Writer Weary Of Cage Tempo
Tired of 52-50 and 49-48 basketball games? Sick of
seeing teams freeze the ball the last seven minutes of
each game? Do you believe college basketball is getting
boring?
If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you are
probably an ACC basketball fan. Whatever happened to
those 100-95 and 90-98 games? Why do the teams in the
ACC and Big Ten play freeze ball?
Well, for the last few seasons it seems, the ACC teams
have played "to avoid losing" rather than "to win."
Teams like North Carolina and N. C. State, that once
scored 85 a game, are now scoring 55 or 60 per outing. It's
getting ridiculous.
The one element that caused the college game to surge
ahead of the pro game was the unpredictability of each
contest. Every pro gime was a run-and-gun-athon that
produced a 120-105 score and no defense. By contrast,
some college games would be 64-60 and others might be
90-88. There was always a measure for mystery in each
college game because it did not have the 24-second shot
clock to force the action.
However, there is no mystery to ACC games this year.
The scenario is always the same. The first 30-32 minutes
of the game is a mixture of passing and dribbling that
keeps the score low and the game close. The final eight to
10 minutes is freezing the ball and trips to the foul line. In
a word —dull!
Close games are exciting, don't get me wrong. But
sacrificing the entire game for the excitement of the last
two or three minutes is ruining college ball. It just is not
worth the effort to sit and watch a game for two hours —
just to see a team make six free throws in the final two
minutes to win a game.
I have seen a bunch of close ACC games this year —
more than in any previous season. But I haven't seen a
good game all season, in terms of good offense and good
defense.
Good defense is not causing the decline in points
scored. All of the teams (except Virginia) play scared. So
they hold the ball for two minutes, throw the ball around
20 times, then take a shot or get fouled. That's it. Virginia
is the only ACC team that tries to score a lot.
It's understandable why weak teams like Duke, Clem
son, and Maryland would try to cut the game in half by
holding the ball. These teams are abysmally short on
talent. But Carolina, State, and Wake Forest have no
excuse for this type of play.
State proved how slow-down play can cost a favored
team the game the other night. The Wolfpack, at 13-2, was
visiting 4-9 Duke and heavily favored.
State zipped to an 18-7 lead, but must have looked at the
scoreboard and realized that ACC games are supposed to
be close. The Pack then started playing overly cautious
and lost the game, 49-48. State should have won that game
by 15 points. Their talent is that much better than Duke's.
But superior height and talent mean very little if a
team chooses to sit back and hold the ball. State played
right into Duke's hand and lost.
The "new caution" in ACC games is evidenced by
Carolina. The Heels have been No. 1 this year and no one
can argue their tactic has been successful. But, looking
back, the Heels have steadily decreased their scoring
effort through the years.
Back in 1969, a great UNC team scored over 90 points in
15 different games. In 1970 the Heels hit the 90-mark on 11
occasions, and in 1971 they topped that plateau 17 times.
The next six years Carolina topped the 90-mark 11,11,13,
10,13 find 9 times.
But in 1979, the number had dropped to six times; and
last year, the total was one game over 90 points.
Carolina's highest total this season was 82 against
Kentucky, and that's because a non-ACC team plays to
score and that raised the point total.
The best game this writer ever witnessed was the 1974
ACC championship game. State beat Maryland 103-100 in
LEW
HEGE
overtime in that classic. The best game I've seen this
year in the league was a 65-60 UNC win over Virginia.
(Note the scoring difference.)
From the 90's in 1970, to the 80's in 1975, to the 70's in
1980 — the trend is there. 1982 will see the averages hover
around the 60-point mark, with some games being in the
40's and 50's. What can we expect by 1990—scores like 25
18? Fifty years ago, teams played ultra-cautious and
scores were in the 20's and 30's. Is basketball history set
to be repeated?
Well, for one, I hope not. I don't like 3-0 football games
and 1-0 baseball games. And I don't like 50-45 and 40-36
basketball games either.
Most of the ACC teams are weaker this year than in
recent seasons, as are the teams in the Big Ten. The
offensive talent is just not there. But this is no excuse for
staging these "sleep-walking" symposiums and calling it
big time basketball.
So boring was the Clemson-Duke exhibit Saturday, this
write." viewed two other games — both fast-moving and
exciting. The Louisville-Virginia Tech game, won 78-76
by Tech, was far superior to that Duke-Clemson thing.
