Page 3, THE PILOT, Gardner-Webb College, March 1, 1972
PILOT
SPORTS
Playoffs Ahead:
By RICHARD GRANi
o the Webb and will n
;o much to the Webb.
Bulldogs End Regular
Season 26-3
When it comes time for graduation and diplomas are passed out,
four senior cagers will be leaving us that can never be replaced: Richard
Thomas, George Adams, Denny DeSanctus, and Tony Spagnola.
The Big Four has inspired us all with their amazing shots, passes,
hooks, dribbles, and all out hustle. They have helped bring Gardner-
Webb into the limelight of national recognition and have succeeded in
letting second rate opponents know where Gardner-Webb was at! For
after facing the Big Four there was little doubt in anyone’s mind about
GW.
Take George Adams for example, a 6-5 senior from Kings Moun
tain who was named the First Team Alli-American to the NAIA as well
as to the first team of the Basketball Writers of America College Divi
sion All-American.
His record for this season through 22 games reveals his ability. He
has 311 field goals out of 475 attempts for a 65.5%, 132 free throws out
of 182 attempts for a 72.5%, and 313 rebounds for a 14.2 per game
average. George has poured in a total of 754 points for a 34.3 per game
average. George had his biggest night against Voorhees with 57 points.
He is a Physical Education major.
Richard Thomas is a 6-2 senior from Chicago Heights, Illinois. He
has been named to several all-tournament teams during his three years
at Gardner-Webb. He played his freshman ball with Roberts Morris
Junior College.
His record for this season through 22 games reveals 132 field goals
out of 260 attempts for a 50.8%, 68 free throws out of 286 attempts for
79%, 86 rebounds for a per game average of four and has scored 334
points for a 15.2 average.
Thomas has been almost irreplaceable for the Bulldogs this season.
He has played almost every position and has done an exceptional job.
He recently received the Shelby Chamber of Commerce Merit Award
for 1972 in basketball.
Tony Spagnola has also been instrumental in Gardner-Webb’s suc
cess on the hardwood. “Spag” has played hard for the Webb for four
years and has proved his worth time and time again. “Spag” is the kind
of player that makes things happen.
At present, “Spag” has played 22 ball games and scored 303 points.
He has hit 131 field goals from 262 attempts for 50%. He has also hit
41 of 66 free-throw attempts. “Spag” averages 13.8 points a game.
"Spag” was also the recipient of the Karl Neilson award last year.
He is from Patterson, New Jersey and is a Physical Education major.
Last but not least is Dennis DeSanctis from Trenton, New Jersey
who has been the Bulldog’s point man. Denny transferred from Mercer
Junior College his junior year to play for the “Dogs.” Denny related to
the PILOT that it was one of the best decisions he had ever made. He
stated that Coach Holbrook has added greatly to his playing ability and
is grateful for being able to play for such a man as Coach Holbrook.
Denny can add spirit to a drive with his forceful style of play. He
is quick as a snake and handles the ball superbly.
At present Denny’s record shows 39 of 97 field goal attempts for
40.3%. He made 32 of 48 free-throw attempts for 67.8%. DeSanctis is
also accredited with 41 rebounds and has scored a total of 109 pomts
for a 6.8 average. Denny is a Physical Education i
The Big Four have given their best I
totally replaced.
Thanks fellows, for adding s
Gardner-Webb College, the na
tion’s top scoring basketball team,
a member of the National Associa
tion of Intercollegiate Athletics,
ended their regular season on a
winning note by defeating Western
Carolina University at Charlotte
Coliseum 109-85, February 23. The
BY CAROL GARRETT
Bulldog’s record
NAIA record of 20-3.
Remaining in the third slot in
the NAIA standings, the Bulldogs
will now prepare for the District
26 playoffs to be held on March
7-8 at a site to later be decided.
The Bulldogs who have been
led for the past three seasons by
All-American George Adams, are
leading the nation in winning mar
gin at 24.4 and total offense at a
109.9 clip.
Adams is third in individual
scoring in the NAIA at 34.3 and
also is pulling down 14 rebounds
per contest. He pumped 45 points
and 22 rebounds in the season
finale against Western Carolina.
Richard Thomas added his ca
reer high of 27 points also against
Western. Thomas is averaging at
15 points, Tony Spagnola is at 13.8
and Kirby Thurston at 10 points
Coach Eddie Holbrook’s men
have a big task set out for them at
this stage. The Bulldogs will have
a week and a half to prepare for
the District 26 playoffs. The suc
cess in the playoffs will determine
their chances of the National Tour
nament to be played in Kansas
City, Missouri on March 13-18.
The PILOT congratulates the
Bulldogs on their success this sea
son and future success in the play
off season!
while At
Intramurals
Golf Team Practices
Tryon, N. C. Wofford always !
ages to field a strong team
will undoubtedly provide stiff
The Gardner-Webb Golf team
which finished last year fifth in
the NAIA are now in practice. Al
though the team lacks in the skills
of All-American Terry Florence it
“till possesses many talents which Campbell and Slippery Rock.
These three schools will provide
the Bulldogs with hardy competi
tion. They also finished in the top
the last year along with Gardner-
Webb. The fighting Bulldogs will
also be involved in two Invita
tional Tournaments of great pres
tige involving such schools as
use, Furman, Clemson, and a
host of others.
This year’s team is composed of
Mike Steward, Jack Moore, Gary
Dobbins, John Kyle, John Kirk-
1, Sam Mattison, Bob Florence,
The Gardner-Webb Women’s In
tramurals are in full swing. At
present basketball is in the lime
light with four teams competing
for the championship. These teams
are composed of the representa
tives of the female dorms and fe-
The Day Students and Hapy
_ Dorm were locked in a tie with
Other schools scheduled are fiye games each. The champion-
■ • —■ " ' gj^jp February 24.
