The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 5, Milford, Kosciusko County, 16 February 1983 — Page 12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL— Wed., February 16,1983

12

Sports

Lady Warriors finished —

Disturbing memories haunt Brannock

By GARY LEWIS “I’ve replayed the game in my mind a hundred times. And I’ve asked myself what could I have done to change this situation or that situation," said Dale Brannock, coach of the Lady Warriors. Coach Brannock's persecuting thoughts have been on his mind all week end and will probably remain for a long time to come as a result of last week's disappointing 52-48 loss to Culver Girls’ Academy in the opening round of the Warsaw Regional. To say the Wawasee team got outplayed would be an understatement. From the first quarter on, after the Lady Warriors jumped out to a 15-8 lead, things started to go bad. For the first time all season, Wawasee got outrebounded underneath the basket in addition to losing the shoot out from the field. Poor free throw shooting (16 of 27) also spelled doomed and helped to ruin Wawasee plans for another Saturday evening of basketball. Unknown and unrestrained, the Culver girls captured the respect of many with their performance. And after capturing respect, almost captured the Regional championship, losing to Gymnasts defeat Elkhart Central Wawasee’s gymnastics teams traveled to Elkhart Central Thursday, Feb. 10. Both the Warrior intermediate and optional learns were winners. Wawasee’s intermediate team scored 87.6 and Elkhart Central had 84.15. Placing for Wawasee were Rhonda Amsden. first on beam and second on vaulting; Raeni Rinker, first on bars; Marcia Taylor placed second on bars; Gretchen Huffman, second on floor; Michelle Berger third on floor. The optional team won 66.95 to 44.65. Placing for Wawasee were: Kristy Vance, first on vault; Angie Meek, first on floor; Heidi Beer, first on beam, first on bars and second on floor ; and Angie Rich, third on vault. Wawasee will host Huntington on Thursday, Feb. 17.

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EAGLES’ TRAP — Wawasee’s Sandra Payne is caught by a Culver trap during Saturday afternoon's contest in the Warsaw Regional. Culver’s man-to-man defense caused the Lady Warriors many problems in the 52-48 loss. < Photo by Gary Lewis)

Columbia City by one point. _ The only comfort Brannock can derive from his disturbing thoughts is that every move he made seemed to be the thing to do at the time. “Everything that I thought about, and thought about doing in a particular time, there was a logical reason for not doing it," he explained. Things like going to the press earlier, in the last stanza, which worked when he did, had its pros and cons. Wawasee’s big people were in foul trouble, and Brannock couldn’t afford to lose anymore. - Carol Walker, Maude Packer and Cheryl Walker were the victims of 15 of the 33 fouls whistled against the Lady Warriors. The officials took control from the outset, and quickly made the game into a battle of charity stripes. It’s always easy to blame the officials, and Brannock isn’t about to point his finger. But the facts do show that the Warsaw Regional had the dubious honor as one of the state leaders in the most fouls called. The WawaseeCulver 33-22 spread bulges in comparison to the 12-9, 15-12 and 18-10 fouls called in other Regionals around the state. “The officials., didn't lose the ball game for us, but there was a contributing factor when you have three people foul out of the ball game, then that’s quite a bit. When one official calls 13 of the first 14 fouls in the ball game, then that makes it look a little interesting." The IHSAA instructed all of the officials to “let the kids play," indicated Brannock. Despite the calls, though, Wawasee had its chances to win. Everytime a door would open, when it seemed the Lady Warriors had a chance to pull a victory out of the jaws of defeat, the door would quickly slam shut. (See related article on this page * “It’s very difficult to win any ball game when you miss 11 free throws in the ball game, and six of them the front ends of a one-and-one,” said Brannock. Wawasee completed its second straight post-season night of under 30 per cent shdoringr connecting on a mere 16 of 65 from the field. More importantly, however, was the 15 or so easy ones the Wawasee crew missed. Wawasee had “a minumum of 15 (misses) right under the basket," according to Brannock. “We were not looking ahead. I

told the kids it would be a good ball game. I’ve said it before... a team that has won 19 ball games has got to feel they are good. ’’ - For Wawasee's six seniors, the loss is a bitter ending to a great career. “The seniors have had three super years, and they have gotten better every year," he added. Packer ended her season with an all-time record 200 reboUpds. Key injuries, and the loss of Dee Stump in the opening round of the sectional against Tippecanoe Valley, plagued the Lady Warriors’ season. “Had we