Folks up in Lexington, Ky. refer to the ACC as the
ABC, "Absolutely Boring Conference." Despite UNC's
win over the Wildcats this year, the Kentucky people are
100 per cent correct.
Our neighbor to the south, the Sun Belt Confer
ence, employs the 45-second shot elock. This writer has
never been an advocate of the shot clock in college ball,
fearing that college ball may go the way of the NBA.
But if the current trend continues, and it probably will,
I hope the ACC will adopt the shot clock. It would force
the teams to play ball instead of stand around. A 45
second clock would still give the teams some time to set
up a shot or stall the ball in a close game. The NBA's 24
second shot clock does not provide for those tactics, but a
45-second clock would.
A second thing this writer would like to see would be a
change in the number of time outs allowed in a game.
Presently, each team gets five and can use them at their
discretion during a game. Frequently, a team will save
all of their time outs until the end of the game, then call
one after every score in an attempt to catch up.
Often a team behind 12 points will do the same thing,
prolonging a game by five to 10 minutes that has long
been decided. A more intelligent rule would do away with
the five time outs used at any point in the game — and
allow each team two or three time outs per half — like
football. This would speed up the game at the end. And
goodness knows, the ACC needs something to speed up
their games.
Maybe the league is trying to get Sominex to sponsor
their games.
BEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK: Phil Carter, basket
ball coach at Charleston (S. C.) Baptist College, after
being told he couldn't use a TV set to watch game tapes
until the secretaries in the athletic department office
finished watching the soap opera, "General Hospital."
"Who says college athletics don't have their priorities
right?"
Bill Hanzlik, a guard for Seattle of the NBA, was
shaken up in a game with Dallas and was dizzy. When
Hanzlik missed the free throws, he apologized to his
coach, Lenny Wilkens: "Sorry, but I aimed for the basket
in the middle."
Eagles Trip Northampton On Last Shot
Center Jerome Cooper
tapped in a missed shot
with two seconds left,
giving Warren County a
54-52 victory over visiting
Northampton County last
Friday night.
With David Henderson,
still sidelined with a
broken wrist, the 6-6
Cooper took control of the
boards, hauling down a
school-record 29 rebounds.
The Eagles, 5-2 in
Roanoke River play and
10-6 overall, used a
balanced scoring attack to
gain the win. Joe Greene
led the way with 11 points,
with Cooper, John Falcon,
and Kenny Crews chipping
in 10 points apiece. Mark
waHwgtnn added eight and
Robert Burchette four for
the Eagles.
Leading the Rams' scor
ing were Long with 20 and
Carlton with 12 points.
Cooper's shot capped a
stirring comeback for
Warren County, which
trailed 29-19 at the half.
The triumph was the
Eagles' second of the
season over Northampton
In December, the Eagles
nipped the Rams 67-64 in
Conway.
Girls' Game
Continuing their turn
around, Warren County's
girls took a hard-earned
44-41 win over the Lady
Rams. The win was the
fifth straight for the
Eagles, 41-29 losers at
Northampton earlier in the
season.
Angela Fleming again
led the Warren County
scoring, firing in 17 points.
Peggy Williams had eight,
Evontia Williams seven
and Sharon Smith added
six points for the winners.
The surging Eagles are
now 5-6.
Cathy Green led the
Rams with 16 points, while
all-star operative Angela
Warren County School Menus
Subject to change with
out notice.
Feb. 1-6
MONDAY - Fish
wich," cole slaw, French
fries, applesauce.
TUESDAY - Fiestada,
buttered corn, green
beans, peaches or plums.
WEDNESDAY - Vege
table-beef soup, crackers,
bologna-cheese sandwich,
trash apple.
THURSDAY - Pork
choppette, creamed
potatoes, green peas,
carrot strips, angel biscuit
FRIDAY — Lasagna,
shredded lettuce with
corn,
lenuce
buttered
All schools will be served
the same lunch menu, with
Norlina Middle School,
John Graham Middle
School and Warren County
High School having a
second choice.
Breakfast will be served
grades K4.
MONDAY - Cereal,
sliced peaches, milk.
TUESDAY-Pineapple,
breakfast rounds, juke,
milk.
