ttmndaj, Jaaaary 1, 1171. The Nevra Retard Fife I
1974 V- i975;CUTLOOK LIONS LONG ON TALENT
SHORT ON EXPERIENCE
' Special to Newg Record -
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ThrM of Man Hill College' best basketball players
graduated last spring.
All-time toortr and raboundar Jerry Hayai it teaching
and coaching at T.C. Robarton High School in Ashevilla.
All-star Uon canter Jot Bridget is trying to find a niche in
pro basketball at home or abroad. Versatile guard Kenny
Ward it seeking success in the business world.
And. Coach Jack Ly tton is preparing his fifth edition
of the Lions for the 1974-75 basketball season with the
four-year school's best, record-wise, year behind him.
"Our seniors (Hayes. Bridges and Ward) took most
of the responsibility on the court last year," said Lytton
of the team that posted a 21-16 overall mark and reached
the finals of the Carolines Conference Tournament and
made the NAIA District Six playoffs.
"This year, we're short on experience," admits the
personable, 32-year-old mentor. "When we look past Derek
Thomas, we don't really have anyone deep in experience in
four-year college basketball."
But Lytton had a good recruiting year and is looking
ahead with anticipation to the coming seeson which opens
with e Nov. 18 game egainst Lincoln Memorial University
in Harrogate, Tenn.
"With the talent we have on the squad, we--poten-tially
-should be as good as any team I've had at Mars Hill."
Mars Hill will start three returning lettermen along
with two prized recruits, one the Lions' first legitimate
big man in several years and one an all-state guard who has
been waiting in the wings after being red-shirted last season.
Jimmy Graves, a 6-6 sophomore from Cherryville, is
the most talented of the returning lettermen and will start
at one forward position.
"Graves had an outstanding freshman year," said
Lytton of his cager's 13.2 scoring average and 7.2 rebound
ing. 'We're expecting en even better sophomore season."
"Jimmy has an outstanding shooting touch. He has a
good move inside and a good jump shot outside. Graves
could be stronger on the boards but he is the best defensive
player on the team," the coach continued.
"With the pace he set last year he could become the
school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder."
Graves' 489 points and 270 rebounds gave him a
good start toward Hayes' four-year standards of 1845
markers and 954 caroms.
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"Jimmy also could become Mart Hill's first player
to score a career high of over 2,000 points and 1,000
rebounds in four years, barring injury or something un
foreseen," his coach noted. "We are expecting great things
from him."
Teaming with Graves in the frontcourt will be 6-4
12 senior Mike Earwood of Ashevilla. Earwood transferred
to Mart Hill last year after playing junior college ball in
Florida. The A.C, Reynolds High product was a periodic
starter, averaging 7.3 points his first season.
"Mike's play in practice has been consistent this
year," Lytton evaluated, "which is something he lacked
last year. He seems to be back playing well."
"In preseason shooting in scrimmages, Mike is hitting
over 60 per cent from the floor. He has good strength and
jumping ability. Ha can go to the boards and be a strong
rebounder, but sometimes he doesn't have the tendency to
crash as much as he should."
Carlos Showers, a 6-11 sophomore from Mobile, Ala.,
is the starting center and his height alone brings a grin to
Lytton's boyish face. Showers tr rred to Mars Hill
(lr) Derek Thomas, Mike Earwood, Jimmy Graves, Carlos Showers, Eddie Taylor, and (kneeling center) Coach Jack Lytton.
THE LIONS DJEN
MARS HILL COLLEGE
1974-75 Basketball Roster
YRS
NAME POS NO HEIGHT WEIGHT CLASS LETTERED AGE HOME TOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Derek Thomas G 10 5'6" 150 SR 2 21 Canton, NC Pisgah High
Larry Steppleton G 14 6'2" 160 SO 0 30 Canton, NC Bethel High
Harry Marsh G 21 5'9" 165 JR 0 20 Miami, F L Miami Springs Sr High
Jimmy Graves F 22 6'6" 164 SO 0 19 Cherryville. NC Cherryville High
Pat Lanning G 24 6'1" 155 JR 0 21 Hendersonville, NC Hendersonville High
Don Cole C 30 6'9" 180 JR 1 20 Hampton, VA Kecoughtan High
Ben Wax G 32 5'10" 150 FR 0 19 Franklin. NC Franklin High
Buford Cole F 34 67'," 200 FR 0 19 Mountain City, TN Johnson County High
Bruce Murray G 40 6'0" 167 SR 1 21 Mars Hill. NC Mars Hill High
Jimmy Dalton F 42 6'5" 195 FR 0 19 Asheville, NC T C Roberson High
Eddie Taylor G 44 6'2" 180 JR 0 22 Cullowhee, NC Cullowhee High
Mike Earwood F 50 6'4'A" 202 SR 0 22 Asheville, NC A C Reynolds High
Carlos Showers C 52 6 11" 210 SO 0 19 Mobile, AL Davidson High
John Byrd F C 54 6'4'T 225 JR 0 21 Durham. NC Durham High
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after an Wury-plagued career at an Arkansas junior college.
