Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Nov. 21, 1985, edition 1 / Page 25
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Troion "I BY JOHNNY CRAIG West Brunswick has won outright and shared the Three Rivers 3-A Conference basketball championship the past two seasons while having reached the district playoffs for three straight years. However, "that was then, this is now" (the current popular movie title ) may indicate that life at the top of the league may be a little rougher for the Trojans. For the first time in school history. West Brunswick has dropped in classification to the 2-A ranks but by a no means will the competition get any easier. V .. *-.1 ? v UJI uvn auvtcuiui 1.1 If 1 rujuns will be this season depends on how E\ soon head coach Ronnie Champion is able to find a half-dozen players who can play together and work well as a I team. Although the majority of the 16 players on the roster have been in the basketball program for three to four years and know Champion's system, the seventh-year coach faces what wiii probaoiy be his biggest E, rebuilding task since coming to West Brunswick. "We have been practicing and working hard for nearly three weeks now and 1 believe the players are doing their best, but we're just not mentally ready," said a concerned Champion. "We practice here in the West Brunswick gym every day. Our concentration must be in some other gym some place else. I just hope we K- can get the two together in time for : next week's opener." The key to West Brunswick's |f season Is finding six or seven players Bjfe, who can work together and, accorF ding to Champion, the sooner these players emerge, the better. "The problem is that we don't have anyone back who has played together cat* uuu inuv.ll, ."HlIU V I Mil I IJJIWII. While personnel appears to be a problem. Champion states that the Trojans' outside shooting is much improved over last year. "In past years we were rather Lac BY JOHNNY CRAIG A quicker, deeper West Brunswick lady Trojans team appears set to improve upon last season's 11-1! record with hopes of landing in the district playoffs for the second k straight year. The blend of four returning starters along with three veterans '} and a trio of impressive newcomers has given West Brunswick coach Ronnie Jenkins high hopes of improvement. "Things arc going real good for us thus far. We are a good deal quicker compared to last year and appear to have added depth," said Jenkins "Should several freshmen come around and develop we could go possibly nine or 10 girls deep." Returning to lead the way us senior Sheila Johnson, a 5-foot-10 forward who averaged 19 ppg last year and had a season-high 33 points against Clinton. Johnson is a two-tirne AllThree Rivers Conference selection and will be counted on heavily for both scoring and rebounding. Also returning is center Jane Gause 5-01 who averaged 4 ppg last season Gause also had a season-high 1 mile sooth of Shallotte Hwy 17 754 6373 ! Your Complel And Gro NOW BUYING: C f i s In Search strong inside and were between fair and so-so from the outside. This season will be the opposite since we are definitely not powerful underneath the basket." West Brunswick's fortunes will lie in the hands of five seniors and a junior who will likely sec plenty of playing time. Guards Chris Johnson (jr.) returns with a 3.3 ppg (points per game) scoring average from a year ago including a season high 11 points against state 2-A runnerup White ville. Scott Street (5-10) will likely be at wing where he averaged 3.2 ppg last KEEP AWAY?West Brunswick lo (with ball I looks (or an open passln guarded by Randy Brown (left). T Jv Trojans' l m w 11 points against Clinton and will be the I.ady Trojans' main inside cog. Forward Cameilla Hill and wing Julie Benton are also returning starters. Hill (5-10) will need to improve upon a 1.4 ppg scoring average from last year while Benton, who grew an inch over the offseason to 5-9, will be an outside threat and will surpass her 1.4 ppg average of last season Jackie Evans (5-0, guard), Ann Stanley (5-7, forward) and Dorothy Core 15-7, wing) saw considerable action last season and will be depended upon for depth. Top newcomers include three freshmen guards?Geraldine Hill, Kathy McMullen and Suzanne Evans. Rounding out the lady Trojans' roster are guards Penelope and Prtscilla Tippett and forwards Shannon Bardon and Unda Knop Although Jenkins feels that this eoiuon ot me lady Trojans may not be the best he's had while coaching at West Bninswirk. the potential to be vastly improved over last season Is there. I It's Time For Fall Landscaping In Stock: PE Dutch Bulbs I Shrubs I Tropical Plants I Ornaments Hanging Baskets I Orchids Fall Spec,a! Fern Baskets"? e Form Center in Market orn and Soybeans * BASKETBALL I rv Mi w %W Wl Wj year and was a consistent scorer in every game he played. Tr Gary Gore (forward), the tallest av Trojan at 6-footO and an All-Three ye Rivers Conference honnrahle men- ?s tion selection from last year, will be 1 counted to improve upon his 2.9 ppg po average of 1984-85. of Aiding Gore in the middle will be tri Curtis Hill, a 6-2 forward who saw only limited playing time last season. gu Michael Johnson, quarterback of wi the Trojan football team this fall, se returns at wing. Johnson averaged a mere 1.3 ppg last year but had a ba season high 10 points against Hog- on gard. ba riHHr rward Gary Gore ding ro-champion* id g lane while being open the season at Ik tie Trojans, dcten[(POfll Jf* Wnn< ? ? ^ "We have the ability to go much further than we did last year. We finished third in the Three Rivers Conference u year ago but were knocked from the district playoffs in . the first round," said Jenkins. "We look for a longer season this