WEDNESDAY — Bacon,
cheese toast, Juice, milk.
THURSDAY - Apple
turnover, fruit, milk.
FRIDAY — Cinnamon
toast, iaice, milk.
Daye added 15 points.
Northampton won the
junior varsity game, with a
52-45 win over the Baby
Eagles
Weather permitting, the
Eagles were scheduled to
journey to Northwest Tues
day night. Warren County
will return home Friday
night to meet North
Edgecombe, then will
travel to Weldon next
Tuesday night.
Henderson, out the past
six games with an injury,
is expected to return to
action this week, giving the
Eagles a much needed
boost. The 6-5 All-America
is averaging 25 points per
game in 10 games.
J. Graham, Norlina
Split Cage Twinbill
Kim Ward and Stanley
Jefferson tossed in ° 10
points apiece to lead
Norlina to a stirring 26-19
win over John Graham in a
middle school game Mon
day afternoon at the John
Grah&m Gymnasium.
Ward, a lanky southpaw,
picked up two fouls in the
first 45 seconds of the
game and rode the bench
until the second quarter.
But in the last 18 minutes
of the clash Ward scored 10
points and led the Blue
Waves' rebounding.
John Graham took an
early lead, but Norlina
used the shooting of
Jefferson to take • 9-8
halftime lead. The game
was razor close until Alan
Ellington hit a tree throw
with 1:30 left to ice the
victory. Ellington, Mark
Taylor, and Seward chip
ped in two each for the
Waves.
The taller Yellow Jack
ets were led by Dereck Als
ton with 10 and Bobby
M .hi "« ..- —»—
Kearney wun lour points
Dereck Greene ind Bennie
Perry had two each, while
Sean Moseley had one
point for the Jackets.
Girls'Game
John Graham hit their
first four shots of the
game, absorbed a Norlina
comeback, then went on to
score a 31-17 victory over
the Wavelettes.
The Yellow Jackets hit
four quick outside shots to
take an early 8-2 lead. But
Norlina came roaring back
to trim the margin to 14-13
at the half.
The Wavelettes then
grabbed a 15-14 lead in the
first minute of the second
half, but John Graham
quickly regained the lead
30 seconds later. From that
point Norlina went cold,
scoring Just two points in
the final II minutes of the
Angela Boyd led the
Jackets with eight points,
Nicole Tunstall had seven,
Fatima Crawford had six,
and Kim Dunstoo added
four for John Graham.
Shelia Justice and Pa
trina Crawford topped the
Wavelettes' scoring with
seven and four respective
ly
Halifax Club Takes
Battle Of Powers
ENFIELD - Warren
County's game with South
east Halifax was billed as a
"battle of the powers" in
the Roanoke River Confer
ence. But the "battle"
turned into a massacre for
the Eagles in the second
half, and southeast came
away with an easy 73-54
win.
Warren County, ranked
one notch above Southeast
in the polls, (in 9th place),
took command of the game
in the opening quarter,
blitzing to a 18-9 lead. But
from that point, Southeast
destroyed the Eagles,
outscoring the visitors
21-15 in the second quarter,
20-6 in the third, and 23-15
in the fourth quarter. The
last three periods showed
the dominance of South
east, with that big 64-36
scoring gap.
Joe Greene paced the
Eagles with 10 points,
Jerome Cooper had nine,
and John Falcon added
seven points. Cooper led
the Birds with 18 rebounds,
while Mark Ellington had
four assists.
Southeast, now 12-2, had
a three-man scoring ma
chine. Jones, with 22
points, McDaniels with 21,
and Cooper, with 19, paced
the winners. The loss was
the worst suffered by the
Eagles this year.
Eagles Cop Girls' Game
Coach Bob Lynch's Lady
Eagles, making a bigger
turnaround than the San
Francisco 49ers, held on
for a 57-54 win over a good
Southeast team.
Using their pressing
defense, the Eagles shot to
a 33-25 halftime lead.
Southeast then staged a
comeback, and took the
lead with just over two
minutes to play. But the
visitors put on one last
surge, and outscored
Southeast 7-2 during those
final two minutes.
Peggy Williams put
Warren County back on top
converting a three point
play that gave the Eagles a
one-point advantage with
two minutes left in the
contest.
Southeast went ahead
again, but with one minute
to play, Angela Fleming
scored on a follow shot to
give the Eagles the lead.