WHS 48 CGA 52 — Guzek lead Eagles in win

Culver Girls’ Academy overcame a brief Wawasee 11-0 lead in the first few minutes of play, but quickly got back into the thick of things on a slow ballcontrolled offense. After taking a one-point lead at the half, CGA led almost the entire second half, building their lead up to eight points, and endured a late Wawasee rally for the 52-48 win. For the Eagles, reserve forward Lee Guzek proved to be the difference in the contest. Her offensive rebounds in the first stanza put CGA back into the chase in the first half and she continued her dominance over the taller Wawasee insiders in the second half of play. Culver's 44-39 rebound advantage and clutch free throw shooting also aided the Eagles efforts. Working patiently against Wawasee’s zone defense, CGA prevented the Lady Warriors from running with the ball. A stingy man-to-man defense limited Wawasee to one field goal in the second quarter of play. Culver had leads of three-to-five points most of the way in the second half except for one brief 30-29 Wawasee lead after Maude f rebound basket. y Wawasee came out roaring in z the final quarter of play, outscoring the Eagles 7-2. It all started when senior Grace Stichter, who had her finest game since her December 18 injury, hit a jumper that was promptly followed by a Sandra Payne steal and layup. A foul sent Guzek to the line, who hit two of the charity tosses, but Payne made her presence felt again with another steal off of a halfcourt trapping defense. Payne was fouled after the steal, and made the first free throw, cutting the lead to 45-42 with about two minutes left in the contest. Her second attempt missed, but senior Cheryl Walker grabbed the rebound as Payne was fouled again. Payne missed the front end of the one-and-one, and Culver then scored the next four points. The Lady Warriors got within three points several times, but couldn’t get any closer as the Eagles hit just about every free throw. Center Jan Augenstein led CGA with 15, and Guzek scored 11. Stichter scored 14 followed by nine for Payne and Packer. Packer, Carol and Cheryl Walker all fouled out of the game in the final two minutes. WAWASEE (48) — Payne 4-181-5 4, G. Stichter 6-13 2-2 3, Swope 1-3 0-0 3, Speicher 0-3 3-51, Sellers 1-6 2-4 3, Charlton 0-0 0-0 1, Ca. Walker 0-2 0-0 5, Ch. Walker 3-8 12 5, Sorensen 0-0 0-0 3, Packer 1-12 7-95. CGA (52) — Thomas 0-0 04) 1, Hallinan 2-5 5-7 4, Young 0-1 6-6 3, Teibel 0-0 0-0 1, Johnson 2-5 2-3 4, Pugenstein 5-15 5-10 1, Guschwan

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MILFORD HOOPERS — Members of Tony Clouse’s Milford sixth-grade basketball team are shown above.

In the front row are Ryan Smith, Chris Schwartz, Jason Douglas, Joe Henderson, Amado Roa Jr., Doug Tethrake and Jeff Carrillo. In the second row are Alex Lozano, Ken Sabby, Dan Wuthrich. Mike Todd, Terry Templin. Rick Powell, Richard Fifer and coach Clouse.

had our kids at full strength, I think everything would have went as I had planned,” he said. Both Carol Walker and Packer were saddled with three fouls early, and could not play as aggressively underneath the basket. Brannock said this was an important contributing factor to the poor inside showing. Saturday’s loss was a bitter ending, but an ending to a great season, said Brannock. “We had an absolutely super season. We won more ball games than any team has ever won here.” he said.