go around." "Our defense is much stronger. U Due to our quickness we will tie able to play more man-to-man rather than P rely on a zone defense." "Our offense Is still a little weak but 1 feel it will come around by the time the season begins," added Jenkins. The Waceamaw Conference will Inone of the toughest in the state according to Jenkins with the winner having a chance to go all the way to the 2-A finals. "There are about five teams that have a chance to finish in the top three and make the playoffs. I feel we h have a good chance with South Robeson, West Columbus, Kast Bladen and North Brunswick all be ing In contention." "We Just need to Improve on our , overall game We have a tough early I nonconference schedule against Topsail and Hoggard Hopefully this will groom us Into playoff contenders and I In the thick of the conference race " I IRA? ! Check with State Farm GoWas tfyfrfJ t lnrcyr*r 'J Prerruvrr fcr Os+C'trty CjouO So/vic* _ W> H?, 17 I 5- ' k p.o. ??i ;i mm rj mam '***2 DWIGHT FLANAGAN ? J r" - ir? a H a JaW ' * .< 'Wff* ' 'jr'cmr-, REVIEWS I V/ L/U I I IU I Icff Marlowe (5-6) is another top ojan guard prospect. Marlowe eraged only a point per contest last ar but drew several starting signments near midseason. Marlowe has gained nearly 10 unds from a year ago with the help an extensive off-season weight lining program. l'op newcomers to the team Include ard Craig Johnson (5-6, jr.), forird Donnie Vanstcen (6-6, jr.) and nior Derek Long. l.ong is in his first year playing skelball while having been an tstanding shortstop on the Trojan iseball team. MlHi < JH MAI I FMOIOQV K>MNNT ( *AIO the old Three Klvrni Conference, line Tuendnv iicoIiihI Tumuli ?s Ride Or ffijL' v ' ' * H s |B V WL, l\i ki 'KKI'AKK FOR OPKNKR?< ii? [or* up lor a lay up brtwrrn Htunoo What Brunswn 1 i fin ?ifM I <pL * f tfZZS +T *c JUST CAU: D*y(919)642 6902 ^ Mi?fct(919)6S3 2969 (Ti BECKS THR BRUNSWICK BEACON, Th U Kl~ 1 A 11 i vuw Rounding out the roster is a group of juniors and seniors who will also be counted upon to contribute. Providing backup at post will be Randy Brown (sr.). Jeff O.emmcns (sr.) and Justin Turner (jr.) while Shane Hardee (sr.), Raymond Green (jr.), Hugh Price (jr.) and Joey Stanaland (sr.) will be at wings. While there may be a number of questions concerning experience, the Trojans gameplan will continue as in years past?pressure defense and fast-paced offense. "Our teams have always performed much better when running rather tlum playing a set-up. methodical style brand of basketball," said Champion. "We will continue to use lots of movement on offense and con centrate on getting the hall up the court." Pressure will he the key to the Trojan defense with Champion preferring a zone rather than inun-to-nuin. "We looked better out of a zone defense last year but the five years prior we played mostly man-to-man. In our style of defense, everybody plays practically every position so regardless of what we run, there will be lots of pressure." The Trojans were scheduled to scrimmage 4-A K.A. Uiney in Wilmington on Tuesday and Champion had hopes that the preseason matchup would answer a lot of questions. "I hope our game at laney will help wake us up and make its award that just because we won or shared the conference championship the past two years, it doesn't mean repeating will 1m- an autonuitic thing for this season." Champion sees the new Waecainaw Conference as a strong league with Whiteville, East Dladen and West Columbus as the teams to beat. "I think this league will be tougher than the Three Rivers Conference. Thorn urn mnrn ? ??<! ?iu. ty of competition Is higher." There will lx* no post-xcn.son touri Speed, De| mC? W41 Ilia Hill (with ball) Kathy MrMttlU-n n Rardon (left) and >ea?on Tueaday i :k County needed. 7 a _ vHUBBB _ ^ ULLY EQUIPPED fRU RAINED, EXPERIENC OMPLETE ROAD SER HYDRAULIC REPAIRS RUCKS BULLDOZERS. LOADER2 EQUIPMENT ursday, November 21, 1985?Page 9-B o I I\UI ir\a nament to decide playoff berths but rather the top three teams in the regular season advancing to the district playoffs. Newcomers to the Trojans nonconference schedule will be Topsail and Myrtle Beach. S.C. West Brunswick continues to play Hoggard in nonconference action and w ill again hast its annual Christmas tournament Dec. 27-28. Participating in this year's tourney with the Trojans will be South Brunswick, Acme-Deleo and East Montgomery. East Montgomery is located near Mount Gilcad and Is coached by former UNC-Wilmington standout Bobby Martin. Champion has compiled a 109-49 record while at West Brunswick with Trojan teams also capturing two conference championships and four district appearances. 1985-86 West Brunswick Trojans ltnskethall Schedule !)nte Opponent Nov. 20 t opsau Dec. li lloKK'inl Dec. 13 at lloKKard Dec. 14 Myrtle Beach, SC Dec. 16 at Topsail Dec. 20 Whttevtlle* Dec. 27-28 Trojan Christmas Tournament Jan. 3 at East Bladen* Jan. 7 at Fairmont* Jan. 10 South Hobeson* Jan. 11 at Myrtle Beach Jan. 14 at North Brunswick* Jan. 17 at West Columbus* Jan. 24 South Brunswick* Jan. 28 East Bladen* Jan. 31 at Whitcville* Feb 4 Fairmont* Feb. 7 at South Hobeson* Feb. 11 North Brunswick* Feb. 14 West Columbus* Feb, 18 at South Brunswick* denotes Waccamaw 2-A Conference nil lues AM khincs Im'hIii lit 5 p.m. In order of junior varsity, K'rls nnd boys. The noneonfcrence name witli Myrtle Bench will bcKln at 0-:i0 p.m. without a J.v. contest. pth M MM* FMOfOftf ft A*, (right) I he fjidy Trojan* open tbrlr it home mffjiifiat TocmbaII now if has. . . 4 BHHHHBpSBEto . CKS ED MECHANICS VICE < S &. DRAGLINES. ETC ) 5 ' t SERVICE | WM.iu.ji.
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 21, 1985, edition 1
25
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75