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12 DECATUR HERALD Decatur, Illinois, Saturday, November 20, 1976″ Oblong Prospective Little Mini Champion David Shawver and sophomore them up with. It will be important for us not to get into foul trouble.” Terry is an excellent floor general and Ray Titsworth is a “pure shooter,” Pensyl says. Add defensive ace Blaine Had-dix and Hutsonville fields a solid backcourt. Marshall’s strength will more likely be on the front line than in the backcourt. Included among Coach Carrol Bennett’s six lettermen are 4, Randy Ryan, 6-3, John Morris and Bob South worth each averaged between seven and eight points. Manuell says he expects Kansas to be a strong rebounding team. “Just how well we can score and play defense remain to be seen,” Manuell said. H e added that Bruce Sloat and John Holt have looked good and are potential starters. Cumberland has a new coach Jerry Flake, who replaces Bill Waldrip. Flake has coached in Indiana and Louisiana. He says he’ll probably shy By MarkTupper With four regulars returning from a team that tied for second last, season, Oblong High School is the pick to win the basketball championship in the Little Illini Conference. Oblong’ will receive strong Opposition from Hutsonville, which also has four experienced players and beat Oblong three times last season. Carning the weight for Ob-longwill be Steve Week, 6 foot 3. Week averaged 17 points last season. Coach Maury Hough says. Week is a complete player. “He can play inside or out. A good ball-handler and shoo-ter.e-‘r,:. Week’s versatility has made him’ a possible starter in the backcourt,- despite his height. Brian Hlghsmith, 13.2 points average, and junior Jerry Sanders give. Oblong a pair of solid shooters : and ball-handlers to go with Week. Terry Krick, 6 foot 4, will hopefully uhold things together inside. “He should become more consistent,” Hough said. ” We Ve counting on him for rebounding.” Steve Holliday, 6-2, will also be counted on for rebounding support . John Stoll, 6-2, falls 5nto that category, too. Oblong iwould have been a more convincing choice as the conference champion if 6 foot 5 Mark Gillaspy were on the roster. .Hough says he’s not for disciplinary reasons. Hutsonville figures to mount the-major challenge to Oblong’s “trek to the championship.
Coach Cliff Pensyl’s holdover full-time starters are Tony Sheets, Phillip Terry and Tim Bovll.
Terry Dawson was the No. 6 player. Sheets averaged 13.4 points and is 6 foot 2. Boyll is also 6-2. Beyond those two players there is a shortage of height. “Sheets-and Boyll give us good board work,” Pensyl said We don’t have much to back VI I .-:, ” – i i . .. s ..&’- h. U vx;- -1 -r’m ‘ — r A n – v – – v-. -V ; : I i V’v -tm.. , v lit it . V n i i i i i if v:- imm.:– km i i mm, n i i mn .Jit mm mm I away from Waldrip’s wide-open running style, favoring a controlled fast break offense and putting mora emphasis on defense. There are two lettermen. Ben Bland averaged 8.3 points, Russ Thomas 5.7. Flake says Steve Smith, Mike Sherwood, Bob Gabel and Brian McClain will also see considerable act ion. Another new coach is at Westfield. Rick Porter takes over for Dave Markwell. Por ter has been the junior high coach at Westfield the last three seasons. Porter will be wrestling with a wav to overcome a serious height deficiency. Mark Whitkanack. a sophomore, a the tallest player at 6 foot 1. Lettermen are Scott Davis, Adam McVev. Steve Patrick and Duane McKinney. Davis is a returning starter. Porter says Westfield will be quick and a good shooting team. With so little height, it will have to be. PROBABLE FINISH 1. Oblong 2. Hutsonville 3. Marshall 4. Casey 