Show Wildcats Host n Grizzlies And Bobcats I j The Weber State College Wildcats Wildcats Wildcats Wild Wild- cats return from the Evansville Evansville Evansville Evans- Evans ville Invitational Tournament to host the invading of f Mont Montana na Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats Bobcats Bobcats Bob Bob- cats in the friendly confines of Wildcat Gym in a pair of 8 pm p.m. contests The Silvertips from Montana tangle with the Wildcats Saturday Jan 2 while the Bobcats contest takes place the following Monday Monday Monday Mon Mon- day Jan 4 COACH PHIL Johnson and his charges open defense of their Big Sky Conference title against the Grizzlies In his third year as head mentor Coach Johnson will be seeking a third consecutive crown The Wildcats have been the supreme casaba power in the Big Sky Conference having cap capped the honors five of the pas pasi six years Montana getting back into action after a 17 day layoff brings a 2 4 2 4 record into the encounter The Tips have to tobe tobe tobe be considered a title contender with some of the finest talent in the Big Sky Rookie Coach Lou Rocheleau has a nucleus of six veterans returning around which he hopes to improve improve improve im im- prove on last years 8 18 overall overall overall over over- all and 5 10 conference records MONTANA STATE on theother the theother theother other hand is considered the of the t e Big Sky this season Prior to the game in Ogden the Bobcats face a stiff road schedule Highlighting Highlight Highlight- ing the seven seven game game trip willbe will willbe willbe be the Oklahoma City Col All lege Tournament Th The squad also will have conference conference conference confer confer- ence games with Gonzaga and Northern Arizona before meeting meeting meeting meet meet- ing the Wildcats Outstanding individuals who will lead the Grizzlies against the Wildcats are guards Don Wetzel and Mike Vernon who are averaging and 90 points each center Ray Howard with and points and rebounds respectively respective respective- ly and front line ace Lonzo Lewis who adds points Joining the team late because of eligibility is forward Willie Bascus THE MONTANA Silvertips registered victories over South Dakota 69 65 and Northern Colorado 72 63 but lost to some good teams on the road at 82 68 Washington State 80 63 Washington 86 67 and at home to Washington State 69 69 1 Wetzel leads all Grizzlie scorers hitting from the field for a average Expected Expected Expected Ex Ex- to pick up on his shooting at the charity line where he had only 9 17 for percent in the first six games Wetzel finished fifth in the Conference standings last year hitting 53 40 for percent COACH Rocheleau intends to pick up the pace of the Montana game this year Were going to run alot more this year and only use the 4 1 offense when necessary he stated In his second year at the helm of Montana State Coach Gary Hulst has some of the young talent in the league One senior one junior and a atrio atrio atrio trio of outstanding sophomores have nailed down the starting starting starting start start- ing positions A POTENTIAL American All-American Bill Brickhouse a 6 2 guard leads the team His 6 14 points per game last year was tops for and eighth best in the Big Sky He is quick and is a flashy He has been averaging around 15 points per game early in th the ne new ne season Frank Hugee a 6 6 forward from New York is a transfer who could become one of the best in the Big Sky Backing him up are transfer Bill Lewis 6 4 and two year letterman Gene Lewis 6 4 Transfer Robert Jackson 6 10 is the backup center for talented soph Mark Beckwith BECKWITH a 6 8 great eat averaged as a freshman and has been hitting about nine points and hauling down nine rebounds per game as a varsity starter The other twosome twosome twosome two two- some from the frosh team are 6 8 Scott Koelzer and Willie Villie Weeks 6 4 The two forwards forwards forwards for for- wards lead the Bobcats in scoring with and points respectively This trio led the frosh to a 14 4 record and land 11 times the team scored over points |