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Show ' Considering this is only the second time in history that Tintic High School has competed in the State Basketball Tournament. Head Coach Weldon Wardle is understandably understand-ably excited. , ; . ;. ' . Coach Wardle said this week he is cautiously optimistic about his team's chances against Region 1 1 top-seeded Park City in the Quarter Final game to be played Thursday . morning at 10:00am at BYU's Mariott Center. It'll be the second time the two teams have met. In their last encounter. Tintic defeated Park City 61-44, in Ephraim; but Park City played without the services of team leader Mark Uriarte; But that February 6 game. Coach Wardle told The Record,' was critical because it boosted Tintic's morale. ' . "The kids lacked confidence, until we beat Park City," said Tintic's 25-year old coach. " We knew then we could beat a good team." - And Tintic went on to'win nine straight games and enter the State Tournament with i 15-7 record. The Miners won the Region 1 1 Round Robin Tournament played in Kamas. Park City. Dugway and South Summit placed first, second and third place; respectively, from that region. "We're looking-forward to playing Park City again," Coach Wardle said, adding he is fully aware that one main reason his team beat Park Citv in Februarv was because Uriarte did not plav. "He (Uriarte) is quick." said Coach Wardle. "He makes Park City a good team. I'm really impressed with him." . Tintic, though, has their own "Uriarte." Coach Wardle added, in point guard Troy Jones, a 5'9" Junior. - "He's the key to my game." the Tintic coach said. "He's in the same class as Coco." " The remaining starting Ifne-up for the Tintic Miners include a highly-regarded 66" Freshman, Daren Yadon, at Center: 62" . Richard Dorigatti, Forward;- 6' Senior Doug Wall. Forward: and Darrell Gareetr. a 5'8" Junior : Guard. Tintic's success this season has been due to the consistent play of "sixth man" Tern Laird. Coach Wardle pointed out. a 5'11" Senior who can play both Forward and Guard. "We're a pretty patient team," said Coach Wardle. "We try to work for the good shot. I feel we have one of the best defensive teams-in the state. We like to run at times, but we're not really a run and gun team." y-: . The young Tintic coach said he had a lot of respect for Park Citv Coach Bruce Reid and also his assistant Gary Aviso. : "Coach Reid and I are good friends! Coach Wardle I . said, "and he's a super coach." i ,. j ' ' , Tintic advanced to the Quarter Finals by defeating -Pimc 70-60 Saturday night at Richfield. That was the first win ever for Tintic in a State Basketball Tournament. Coach Wardle stopped short of predicting another win over Park City, saying, "It'll be a lot tougher than the last game. It'll go right down to the wire. I think it'll be the best game on the first day of the Tournament I predict a j ? close game. The team that plavs best at the end will win." j N : ! |