5. Martinsville 6. Palestine 7. Kansas 8. Cumberland 9. Westfield OBLON9 specialties and Jerome Ander- son of the Indiana Pacers wat- dies the ball fall in a recent National Basketball Associa- tion game at Philadelphia. The Pacers won 123-117. Eric Kusterman. Steve Black is a 6 foot 6 let terman who will give Casey strength inside. Joe Zakowski, 6-3, and Steve Wright are the other lettermen. Four lettermen return at Martinsville, where Coach Bill Lane will try to replace a tall team with a quick one. Don Taggert, 6 foot 5, Kim Cooper, 6-3, and Terry Weir, 6-2, graduated. Leaving Eric Daugherty, 6 foot 1, as the tal lest experienced player. Roger Buckles, 6 foot 5, was not on for the team last season. Lane says he will be an impor tant ingredient to a successful season this time. So will Scott Simpson and Chuck Murphy. Each averaged 12 points. Others who could see regular action are Rick Connelly, John Nestleroad and Scott Burnett. There will be a new look at Palestine, with DeWayne Holmes, 21.0 points average, lost to graduation and new Coach Don Stampini running the show. Stampini has four lettermen from a team that went 6-2 in the conference, 15-9 over-all. All of the lettermen started at one time or another. Buster Fuller, 10.1 points, Mark Fuller, 8.7, and Jeff Waggoner, 9.0 points, are the top holdovers. Randy Bunton also started some. Steve McDaniel, 6 foot 6, will help Buster Fuller, 6-3, inside. Ken Knoblett and Larry Eve-land will also help, says Stampini, who was the freshman coach at Marshall last season. At Kansas, Coach Rick Manuell will miss three four stead y-scoring regulars Mark Decker, Mike Nichols, Brad Sloat and Jim Saxton. Things aren’t all bad, though. Four lettermen are back and all of them started at one time or another. Mitch Camp, 6 foot heavyweights in the country. He always has one foot forward, rather than backward,’ Clinton said. Klemm’s prep stats support that claim. He was 36-1 and third in the state, then last summer captured champion ships in the National High School Federation meet in Chicago and the National Junior Olympics in Memphis. The ‘Murderer’s Row of Torrejon. Holland, Lewis, Ayres and Klemm should make Eastern the favorite in most dual meets. Clinton is also relying on two veterans, Rick Johnson (ML Zion) at 134 and Tom Rounsa-vall (Miami) at 142, to bounce back after being slowed by in juries. Other returning lettermen are Gil Duran (Tucson) at 128, Marty Fuqua (Geneseo) at 134, Steve Glasdner (Cary) at 177, Jim Holtwisch (Bethalto) at 167, Larry LaBanca (Orland Park) at 158, Jim Marsh (Dixon) at 190, Ralph McCausland (Wheaton) at 142, Jim McGin-ley (Evergreen Park) at 150, Al Pearson (Blue Island) at 134, Mick Ruettiger (Joliet) at 150, and Joe Tschannen (Wood River) at 177. Speaking …In Sports Rustv Morecraft, 6 foot 3, Joe Murphy, 6-4, and sophomore John Prevo, 6-3. However, the surprise is George Maurer, 6 foot 7 junior who was not on for the team last season. “This team has as much height as any I’ve coached. Bennett said. The fifth starter will probably be lettermen Curt Stoelting, 5 foot 11 junior. Stoelting will be in the back court and could be joined there by Prevo. “Prevo is a fine looking sophomore,” Bennett said. “He’s an excellent passer and ball-han dler.” Mark White is the other letterman. Bennett isn’t too worried about his team’s ability to rebound or score. He is, howe ver, somewhat leary about Marshall’s defensive skills. At Casey, Coach Bob Dur ham lost six players from the conference championship club. Casey finished 21-7 over-all and won the Little Illini tournament and Casey regional. While the losses were many, Durham nonetheless has a de cent group of replacements