The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 6, Milford, Kosciusko County, 22 February 1984 — Page 19

IwliflP? Wr»wflSSflflnflSi flElUJiljMi .1 InftM ■ beß Wfl IWv IS

R 0 H E S T E R

ROCHESTER ZEBRAS — Pictured above is the 1983-84 edition of the Rochester High School varsity basketbail team. In the front row are Greg Smith, Scott Zent, Kevin Morrow

Zebras show consistent growth

By TOM CHARLES Second-year coach Mike Jones and his Rochester Zebras are perhaps the dark horse team of the 1984 Triton Sectional. But, despite being plagued by a lack of height, the Zebras are nbt to be taken lightly by other tourney schools. “We’ve had a lot of close games this year,’’ said Jones. “I think if we could have won more of the close ones, our confidence factor may have been a bit better now.” The Zebras stood at 5-12 heading into the third weekend of February. However, included in those 12 losses were an overtime loss against Manchester, a two-point defeat at the hands of La Ville, a two-point loss to North Miami and a six-point loss to Bremen. If Jones had his way. the Zebras would utilize the fast

Rochester Zebras 1983-84 Season Record RHS OPP Caston 55 60 Cujyer 58 52 Tippecanoe Valley 59 68 Lewis Cass 63 75 Manchester 60 ✓ 62 Warsaw 63 75 Peru 43 59 North Miami 57 59 North Wood 73 66 LaVille 58 60 Bremen 64 70 Plymouth 33 ' 82 pioneer 58 75 Coficord 63 61 Triton 59 57 Wawa&ee 43 61 Peru 57

break to generate their offense. But his team’s lack of height makes that a problem. “We would like to run, and we look to run, but it is tough to get the ball out on the break due to our size,” he noted. Jones also likes to use the full-court game on defense. The Zebras use a man-to-man press as well as a zone press. “We try to mix it up,” said Jones. “It depends on who we are playing. If the press works. I’ll stay with it.” It has been Rochester’s defense which has shown the most improvement over the course of the season. Since the 75-58 loss to Pioneer on Jan. 21, Jones thinks that his players have been maturing and improving their intensity on defense. The offense has been a different story. With team shooting ranging anywhere

from 24 percent to 57 percent, the Zebras have yet to find their attacking groove. “We played some good solid basketball at the beginning of the year when we lost to Manchester on a lastsecond shot and to Warsaw,” Jones noted. “Then we lost six in a row.” One of the causes for that skid, and for the Zebras inconsistency over the rest of the season, has been the failure to get everyone involved in the offense. The loss of Jeff Paulik to an ankle injury in the LaVille game also contributed to the team’s slide. “We have been getting better balance towards the end of the year.” Jones stated. “We have been getting some good play off of the bench, and more people are getting into the offense.” Key Performers Scott Zent has been the Zebra’s floor leader the entire season. A good perimeter shooter, the 5’9” senior guard currently leads the team in scoring and assists. He is hitting an average of 15.4 points per contest. “Scott is really the only experienced player we had back this year,’’ said Jones. “He and (Joe) McCarter run the offense. Scott has a good outside shot.” McCarter, a s’B“ senior, is the other sparkplug in the backcourt. He averages eight points per contest and is second on the team in assists. Although the Zebras are not physically domineering, they have been successful in

Stripe It Rich, ZEBRAS!

and Joe McCarter. In the second row are Jeff Paulik, Bill Muhrling, John Fagan, Chris Brown and head coach Mike Jones.

staying with other teams on the boards. The credit for that fact has to go to the fine inside play of senior Bill Muhrling and junior Jeff Paulik. Muhrling is averaging 12.5 points per contest while doing a good job on the boards. Paulik, despite missing two games with an ankle injury, is averaging 7.3 points per contest. If Jones has to go to his bench, he can count on the steady play of reserves John Fagan, Kevin Morrow and Greg Smith. As a team, the Zebras are connecting on 42 percent of their field goals and 66 percent of their foul shots. They have been averaging 10 turnovers per contest over the past month of play. The Sectional “I am very pleased with the way we are playing now,” Jones noted. “We have improved drastically over the season, and appear to be jelling. We are looking to pick up some wins down the stretch and head into the sectional with some confidence.” Rochester owns a 1-3 record against sectional competition in 1983-84. The lone win was a 59-57 thriller over Triton on Jan. 28. The Zebras lost to Warsaw, 75-63; Wawasee, 61-43; and Tippecanoe Valley, 68-59. “Warsaw looks like the favorite,’’ said Jones. “But on any given night, one of these teams cold upset another. At this point in the season it is more of a mental game than a physical one.”

■f * F ROCHESTER SPIRIT RAISERS —Pictured above are Rochester’s varsity cheerleaders for 1983-84. In front is Lisa Hazlett. In the second row are Letitia Holloway, Lisa Calhoun and Cindy Belcher. Liz Downs is in the third row. Angie Benzing stands atop the formation.

z E B R A S