Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Nov. 14, 1988, edition 1 / Page 8
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Sports Men's Basketball Challenging Season by Scott Genualdi Coach Jack Jensen has a curious way of assessing his men's basketball team. "Returning all starters is not good enough if they don't have experience in winning," he says, referring to last season's 10-17 mark. With that assessment aside, the men's basketball team has five returning starters upon which to base a more solid team than last year's squad. Unfortunately, some of the competition is also another year experienced, while others, the Quakers have never faced before. The latter reason is due to the transition into NCAA Division 111 from NAIA Division I. The front court is focused as a key to Jensen's game. Women's Basketball Set to Go Veteran Team Returns by Mike urossman Although currently questioning the conditioning of her Lady Quakers, Women's Basketball Coach Jerry Cornwell has a lot to be happy about with this year's team. For the first time in her four years at Guilford, she and assistant coach Suzanne Lowe have a veteran squad to work with. Eleven players return from last year, including all five starters. Also exciting for Cornwell has to be the return of 5'11" center Jennifer Taylor. Taylor, a junior from High Point, North Carolina, suffered a knee injury that required surgery last year after leading the Lady Quakers to a 4-1 start. She was averaging over 18 points and 10 rebounds a game before her injury, and her second-semester return will definitely strengthen the team. Add to that a schedule which proceeds at an easier pace than last year's, and Cornwell and her team have much reason to believe they will improve on last season's 10-17 record. The Lady Quakers will depend on junior Corie Gold and senior co-captain Tara Marnie to rebound and score from the forward positions. Gold, an All-Conference and All-District selection last year, led the team by averaging 13.4 points and 8.8 -rebounds per game. Marnie, a native of Cary, North Carolina, had a big year also, averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds a game. Until Taylor returns, the other front-court position will be split by senior Shannon Ryan and sophomores Heidi Meroth and Tara Wilson. Cornwell noted that no matter who gets the starting spot, all will see a lot of action. Sophomore Lori Helton and junior Kelly Bailey, both natives of Charlotte, North Carolina, will start in the backcourt. Returning there this year are Tyra Parson, lan Russell, and David Wall. Parson, a junior forward, earned All-Carolina Conference honors last year while compiling a 16.9 points per game (ppg) average and pulling 6.3 rebounds per game (rpg). Jensen feels Parson must repeat his success from last year in order for the team to succeed. Wall is starting at the other forward position. A sophomore, he is one of the smartest players on the court, according to Jensen. "Wall is a very effective player. He takes good shots." 1 At center, senior lan Russell will return. Jensen would like him to improve on his offense. "Last year lan played excellent defense but his offense was shaky. He has worked on his shot over the summer and so far he looks Helton averaged 9 points a game last year and led the team in assists and seals, with 81 and 38, respectively. Bailey, the team's other co-captain, averaged six points a game last season but especially valuable for her defense. "She's our defensive catalyst," Cornwell said. "She sets the tempo defensively for us." The new experience on the team will also help the bench. Returning players include Tara Wilson, Katrina Hill, Shannon Ryan, Heidi Meroth, and Beth Gattuso. Freshmen Kirsten Coit and Carolyn Doss add to the team's depth. As for the style of play, Cornwell said the Lady Quakers will run when they get the chance but they will concentrate QUAKER NOATS by Mike Grossman The Men's Lacrosse team played an exciting game in their annual game against Guilford Alumni on Saturday, November 5. The game went into overtime, where the student Quakers lost, 12-11. - The all NAIA District 26 Soccer team was announced Friday, and Guilford senior Chris Jenkins was named to the second team. Jenkins led the Quakers with 10 goals and 10 assists. --- Tune into Guilford's two sports radio shows for the latest in Quaker athletics and exciting interviews with players and coaches. The first show airs at 6:35 p.m. on WKEW, AM 1400, and the second airs at 9:00 p.m. on WQFS, 90.9 FM. - Senior Linebacker Daniel Cole and freshman quarterback Calvin Hunter were named the McDonald's Players of the Game in last week's 45-14 loss to Catawba. Cole recorded ten better." Russell averaged 4.5 blocked shots last year. Jensen also likes his substitutes here. "We have more size and much better depth in the front court. Now we have subs with size who can contribute. This is unlike last year." At shooting guard, Tim Beckwith returns as the leading scorer with a 18.5 ppg. A junior, he also led the team with 99 assists and 64 steals. "He needed to do that for us to do well last year," pointed Jensen, "but he has to improve the percentages in making those shots." Junior Hunter Yurachek will also return in the backcourt. Jensen is excited about guard Carlos Sanford. A freshman from Durham, he possesses quickness, a factor Jensen hopes will improve his team. "With Sanford we can run. on a passing-oriented half-court offense. The defense will be mostly man-to-man coverage. "Overall, we'll rely on smart play because we're not the quickest team," Cornwell said. "But if we're in the right place at the right time, we can make up for that lack of quickness." This Wednesday's home game against Bennett opens the season for the Lady Quakers. The schedule includes many games against strong Division 111 opponents, but the toughest contests should come against NAIA rivals Mars Hill, Elon, and Belmont-Abbey. Coach Cornwell is optimistic about the season. "There's not a team on our schedule that we can't beat if we play well," she said. tackles for the day, including one sack, while Hunter passed for a third-quarter touchdown. For the third year in a row, senior Lisa Rockett was named to the All NAIA District 26 Volleyball team. Jj M '• § - JHp JW^j^ * t * v " - %. ' V ' ll lIT Scott Sabitus battles for ball photo by Tammy Bury We are going to push the ball upcourt and create energy." Jensen wants his team to shoot with more success. Last year the field goal percentage was 44 percent. Jensen states, "You can't win shooting 44 percent. The good teams shoot 50 percent and that is what we are going to have to do." Another focus of the team's strategy is the defense. "We must improve the defense by seeing solid defense everyday. With good rebounding and defense, we could compensate poor shooting nights," says Jensen. Jensen is troubled slightly about the schedule. Several teams they play will be for the first time. Jensen says, "It is a big question mark; all we know is that they are Division 111 teams. We also play on the road a lot, which will be difficult." Football Update by Mike Grossman The Quakers took the football field against Catawba last Saturday aiming to avenge last year's 73-14 drubbing. But they came up far short, losing 45-14. Guilford's only scores came on a 15-yard touchdown reception by Greg Kearney from Freshman quarterback Calvin Hunter. The Indians scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, but added four more in the second to put the Quakers out of the game for good. Guilford amassed only 67 I jA I I I Tight end Rick Nichols shakes tackle photo by Eric Buck 8 The home games are starting at 8 p.m. this year to accommodate the evening classes. Jensen knows it is important to have extra spectators. The first home game is next Tuesday against Fcrrum. They open this Saturday at Pfeiffer. Jensen welcomes assistant coach John Thompson from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Thompsoni is a Durham native and knows small college basketball in North Carolina well. Jensen views the first three weeks as important. "If we do well and establish confidence, we will have a good season. If we don t do well, we might have a long season. The first three weeks will determine our season." yards with their passing game, in which Vannoy and Hunter saw even time at quarterback. Catawba, on the other hand, passed for over 231 yards, including four touchdpwns . The Quaker running game was more effective, with 129 total yards. But not much else good happened for Guilford that day. If you had to find a silver lining in the dark cloud that crashed down on the Quakers that Saturday, maybe it would be that they only lost by 31 points, a decent improvement over last year's 59-point margin of defeat.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Nov. 14, 1988, edition 1
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