"I have never had a man that big," he smiles, "but
Carlos needs to be more consistent in his overall play
including rebounding, passing and shooting.
"At times, he is real strong off the boards and is
showing improvement almost daily in his overall play.
Carlos has the potential to become an outstanding big
man."
At one guard position is the other big-catch junior
college transfer. Eddie Taylor of Cullowhee. The 6-2
junior led Cullowhee High to a state championship along
with his all-state honors. After a year at Western Carolina
University, he transferred to Brevard Junior College where
he had an outstanding career.
With Ward, Thomas and a strong cast of guards,
Lytton redshirted Taylor last season. "Eddie is ready to
play now and the layoff hasn't hurt in that respect," Lytton
noted. "He is in good form and is working hard on his
defense.
"He has a good outside shot and takes the ball to the
basket well."
The other guard is 5-6 Derk Thomas nut of Pisoah
4
"Returning Lettermen
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Were right here all run of cheer . . .
to wish our friends a great New Year!
May you hare peace. . .joy . . .contentment.
..t..w,i I ........ ,1 s,..,r.J
High in Canton. The senior crowd-pleaser was forced into
limited action last year, missing the first half of the season
due to a stint of military reserve duty and then suffered a
broken hand upon his return.
Thomas did key the Lions' drive in late season with
sparkling play-making, aggressive defense and 71 timely
points and 37 assists. "His greatest assets are his quickness
and speed," adds Lytton. "He also has the ability to hit
the outside shot and to find the open man with passes.
"He's the key to our team at the guard position and
is the only player with a lot of senior college playing
experience."
So Lytton feels "that coming up short on experience
could hurt us some until we get real experience under fire
with responsibility."
Lytton also will return to a "true two guard" offen
sive system after running a point guard or one-four
alignment last year.
"We ran the big guard system with Graves or Ward
running the offense. This season will have a two guard
front and run a 2-1-2 set."
He feels Showers can take up the reboundinq slack,
which Bridges, len, oy getting as many rebounds or more
than Bridges did. "But in scoring, we don't have a player
to take up the slack," added Lytton. "Bridges, Hayes and
Ward dominated the scoring together.
"Hopefully, the whole crew can spread out the points
and take up the scoring slack."
Offensively, Lytton indicated the Lions will not take
the ball inside as much until Showers becomes more adept
in scoring. "We will not be going inside as much as we did
last year to Bridges, but we will continue to run. We may
change our offensive strategy if we can't get the ball off the
board consistently."
Defensively, the Lions' forte is undetermined before
the opening tipoff. "We have been working with zones
more than in past and until we settle on our best defense
our opponents will see more defenses from us this year."
In the reserve ranks, 6-9 junior Don Cole from Hamp
ton, Va., will spell Showers. "Don is vastly improved and
should see a lot of action, Lytton says, "but he still needs
weight and stamina."
Jimmy Dalton, a 6-5 freshman out of Roberson High
in Asheville, is the first-line forward sub. "Jimmy is a fine
outside shooter with good quickness and handles the ball
well for a man his size," the coach says.
Pat Lanning, a 6 1 junior from Hendersonville, gives
the Lions good depth at guard. "Pat has good hustle and
quickness on defense," Lytton said. "He helped in situa
tions last year when we were behind and had to have the
ball. He is playing more under control in preseason drills,
which was his weakness last year."
Bruce Murray, a 6-0 senior guard from Mars Hill,
gives the Lions steadiness and consistency and more depth
in the backcourt. Other guards that could see playing time
are Harry Marsh a 5-9 junior from Miami, Fla.; Larry
Steppleton, a 6-2 sophomore from Canton; and Ben Wax,
a 5-10 freshman from Franklin.
John Byrd, a 6-4 12 junior transfer from Chowan
Junior College via Durham, and Buford Cole, a 6-7 12
I freshman from Mountain City, Tenn., add good potential
depth at forward.
mf Best wishes to all our
f . Mends and neighbors.
Have a good year.
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Marshall
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W kop every atay brings fom success
net kappinm.' Tkmmki for your pmtroneg.
V
f'ArWt
(LR) Carlos Showers and Derek Thomas
tUWNlaR
jmm i k J
To our many friends and
patrons, sincere thanks
and beat holiday wuhea.
Sandra Sprinkle
Danny Moore
Jim Sprinkle
Nola Davis
T.F. Sams
Calvin Brown
Fain Sprinkle
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