bon was able to carve out a 3-- 4 quarter came out a wash with East Carbon to score their first lod at the end of the fast period. both teams scoring 8 points and victory,,..' ar . 3. , : I' with her ball handling and shooting skills and posted 14 points against the Utes earlier thisweek. The younger Warburton has also been named as the prep female athlete of the week by the Salt Lake THbune. Currently, Warburton averages 16 points per game and his become a dominant force underneath the basket for the Dinos. The Uintah match up found most of the Dino sqad competing. The bench offered quite a bit assistance with Michelle Ruden scoring a three-poifield goal. nt The remaining starters also performed well as Brittney Pollastro scored six points and Danielle Julian four. The Dinos will resume competition Thursday as they begin the annual three day Bear River Tbumament. With the Dinos on fire, it is expected that the team will do quite well at the tournament, thus increasing the win . column to their current standings. .t. - Chelsey Warburton prepares to shoot a basket during a home game played earlier this year. Warburton is currently ranked tlwd in the Class 3A state standings in scoring with an average of 21 pants per pme. I ' |