Warren County then stole
the ball with their press
and Jean Williams was
fouled. Williams made one
of two at the line,
extending the lead to two
points with 30 seconds
remaining. Sharon Smith
iced it with another free
throw with three seconds
left to give the Eagles their
fourth straight win.
"Our press had them
exhausted at the end and
that's why we won," said
Lynch. Warren County
forced 39 turnovers by
Southeast, but Eagle foul
problems kept the game
close.
Sharon Smith topped the
victors with 20 points and
five rebounds, while Flem
ing had 11 points. Peggy
Williams had nine points
and as many rebounds,
Jean Williams had eight,
Evontia Williams added
six, and Teretha Bullock
chipped in three points.
Southeast's Constance
Hunter, an All-East player
at Enfield last year, topped
all scorers with 30 points.
Angeia Hunter added 12 for
Southeast.
jayvees u»t Again
Southeast took the jay
vee preliminary game with
an 87-79 win over a gutsy
Eagle team. Warren Coun
ty outscored Southeast
30-27 in a wild fourth-quar
ter shoot-out, but couldn't
overcome an early deficit.
Amos Durham scored a
personal high 25 points for
the Birds, while Kenneth
Shaw and Phillip Austin
added 18 and 16 each.
Austin grabbed 17 re
bounds for WC, while
Durham had seven.
The jayvees are now
3-10, following this loss and
one to Northampton Fri
day night.
WCHS Highlights
By MARGARET FOSTER
The student body elected
class officers on Friday,
January 23. Freshman
class president is Pamela
White and there will be a
run-off for vice president
between April White and
Debbie Richardson.
Other officers are Sallie
Durham, secretary and
Floriece Davis, treasurer.
Hie sophomore class will
have a run-off for presi
dent between Acie Hen
drick and Almena Mayes.
Vice president is Donna
Capps, secretary is Angie
Carter and treasurer is
Robin Eaton. Kelly Red
cross was elected parlia
mentarian.
Junior class officers are:
Lisa Green, president;
Gail Ayscue, vice presi
dent; and Angela Fleming,
secretary. There will be a
run-off for treasurer be
tween Ivan Barnes and
Loria Dunston and a
run-off for parliamentar
ian between Ava Williams
and Brenda Hicks.
In the senior class, there
will be a run-off for
president between Mar
garet Foster and Mark
Ellington. Other officers
are: Charlie Fields, vice
president; Connie Fogg,
secretary; David Hender
son, treasurer; and
Stephen Jones, parliamen
tarian.
Run-off elections are
scheduled to be held this
week
On January 23, the
Carter G. Woodson Histor
ical Society presented a
film on Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. The film,
"Amazing Grace," recall
ed the important events in
the life of the slain civil
rights leader.
i
On Tuesday, January 26,
the Eagles travelled to
Northwest. The Eagles will
host the Rams of North
Edgecomb. Everyone is
asked to come out and
support the Eagles.
Local Students On List
A total of 24 Warren
County students earned
Dean's List status (or the
fall quarter recently ended
at Vance-Granville Com
munity College. To achieve
the distinction, students
must maintain grade point
averages of 3.2 or better
while taking at least 12
credit hours during the
entire quarter.
High-ranking students
from Warren County were
as follows: Warren too -
Sharmaine D. Bullock,
Wesley Williams, Rosa M.
Baskett, Linda A. Bunch,
On Dean's List
Charles Ellsworth Lyles,
Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs.
Charles E. Lyles of Macon,
has been named to the
Dean's List at North
Carolina State University.
Lyles is an electrical engi
neering major.
Tinny D. Perry, William H.
Green, Jr., Carolyn L.
King, Sara S. Pinnell,
Debbie H. Sipe, Madeline
McQueen, Iris F. Richard
son and Doris C. Williams;
Macon - Re nee Fincher
and John A. Richardson;
Manson - Carmen C. Bur
nett*, Brenda L. Clark and
Elizabeth Durham; Nor
Una - Charles P. Smiley,
Viselle Edwards, Delmar
R. Mason, Peggie E. Wil
liams, Clarence H. Roys
ter, Jr., Robert R. Thomas
and Joy Davenport.
