n Pat’s Peckings By NEALE PATRICK Six Big Years For Mountaineers The Mountaineers have put away their football duds on another season, and another successful one, too, as you are well aware. In fact, the 1960 season climaxed a half-dozen years of gridiron success here, during which time the Mountaineers have been the most successful football team in the South west Conference. Just consider these facts in cementing the bold statement that Kings Mountain is the six-year pace-setter in the circuit. (1) —The Mountaineers have finished either first or sec ond, or tied for one of the top two positions, in each of the last six grid seasons. No other Southwest team can make that statement. (2) —The Mountaineers, also, have won the most games and have the best winning percentage in the Southwest Conference during the same half-dozen autumn cam paigns. Investigating these upper-echelon records more close ly, we take note that the Mountaineers staked a claim on the top berth in three seasons, and finished second three other times. The local grid lads won two Southwest crowns (1955 and 1956) and tied for the top berth in 1959. They claimed runner-up spot all alone this year and in 1958 and tied for second in the 1957 season. The string of championship or runner-up seasons* started in 1955, and continued in 1956, when the Mountain eers won the Southwest crown in consecutive seasons un der Shu Carlton, his final two years here, as a matter of fact. Titles have passed us by since then, but the Moun taineers have come close so many times that it has left a lingering and loathesome taste. As you know, Shelby “booted” Kings Mountain out of the title in 1957 and 1958, winning the first season by the margin of the extra point and the next campaign by a field goal. The Mountaineers mortal enemy for the past two sea sons has been Lincolnton which has handed our side their lone lickings of the 1959 and ‘60 sessions, both by identical 7-0 scores. Best Won-Lost Mark In Southwest Now, let’s consider this other matter of the Mountain eers’ top-drawer gridiron rating. Kings Mountain’s football boys have posted the best six-year record in the SWC, 27 wins, five losses and six ties, an average of .789. These figures are for Conference games, only. The victory total and the percentage are tops for the eight teams in the circuit, with only Shelby in shouting distance. The Cleveland County neighbors have a six-year rec ord of 24 wins, ten losses, and four ties, an average of .684. No other team in the circuit has won as many as 20 Conference games in the half-dozen seasons, Lincolnton moving into third place in the six-year standings as result of its title season this autumn. The Wolves have won 19, lost 14 and tied five in the stretch. R. S. Central and Belmont rate next in the six-year standings, with 17 wins each, followed by Forest City with 12 victories and Cherryville with nine. Chase has won one game in its two years in the circuit. The six-year standings for Southwest Conference teams: Team Kings Mountain Shelby Lincolnton R. S. Central Belmont Forest City Cherryville Chase* Won 27 24 19 17 17 12 9 1 Lost 5 10 14 17 17 24 24 13 Tied Pet. 6 .789 4 5 4 4 2 5 0 .684 .566 .500 .500 .342 .303 .071 (*—Chase entered Conference in 1959). (Following WNCHSAA policy, ties count as half-a win and half-a-loss in computing percentages). Two Undefeated Seasons In Span The Mountaineers also claim another distinction in the six-year records, being the only team during the span with two undefeated seasons. Kings Mountain did not lose a Conference game in either of the league title years of ‘55 and ‘56, although having one tie each season. Lincolnton this year and Forest City, also in 1955, are the only other Southwest Conference teams to post unde feated marks for a single season. Forest City and KM tied for the top in ‘55, with the Mountaineers winning the play off game. In connection with that playott business, it mignt he noted that the record totals above do not include any play off games, either with other Southwest clubs to settle a title, or against Northwest neighbors in Association play offs. The Mountaineers pair f' moiwtaineersT * " ” of undefeated campaigns * yfar fitroiin came at the beginning S ™ T Prt. of the successful six- 1955 5 0 1 917 year stretch, thus, the 1956 5 0 1 ^917 five losses have been 1957 4 2 0 667 suffered in the past four 195g 3 1 2 667 years. Kings Mountain 1959 4 j 2 714 lost two league games in 6 i o 857 1957, and has lost only __ one in each of the last totals 27 5 6 .789 three seasons. L , ,r , . r ___. r r r r r, * The accomphnying box shows the Mountaineers’ six year record in compiling the best won-lost mark in the Conference. The five defeats in the half-dozen years have been in flicted by three teams — Shelby twice ( in ‘57 and ‘58), Lincolnton twice (in ‘59 and ‘60) and R. S. Central once (‘57). MOUNTAINEERS 6-YEAR RECORD Season 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 TOTALS W 5 5 4 3 4 6 L 0 0 2 1 1 1 Pet. .917 .917 .667 .667 ,714 .857 27 5 6 .789 Punch Parker On Observer's Second All-State Punch Parker has added “all state” ito his growing list of foot ball laurels. The Mountaineers’ prize half back was named in the second all-state backfield selected and announced by The Charlotte Ob server on Sunday. The all-state recognition is another in the lengthy list of grid honors for (the 165-pound halfback. Earlier he had been named to the All-Southwest Con ference team, acclaimed the leading scorer in the league and for all schools in the Gaston - Oleveland-and-Lincoln County area, and on Thanksgiving Day was named the most outstand ing