to build from. Heading the list is 5-9 junior letterman David Collins. “I’d say he is one of the top five backcourt players in this part of the state, Durham claims “He’s a good shooter, ball-handler, defensive player. There is nothing he is weak at. Collins started and averaged 11 points as a sophomore. His backcourt mates will be pionship,” Clinton says. Torre- jon’s 1976 record was 28-7, in cluding two firsts and two thirds in invitational tournaments. Holland, 167-pound junior transfer from Iowa State, fi nished as the runner-up in the Division I tournament as a freshman two years ago. He is not eligible for the national finals this year but should be a dominate force and crowd plea-ser in his dual matches. He also was a two time Big Eight champ, and two-time Illinois state champion at 155. “Bob’s a blue chip quality wrestler in every phase of his match,” Clinton priased. Clinton recruited two national junior college champs, Ken Lewis, 167 pound, from Joliet who will move to 177, and Rob in Ayres, 190 lb. pound winner from Bismarck, N.D., Junior College. Like Holland, both were Illinois State champs, Lewis at Lockport High School and Ayres at Rich East High School. The top freshman recruit, Dave Klemm (Lincoln), may end up with the most honors by the time he graduates. At 6-3, 300 plus pounds, Klemm “is one of the best freshman Eastern’s Wrestling Excellent JULIUS ERVING of the Philadelphia 76ers (right) had just blocked a shot-one of his BEMENT VOLLEYBALL CHAMPION Bement High School won the Little Okaw Conference volleyball tournament at Cerro Gordo by defeating Cerro Gordo 20-12, 20-16. Bement has an 11-0 season record, Cerro Gordo 9-3. Homer defeated Villa Grove 20-15, 20-13 for third place. Results printed m the Friday Herald were incorrect HICKMAN CLINTON’S MOST VALUABLE Jeff Hickman, senior quar terback, was selected most va luable Clinton High School foot ball player by his teammates. Jeff Bell, Randy Pound and Tom Pruser were selected as 1977 captains. MOST VALUABLE AT MONTICELLO Bill Balinski was named the most valuable football back at Montkello High School and Charles Dunlap the most va luable lineman. Ken Smith was named most valuable in cross country. CEPEDA GUILTY OF DRUG CHARGE At San Juan, P.R. former major league baseball player Orlando Cepeda was found guil ty in U.S. District Court here Friday of possessing and smuggling 170 pounds of mari juana into Puerto Rico. Cepeda’s longtime friend, Herminio Cortes, a former mi nor league player who faced Briefly Saban Quits College Job After 19 Days Cincinnati (AP) Lou Saban, former coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, quit Friday as the athletic ciirector of the University of Cincinnati, 19 days after taking the job. Cincinnati vice president Cristcs Demakes said Sabaa.” ; cited “prsonal reasons” for -stepping down. Demakes saidX Saban had never actually sig -ned a contract, although he . said Nov. 1 that he had accepted the job. Demakes said Saban and the university parted company friendlv terms.” ‘on Saban said he had “no disagreement with university officials.” “I felt I had to make a decision on my own,” he said. He also said he had no future plans. Saban. who quit the Bills in midseason and was succeeded by Jim Ringo, replaced Hin-dman Wall, who left Cincinnati to become athletic director at Tulane. Saban’s first official appear-, ance was with the Cincinnati-football team at Maryland three weeks ago. Last Saturday, he was the parade mar-, shall for homecoming festivities here. Cincinnati President Juaar Bennis.