1-10-3 4, Clipka 1-21-41, Guzek 4-8 3-113. Wawasee 15 5 14 14-48 Culver 9 12 15 16-52 Shooting: Wawasee 16 of 65 for 25 per cent. Culver 15 of 37 for 43 per cent. < — Rebounds: Wawasee44\Culver 39. \ Turnovers: /Wawasee \ 11. Culver 15. } Free throws: Wawasee Lfrof 27, Culver 22 of 44. \' (

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‘STIC’ SHOOTS — Wawasee’s Grace Stichter fires a jumper over the outstretched hand of Culver’s Karen Hallinan. Stichter ended her prep career with one of her finest performances of the season. She scored 14 points in the Lady Warriors’ losing effort against Culver Giris' Academy. (Photo by Gary Lewis)

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WARRIOR CHEERLEADERS — Wawasee’s efforts at the Warsaw Regional were supported by these football-jersey clad Wawasee males. The inspiration didn’t work, however, as Culver Girls’ Academy ended Wawasee’s season at 18-2. The 18 wins is a school record for Wawasee. (Photo by Gary Lewis)

Gymnasts down Valley Coach Kim Conrad’s gymnastics team defeated Tippe Valley 91.55 to 28.65 Tuesday night. That makes the Wawasee gymnasts record 6-2 in intermediate.

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UP, UP. AND AWAY — Wawasee’s sophomore reserve guard Sandra Payne leaps for a layup after one of her steals late in Saturday afternoon’s contest. Payne’s steals late in the game put the Lady Warriors within striking distance. (Photo by Gary Lewis >

-M. 11l MlB ■IU-Tl-irr- ■-— «C- -3C- ■» MM ’ «MTBI- «BC»t BBCM* W ? I The Mail-Journal - 1982-83 J ! BASKETBALL CONTEST !

* i WEEKLY $C o PRIZE >O All Weekly Winners Will Be Eligible Foe, 11 jp’) ■ A Grand Prize Drowing J • s s ioo A To Be Awarded To The Winner During Half-Time Os (1 \ The Bremen Wowasee Game Friday Feb 25 1 I K ' r % o , -LAST WEEK’S WINNERi /■ \ \ J Marion Acton >/ r 1 Milford ■ .

||"’“CMES PICKS" MUeT PICKS’ || 11 LC. WaskaiftM .■ Was» FairfitH « Wwt IWh — Ji 9 I NnrthfieM at Wawasee Goshen □. Rochester || 11 Michigan o t Perdue — Plymouth □. Tippe Valley . x j | Northwestern o, Indiana Akron <., Notre Dame ■» i it ——: 11« Tie Breakers Winner NAME |" I I ADDRESS , 11 I I Northwestern ot Indiana city state zip || || IE.C. Washington ot Warsaw _ phone » || ill -h laiißoi — ■wwwwir-wr- — «***■■■ ■nonr.«m«mmtMwanm»WK*

Athlete of the week

■ ’**' 5-•J® GREG It day fl

This . week's Mail-Journal “Athlete of the Week" has established himself as one of the premier divers in the state. Greg Day. son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Day of Syracuse, captured his third consecutive record-breaking conference title last week. For three straight years. Day has won the conference diving title in record-breaking fashion. Day won the one-meter diving with a score of 427.6, bettering his previous record of 400.8. He was one of three Wawasee first-place finishers in the NLC meet at Plymouth.

CONTEST RULES 1) Pick the winners ot the games listed ft and write them in the spaces provided g Pick the winners of the tie breakers end K fill in the difference in score «n the box provided W 2' All mailed entries must be received B no later than 4 p.m on Friday of the week 3 of the contest to Basketball Contest ft The Moil Journal PO Box 188 Milford IN 46542 or submit your entry in person ft ot The Moil Journal office ot 103 East Morn Syracuse or 206 South Mom Milford ft Be sure your entry reaches us before 4 X p m Friday You may use the drop slot ft at each office on Wednesday and Thurs ft doy nights Entries received after the m deadline will not be considered ft 3) Weekly winners will receive $5 and will be eligible to compete for the grand ft prize of SIOO In the event that a weekly wmnei wins more than once he or she ft will be allowed to submit one entry in the ▼ grand prize contest for each weekly con a test won The winner of the previous ft week s contest will appear on this page 4) Each contestant may submit no more ft than two entries Submission of more than two entries will result in automatic ft disqualification of all entries by that pei ft son for that week g 5) The entrant s name address and ft phone number must be dearly printed or' the entry blank ft 6) Anyone ten years of age or older X is eligible fo< the contest except employ " ees of The Papers Incorporated and ft their immediate families ■ 7) Decisions of the |udqes will be fmoi M