The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 47, Milford, Kosciusko County, 19 November 1986 — Page 22

y& ~wgMg^ z ‘ V w — - . ~ Il yf 1 *& w- -W w w B' Bt w-My fcjlff ’ w k; fIT j 3M|Jr- " t J i_—jp ~~^rP1?•■ <i^'r-<3iifc-tfi-- n. ■ I *?—Ai_JC UV ®- :b m /I ** — z B y~* *iZ--. 11 ""it gw * _.X t ■ C mfegM^****—- — Jb I •£**’’• |*r ’-cf> ■ K I " J( *■'" —* |! 1 »».-■< I o. JIM -j Jr < v% w Ifi ft I A ■ Ihai 1 ■BfkWi'l It 111 IA iky--MW .HI J i >B 1 KJV KI 116 4 I ■K J* ~B -a : i 1 K fal B" I I 1? I I' S Jb IK |*fl I f1 f I I ■ ■ K s t. ’i F » |- J I 1 V Hl _____ gaM MHHI ■KU BNB OBHBB ■■* WW . < J / t - t _, - __ _ F y \JHL' JBBW Bl BB JBW BMf JMr A WW «BI IPWk IMi- lllllp^^^w, *^g w|^Fl^WJ riW,r w ‘*‘ w *'

Pictured aW»e are members «f the Wawasee girts' basketball team. Staading m the fraat raw, from left to right, are Barb Barter, Amy Bartoa, Weady f-rfc grwti Parses, Mmhelto White-Lai Bred. Jaiießithcrtek.aad Barb Myers.

Warriors have talent despite rebuilding year

Wawasee's girts' basketball team, according to experts in the Northern Lakes Conference, should finish fourth, at best. Warsaw, Bremen and North Wood should battle for the NLC crown. But don't count Wawasee out, yet. With tins Wawasee team, expect the unexpected. In terms of experienced talent, the Warriors are lacking in comparison with other NLC schools. But that has never stopped the Warriors before, and might not this season. "With only three seniors, this has to be considered a rebuilding year," said Dale Brannock, 109-24 in six years at Wawasee. "But our younger kids have improved a lot from last year. This should be an interesting season. " Amidst the rebuilding program, Brannock is confident ins team will perform well in 1966-87. “The pollsters this year do not give us a chance to be one of the top 12 teams in the area," informed Brannock. "They don't think we’ll be very good. We will fool some people." Despite losing its two highest scorers and rebounders to graduation, Michelle Harter and Lori Galloway, the Warriors return five letterwinners. Ann Vitaniemi and Kelly

Wawasee Service <Fwiuire> Center MtSaVSmvin "B «— ““ «-c— £.immennan 457-3M7 SR 13 Acrees Fna Sewing Aley Syracuse llravel rev«w\ 1658-4063] Hu I MLFORD I SR 13S. Syracuse J

Brooks, both seniors, should provide the Warriors with the greatest amount of offensive firepower this season. Vitaniemi averaged 5.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game, while Brooks netted 3.4 points and 4J rebounds an outing. Still, despite Vitaniemi and Brooks’ abilities, the Warriors appear to be lacking the type of scoring threats they had in the past. In all, Wawasee’s top six players this season, including Vitaniemi and Brooks, averaged 12J points in varsity action last year. In contrast, the Warrkws lost 35 points from its graduating seniors. That’s a lot of ground to be made up. Without a doubt, we lost a lot of offensive scoring," said Brannock. “But we can’t do anything about it. We will just do whatever we can towin.” And that will include putting pressure on the opponents. “We will press a lot,” declared Brannock. “It’s amazing to see what you can do when you have to. We are extremely quick, and by pressing, our quickness can be utilized effectively. ’’ Junior Lai Reed, a 5-3 junior, leads the aggressive style of

Stimrtng ■ the back are coach Jim ffite. Amy Coarwy. Ann Vttaniemi, Kelly Brooks, head coach Dale Brannock. Heidi Brower. Chris Eldridge. Bobi Stankey. and MBch JcbbUct* Lcwkm

defense. A part-time starter last season, Reed is expected to lead the Warriors’ aggressive defensive style. Assisting the little guard will be 5-9 senior Heidi Brower. 5-8 junior Wendy Amy Conroy, a 5-9 junior move-in from Rochester, and Vitaniemi and Brooks. Wawasee’s achilles heel this season could be its bench strength - or lack of it Coming off Brannock’s bench area host of talented players, but extremely inexperienced at the varsity level. None of the five remaining players have played on the varisty squad. Those coming off Wawasee’s bench include juniors Kristi Parsons and Chris Eldridge. Both could turn out to be key role players for the Warriors if they are able to give the starters a break. Sophomores Bobi Stockey and Michelle White have improved their respective games since last season. Because of their improvement, both could see plenty of playing time for Wawasee. Rewinding out the Warriors’ bench is, potentially, one of the best basketball prospects at Wawasee in many years, freshman Amy Barton. A 5-8 North Webster product, Barton,

made the jump from eighth grade basketball to the varsity . She will split duties with the junior varsityteam. “We have a lot of talent on this team, and the attitude is good," concluded Brannock. “The kids believe they are good, and that’s half of the battle." The Warriors, in conquest of

WAWASEE BOAT CO. • Century* Viking-Ski Supreme “The Largest Marina On Indiana's Largest Natural Lake” rl, Box 92 I | Syracuse WAWASEE REALTY, INC. LH PO BOX 478. SYRACUSE. IN 46567 <hauob* (219)457-4911 OPEN: MON..HU. MM3O Phyllis Gerstner ISr Owner-Broker SUNDAY: BY APPT 457-4911 Specializing In: • Condominiums • Lake Properties • Commercial Real Estate

their seventh straight Warsaw Sectional championship, open the season Saturday, Not. 22, at Fairfield. Wawasee tips-off its home slate two days later. Nov. 24, against Penn. Wawasee’s game at Mishawaka (Not. 28) has been charged to Saturday, Dee. IX at 2 pan.