The Men’s Basketball Tourna
ment was held on March 1 and 2.
Future events include a Free
Throw Contest which involves
shooting 25 free throws from the
foul line and a Badminton Tour
nament. The Badminton Tourna
ment will consist of both mixed
Doubles and Regular Doubles (fe
male players only).
Also a Sports Day is in the mak
ing whereby the local high schools
will compete at Gardner-Webb.
The events will be softball and
are capable of winning.
The Golf team will match their
skills against Wofford on March
17, at the Red Fox Golf Course at
Baseball Season
Ahead
Spring is right around the corner
and with it the baseball team is
preparing for its’ season ahead.
The team is faced with its’ tough-
est schedule yet. Such power hous- Benny Adams, Richard Schultz - -- - v, , r, , ,„jii v,o
3 High Point College, Catawba and Kim Washburn. The coach volleyball. The Sports Day will
■ for the golf team is Dr. Garland sponsored by Women s Intramurals
Allen. GW.
College, and UNC-Wilmignton i
scheduled.
Coach Bryson is very optimistic
and has an intense confidence in
his aspiring ball club. He believes
that the team will prove their
worth in the season ahead. Bryson
feels that lack of depth will pose
the greatest problem this season
to his team. Also Roger McSwain,
who was one of the leading hit
ters with 13 homers and an aver
age of .405, recently signed a
Outstanding Players
Entering Bulldog Lineup
One of the most outstanding
high school football players in
South Carolina, John Keasler, Jr.,
Union High School running back,
has been signed to a grant-in-aid
fessional contract with the Chicago by Gardner-Webb College.
G-W’s four senior nefters: Denny DeSanctis, George Adams, Tony Spag
nola and Richard Thomas.
Aaams “Pizza Hut
Classic” Nominee
e Sox. Bryson regretted losing
such a valuable player but is glad
that Roger has such an opportu-
The pitching staff is not as
strong as in the past but is suffici
ently manned ti
Keasler was named the most
outstanding player of the Shrine
Bowl team. He ran once tor 56
yards in the game and his 12 yard
scamper set up the winning field
goal.
Conover was NW Conference
champion this past Fall.
Also added to the Bulldog ranks
was a Concord grid star, Andy
Price, of N. W. Cabarrus High
School. Price was an offensive
guard and defensive end on the
Concord team and made the all-
conference team his senior year.
He is six feet tall and weighs 180
pounds.
■■ North
ning season. Bobby Lail, who has led his high school
never lost a college game, will be season and the State AAAA cham-
the backbone of the pitching staff, pionship. He gained 1682 yards
Other pitchers include David Wil- an dscored 16 touchdowns and
The 180 pound running back Carolina high school grid star,
' ■ " Steve Spencer of Canton, has also
signed with Gardner-Webb. Coach
George Litton of the G-W Bulldog
Gardner-Webb’s All - American
George Adams, 6-5 senior from
Kings Mountain, is one of five
North and South Carolina cagers
to be nominated to play in the
annual Pizza Hut Basketball Clas
sic in Las Vegas. April 15.
of the University of South Caro-
Eight of the final 110 members
will be determined by a popular
'ith the ballots being dis-
liams and Johnny Phillips.
There are three freshman who
are expected to add much strength
to the team. One is Gary Robin
son, a high school stand-out at
Garinger High in Chariotte. Robin-
vote witn me oauui!, ucuib ,
tributed by Pizza Huts throughout the Bulldogs Other include Char-
j r.rpsn in the outfield, and
Adams has been nominated- j.o„,n,ittee.
bers will be chosen by an advisory
along with 37 other players
of the Mississippi to play in me
game.
Others nominated include Bill
Chamberlain and Dennis Wuycik,
both of the University of North
Carolina; Elmer Austin, North
Carolina A & T and Tom Riker
The NCAA and the NAIA sanc
tioned game is sponsored by the
Pizza Hut Charities Foundation,
Inc., and net proceeds of the
game will go to Wichita University
and Marshall University, whose
athletic programs were victims of
air crashes in 1970.
points his senior year. His
102 points were high in the state.
For his effort Keasler was named
to his all-conference team, all
district, all-area, and All-South
--0 Carolina. He was also chosen as
will be the starting catcher for WBT-TV Player of the Week,
Spartanburg Herald Player of the
Week (three times), and Green
ville News Player of the Week.
Another player signing a grant-
in-aid recently was an all North
western Conference linebacker,
Marcus Trivette of Newton-Conov-
er High School. Trivette is six feet
and weighs 190 pounds. He was
co-captain of his high school
Tre Green in the outfield, and
Rihcard Wofford and David Rog
ers splitting third base.
Richard Wofford is also an out
standing football player. He is a
fine athlete and will add much to
the Bulldog style of play.
The baseball team also has an
abundance of talent in Larry Le-
croy and Gary Wiley.
1972 the year of the Dogs!
said that Spencer, a 5-11, 185
pound guard could play both ways.
He was the only player on the
Pisgah Senior High School team to
play both ways for the Bears. The
Bears won the STATE AAA grid
title this past season.
An Asheville high school prep
star, Billy Britt, of Reynolds High
School, has signed a grant-in-aid
to attend this college. Young Britt,
a 6-1, 180-pound defensive back,
was an all-Buncombe County per
former and a starter on the Rey
nolds team for the past two foot
ball seasons. As a defensive back
last year he made 48 tackles and