- who originally recruit ted Saban for the job, said,” “The university regretfully accepts Lou’s decision and wel wish him every success in whatever he undertakes. Ht. Wt. Oom xStovcWeck 6-3 140 Sr. xTerry (Crick 4 T Sr. xBrlon Hlghsmlth 5- 1S5 Sr. Mark Allen 6-1 160 Sr. John ttgppogr S-9 185 Sr. xSteve Holliday -J 170 Jr. John Stoll 4-J WO Jr. Keith Wepp4r 4 170 Jr. Jrry Sonders S-11 ISO Jr. Bart Allen – S-10 145 Jr. Randy Llttlelohn 5-10 ISO Jr. x-letterman HUTSONVILLE Ht. Wt. Clow xPhfttlp Terry e-0 ISO Sr. xTerry Dawson e-0 150 Sr. xTIm Boyll e-2 170 Sr. xTonySheett 6-2 1S Sr. Blaine Hoddlx 5-10 150 Sr. ErleNoWItt 5-10 150 Sr. Ray Titsworth S-M 155 Jr. Brad Flnkblner 5-7 141 Jr. Scott Andersen 5-6 135 Jr. Bin Booord 5- 140 Jr. David Madleon 5-10 155 Jr. Carl Gust 5-10 150 Jr. k 4eilfinow CASEY Ht. Wt. Oast xSteve Black 6-6 WO Sr. Geff Bwrlt 4-1 170 Sr. Bruce Gro 6-0 160 Sr. David Shawver 5-10 175 Sr. xSteve Wright 6-0 169 Sr. xJoe Zakowski 6-3 175 Sr. Jeff Bolley 6-1 15 Jr. Brad Beeson S-tl 150 Jr. xDavtd Coll 5-9 145 Jr. Brian Cramer 6-2 65 Jr. Bob Rogon 6-0 170 Jr. Rondy togoart 6-0 15 Jr. Eric Kustermon 5-10 145 So. x letterman MARSHALL Ht. Wt. Clow xRusty Morecraft 6-3 175 Sr. xDavId Morris 6-0 175 Sr. xMork Whtte 6-1 150 Sr. Mark Bumcm 5-7 135 Jr. Greg Eoglln 5-9 130 Jr. Scott Macke 6-0 145 Jr. George Maurer 6-7 174 Jr. xJoe Murphy 6-4 230 Jr. Tim Pearson 6-1 165 Jr. xCurt Stoelting 3-11 145 Jr. Paul Ryan 4-1 135 Jr. Kent Kunce 5-10 157 Jr. JetfSetier 4-1 150 Jr. Paul Luekett 4-3 160 So. xJohn Prevo 6-3 155 So. ‘ Charleston Eastern Illinois University wrestling coach Ron Clinton deserves an ‘A’ for recruiting. It’s a good bet when the nationals are concluded next spring his squad will receive the same grade. The wrestling roster is an honor roll of lettermen, Ail-Americans, and potential national champions. The pre-sea-Bon analysis will end shortly, though, as the group will be judged solely on its performance beginning with the University of Oklahoma Open during the Thanksgiving holidays. “For the first time since I’ve been here we have some depth…both in maturity and experience. Everyone will have to be on their toes, said Clin ton, who begins his tnira sea son. The two squad members who face little challenge are AU-American Ed Torrejon (Tucson) and transfer Bob Holland (Schiller Park). Torrejon, a senior, finished second in the 158 pound class in the Division II meet last year and is the top returning wrestler. “Due to his quickness, Ed will dominate people on his feet. He , is a legitimate contender for the national cham the same charges, was found guilty on one count of possess ing the marijuana on Dec. 12, 1975. A jury of seven women and five men, who had been sequestered for the four-day trial, returned the verdicts after de liberating seven hours. Lawyers for Cepeda and Cor tes are expected to appeal the decision. STANFORD FIRES CHRISTIANSEN Coach Jack Christiansen, who guided Stanford University’s football team to a mediocre 5-5 record, was fired by Athletic Director Joe Ruetz. The firing came the day be fore Stanford’s annual “big game” with the University of California at Berkeley, the fin al game of the season. SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA CLEARED An investigation has found nothing to back up charges that the University of Southwestern Louisiana hired an illegal foot. ball recruiting coach, a state nvestigator said. “I could find no evidence to indicate that any of the charges were based in fact,” said Irwin biDilie, wno conducted the in vestigation in his capacity as athletic commissioner of the State Board of Trustees. “I can without reservation state that the University of Southwestern Louisiana did not violate any Louisiana State Board of Trustees or National freshmen were 4-1. There’s obviously talent