Witchcraft
Jealousy, envy and "lots of
mother-in-law trouble" are cul
tural institutions for a Southern
Mexico Indian tribe. The Zoque
Indians accuse each other of
witchcraft for signs of afflu
ence, says an anthropologist
who has studied them 16 years.
Stuckey To Speak |
N. C. State Wolfpack line coach John Stuckey
will be the featured speaker at the February
meeting of the Eagles Club, to be held Monday
night at the Warren County High School Library
on U.S. 158.
Stuckey will give a talk on the recruiting in the
ACC, Wolfpack football, and may show a
highlight film. g
I
One target of the Pack's recruiting efforts is
.loe Greene, Warren County's All-East tailback,
who reportedly is leaning toward State at this
time. i;j
All local football fans are invited to hear
Stuckey speak Monday night. The meeting starts
at 7:30 p. m and will last for no more than one
hour. 1
Trimester System
Explained At Meet
Warren County High
School was the site of a
Title I ESEA Parent Ad
visory Council meeting on
Monday at 7 p. m. The
main focus of the meeting
was the explanation of the
'trimester* academic sys
tem used at Warren
County High by Benjamin
Terrell, principal.
Mrs. Audrey Davis, Title
I ESEA home-school coor
dinator, welcomed all
parents. In order to
acquaint all parents with
3ne another, they were
asked to introduce and
inform the other parents
about themselves. The
parents sharing in the
Introductions were Her
menia Davis, Norman
Hedgepeth, Kathleen Pas
chall, Travis and Judy
Pulley, Willie and Sarah
Brannock, Jeanette Crews,
Seorge E. and Bessie
Shearin, Veila Solomon,
Carolyn Williams and
leanetta K. West.
Ms. Davis went into
letail about the Title I
urogram at the high school
ind the Parent Advisory
Council component. She
encouraged all parents to
jecome involved in their
children's education even
hough many teenagers
;xpress negative feelings
vben parents become
nvolved in their school
ife. She admonished them
0 "Speak up when there is
1 concern. Talk to the
eachers, principal and
>ther parsons involved
vhen you have a concern,
rhey will only be solved
vhen all the persons
nvolved work them out
ogether."
Terrell explained the
trimester academic sys
tem after he was in
troduced by Mb. Davis,
rhe reasons given for the
Cage Schedules
Warren Comity Recreation
Men's Basketball Schedule
JuaaryM
1:00 Roaes vs. Black
Hawks
2 .00 Norlina vs Shoe Bam
3:00 DfcS vs Littleton
4:00 Club 43 vs Blue Mud
Warren Academy
Basketball Schedule
January 28
Hobgood Academy • away
5:00
Jaaaary 2»
Council Christian - Home
6:30
February 1
N.E.W. - Home 5:00
February 3
Enfield Academy * Away
5:00
implementation of the
trimester system were to
provide more time for
students to study in more
depth their subjects, ac
quire more units for'
graduation (possibly from
18-24), expose more stu
dents to extracurricular
activities by having them
at the end of the school day
instead of after school
when transportation would
be a problem and elimi
nate the possible need for
summer school. Students
would be able to obtain the
required units if there was
a failure in one 'trimester'
by retaking it the next tri
mester. The next trimester
could be spent on another
subject after the subject in
the previous trimester was
completed.
Terrell entertained
questions from the floor.
There was a lively ex
change of information in
which the parents gained a
greater understanding of
the working of the school.
Mrs. Jeanetta West, Dis
trict Advisory Council
Chairperson, encouraged
all the parents to get
involved in their children's
education and continue to
take an active role. Ms.
Davis expressed thanks to
the parents for taking the
time to attend the meeting
and agreeing to become
parent advisory council
members. The meeting
was adjourned and re
freshments were served.
Miss Richardson
Named Finalist
Zenia Richardson, 17,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Zollie Richardson, has
been selected as a finalist
in the 11th Annual Miss
North Carolina National
Teen-ager Pageant to be
held at Meredith College in
Raleigh on April 9,10, and
11.
Contestants will compete
(or 1750 cash, a $4,000
scholarship to Eckerd Col
lege in St. Petersburg,
Fla , a tuition scholarship
to Barbizon School, and an
all-expense paid trip to the
Miss National Teen-ager
Pageant, which is televis
ed.
Each contestant will
participate in the Com
munity Service Program
of the National
on i
poise, personality and
I