around. If St. Teresa does make it back, it likely will be the only Decatur team. History sometimes foretells the future. Let’s assume the football playoffs started in 1957, the year MacArthur and Eisenhower opened, instead of three years ago. How many Decatur teams would have qualified in the last 20 years? Not many. Since 1957, Stephen Decatur has won one Big 12 Conference championship. That came in 1962 when it tied with Urbana. Since Urbana won the season meeting 14-13, Urbana would have represented the Big 12. Stephen Decatur, which finished with an 8-1 record, might have earned a wild card bid. Give the home team the benefit of the doubt and make it one appearance in 20 years. MacArthur won an undisputed Capitol Conference cbam- Joe Cook Sports Writer Collegiate Athletic Association policies concerning staff and recruiting,” he sad. ALL-AMERICAN MILLNER DIES At Falls Church, Va. Wayne E. Millner. 65, a two-time All America football player for Notre Dame in the 1930s and one of the Washington Red skins’ best pass catchers, died. Mainer’s pro career started when be was drafted by the Boston Redskins in 1936. The next year, after his team moved to Washington, his two touchdown catches enabled the Redskins to beat the Chicago Bears for the National Football League championship. NEUMANN SIGNS WITH LAKERS At Los Angeles, Johnny Neumann, a former Mississippi standout who became one of the first so-called hardship draft cases in pro basketball, was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Neumann, a 6-foot-6 free agent who was waived Nov. 9 by the Buffalo Braves, led the nation’s colleges in scoring in 1970-71 with a 40.1 points average. Following that season, Neumann left school and signed to play with the American Basketball Association’s Memphis franchise. The signing created a stir in pro basketball, with the rival National Basketball Association accusing the other league of raiding the colleges. p: iiship in 1972 and would have qualified for the playoffs. In 1973, MacArthur ” tied with Champaign Centennial for the championship. Centennial, however, won the head to head confrontation 21-14 and would have represented the Capitol. MacArthur went on to finish 9-L Lets be charitable and give MacArthur a wild card berth. That would make two appearances in 20 years. Eisenhower won the Capitol championship in 1965 with an 8-1 record and would have qualified for the playoffs. In 1967 it finished in a three-way tie with Springfield Griffin and Springfield Lanphier. A vote would have been taken to de-t e r m i n e the representative. Let’s figure Eisenhower stuffed the ballot box and make it two playoff appearances in 20 years. Next comes Lakeview, which won the old four team Cenois Conference in 1965 with a 9-0 ( dvj ;V.’i’ lyV History Indicates Decatur Playoff Future Bleak x letterman PALESTINE Ht. xMork Fuller 43 xRondy Bunton 5-9 Steve McDaniel 6-6 Brent Hayes 5-10 Don lllyes S11 Tim Seoney 5-7 xBuster Fuller 40 xJeH Waggoner 5-10 John O Dell 5- Ken Knoblett 44 Lorry Eveland 40 Kyle Fulling 5-11 x-lettermon MARTINSVILLE Ht. xErlc Dougherty 4-1 Wt. 180 140 160 145 165 130 160 145 140 1&S 195 US Class Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. wt. 155 155 150 150 ! 155 145 T50 ISO 145 149 165 140 doss Sr. Sr. xChuck Murphy 6-0 xSeott Simpson 5-9 xRIck Connelly 5-6 Roger Buckles 44 John Nestleroad 4-2 Scott Burnett 5-11 John Stevens 4-1 Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jim Weir 44 Tony Avenottt 5-9 Ken Hackney 54 Rick Newktrk 5-10 Mike Kirk 5-7 CUMBERLAND Ht. xRuss Thomas 4-2 Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Clos 17$ 140 165 ISO 175 170 155 180 150 140 140 its Sr. Steve Smith 40 Randy Shepard 4-2 Doug Co rr 5-11 Brian McClain 4-1 Vlrvce Oiler 4-0 xBen Bland 5-9 Mike Sherwood 4-3 Wally Rleck 5-10 Bob Gabel 40 Brad Green M Scott Thorn ley 4-3 Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. r. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. x-lettermon KANSAS Ht. Wt. 175 195 169 145 150 140 150 145 150 Clou xMltch Camp 4-4 x RanaV Ryart 4-3 xJohn Morris 4-1 xBob Souttrwortti 5-9 Cxri Sinclair 4-1 KantSptoot 4-3 Bruc Sloat 5- Ttrry Hood Nad Heltsly 5-9 x 11 lot won Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. WCSTpIbLD Gillespie High School Coach Don Dobrino was asked how it felt not having to worry about St. Teresa in the State Class 2-A playoffs for a change. “It feels wonderful,” said Dobrino. “It was the best thing to happen to my team.” Gillespie, which plays Hamil ton today in the semifinals, is making a third straight playoff appearance. However, Gil lespie had the misfortune of opening against St. Teresa the last two years and was extinguished 204 and 46-0. St Teresa went on to win the championship both times. So when St. Teresa failed to win a sixth straight Okaw Valley Conference championship, there was much joy in the mining town of Gillespie. With St Teresa out of the picture, Gillespie, the South Central Conference champion, is making good on its opportunity. St. Teresa did not miss the playoffs by much. Looking back over the season, the 20-14 overtime defeat of Tuscola was the most damaging. St Teresa had a 14-0 lead and had a touchdown pass dropped in the end zone before it let Tuscola off the hook with a series of fumbles. Coach Ed Boehm thinks he has the ammunition to get back to the top next season. The sophomores were 6-1 while the record. Since the Cenois would not have had enough teams to qualify as a conference in the eyes of the Illinois High School Association, Lakeview would still have qualified as an independent Give Lakeview one appearance in 20 years. That leaves St Teresa, which . not only qualified for the playoffs the last two years but , won two championships. St Teresa would have qualified in,. 1973, 1972, 1971 and perhaps in 1970, when it finished 7-1-1. That’s five, maybe six appearances in 20 years, easily the best Perhaps reaching the playoffs isn’t that important However, the money and the prestige dictate otherwise. The future does not look good. It appears that Normal and Springfield Griffin are going to take turns in the Capitol. If the two Champaign schools merge, which is possible, there will be two super powers in the Big 12 Champaign and Danville. Lake-view would have a better chance in the Apollo if it ever gets it together. I don’t want to sound like the guy that just ran over the Easter bunny, but it appears that Decatur is going to be like the kid on the outside of the bakery window, looking In at playofl time. – . JAU’ C’ J? Wy , v ,vr, , ‘ ” ‘ “Sf;&&niyt iTk ‘?”. ‘ ‘ x r,7’ ‘ ‘J’ – ?Hsl 4s1-t ”’ Ht. Wt. Ckm xScottDovK 40 14S sr. xAdam AAcVay 5-10 150 Sr. xStove PatrtcK 5-10 150 Jr. xOuar MelCfnnty 40 17$ Jr. WlkeWllhott 4-0 130 Jr. John Winn 40 T95 Jr. Ed Plnnell 5- 143 Jr. Jay Evans 5-10 145 ir. Mark Whltkanock 41 180 So. Chock Lawyer 5-10 130 So. Tim Davis 5-8 135 So. KentBobbs 5-1 115 Fr. X”-4ettemon 175-74 RESULTS Conf. Over-all W L W L W L W L Casey 7 1 21 7 Palstln 4 2 15 Oblong 4 2 13 12 Hutsonville 5 3 17 Cumberland 5 3 14 Martinsville 3 5 9 14 Kansas 2 4 T2 13 Marshall 2 4 3 21 Westfield 3 20 Associated Press WIrephoto Square Garden in New York Wednesday. BOBBY ORR of the Chicago Black 4 Hawks, still suffering from a chronic knee ailment which put him out of action, watches his team lose 3-2 to the New York Rangers at Madison