back in the annual Lions Bowl game at Forest City. Parker was the only Southwest Conference player named on the first three all-state teams pick ed by The Observer. He also rated another distinc tion in being selected to the sec ond all-state backfield. He is the only one among the eight backs on the first two teams who was not also picked to the North Car olina Shrine team . .. indicating the high regard. Parker is ac corded, although overlooked by the Shrine selection committee. Parker was named in the sec ond team backfield* with Ring Tripplet of Boone, Brandley O wen of Brevard and Gene Ken nedy of Concord. All three of those backs were named to the Shrine squad. The entire first team back field also was selected for Sat urday’s big prep game in Char lotte, including Gary Black of Charlotte Garinger, Ronnie Tut hilll of Rockingham, Gene Isen hour of Hickory and Jerry Hun eycutt of Winston Salem Gray. Grovei Girls Post Victory Gloria Huffstetler and Linda Eaker tossed in 23 paints each to lead the Grover girls to a 51 48 victory at George Hildebran High in Catawba County Tues day night and gain an even split in the twin bill. The Grover boys lost a 57-23 decision in the other half of non conference contests. The girls game ended in a 48 all tie at the end of the the reg ulation time, and Grover scored three points in the overtime to cop the victory. C. B. Green and Richard Little scored ten points e^ch to lead the Grover boys. Grover plays at Polkville Fri day night, and hosts Union next Tuesday night. Grover (SI) F G. Huffstetler 23 F Goforth 5 CEaker 23 G C. Alien G P. Allen G Rollins GIRLS Hildebrcm (48) Fredell 8 Brittain 13 Parker d Hudson Nealy Huffman Subs: Grover — Batchelor, Gall. Huff stetler. Wright, Sides, Green. Hildebran: HUderan 21, Young. Halftime score: Grover 25, Hildebran 23. Regulation game: Tied 48-all. Grover (23) F Green 10 F Melton 3 C Moss G Robinson Little 10 BOYS Hildebran (57) Hildebran 13 Smart 6 C. Bur dine 12 J. T. Burdine 8 E. Burdine 7 Subs: Grover — Rhea, Heffner, Queen, McDaniel. Hildebran — Robinson 2, Wri ght. Stephen 4, Rogers 2, Conner 5. Halftime score: Hildebran 24, Grover 13. Reporter: Gall Little. TOP STARS IN LIONS BOWL — The Moun taineers Punch Parker, left, is holding the handsome trophy he received after being voted the most outstanding back in the Lions Bowl football game in Forest City on Thanksgiving Day. He scored one touchdown In leading the South team, co-coached by KM's John Gamble, to a 14-13 win. Bob Church, right, of Lenoir, was named the most outstanding lineman in the game. Bethware Boys Have ‘New Look’, Girls Team Has Host Of Vets Bethware has “something old and something new" for the prep basketball season. Coach Bill Powell is rebuilding a “new” boys t^un while Coach Blaine Froneberger has a veter an girls club — and 'both Bucca neer outfits are playing in the new Tri-County High School Ath letic Conference. The Tri-Oounty league was for med this year to replace the old Cleveland County Conference, following the consolidation of nine of the county schools into three large units this year. Beth ware is one of six Cleveland Coun ty schools in the new circuit, a long with Grover, No. Three, and the consolidated units at Fall ston, Polkville and Boiling Springs. The ten-team conference is completed with two teams from Lincoln County, Northbrook and Union, and two from Rutherford County, Sunshine and Ellenboro. i"Ifs a fast high school basket ball league,’’ observes Coach Po well who coached the Kings Mountain American Legion junior baseball team last summer. "The consolidated schools in Cleveland County are strong with their com bined enrollments, and the schools from the other counties also have good teams. BOY'S TEAM Jerry Miorris, just like home folk to Kings Mountain fans as a Legion catching star for three years, is the lone holdover regu lar from last year’s Bethware tearrt which posted a 11-9 record in the Conference. fie also is the only senior on the current starting dtfb, along with a group of juniors. Tommy Barrett, Lawrence Bolin, and John Cashion are the other re turning lettermen for the Bucs and they are starters along with Morris. Two other juniors, Ken Cash and Eddie Herndon, round out the top six players in the early games. "Our scoring has been well balanced during the early games,” reports Powell, “With Morris, Cashion and Barrett each avera ging around 12 points per con test." The Buccaneers played live games prior to the Thanksgiving holidays, winning three and los ing two. The Bucs won a confer ence game from Grover, lost to Fallston and No. Three, and won two non-conference tilts from Tryon.. The other six players compris ing the 12-man squad are: Joe Fiite, Mike Ware, Rick Goforth, Beihware Loses Pair To 'Biooks Bethware’s first jaunt to Northbrook in the new Tri-Coun ty basketball conference proved unsuccessful Tuesday night, the Buccaneer clubs losing two to the Lincoln County teams. Despite Pat Bolin’s 22 points, the Lady Bucs lost 53-46, and the Beithware boys lost a 51-37 decision. Johnny Cashion tossed in 13 points to lead Bethware, the on ly Buc to reach the double fig ures. Linda Herndon lent sup port to Pat Bolin’s lead with 17 points in the girls game. 'Bethware clubs are idle Friday night, and will host Bessemer City in a non-Conference game next Tuesday night. GIRLS Northbrook (53) Beam 14 Leonhart 28 Peeler 11 Baker Baxter _ Abernathy Subs: Bethware — Hooppaugh 4, Ham rick, Gaantt 1. Northbrook, Yount. Halttime score: 20-all. Bathware (46) F P. Bolin 22 F Herndon 17 C Watterson 2 G Falls G B. Bolin Davis Bethware (37) F Cash 6 F L. Botin 3 C Morris 7 G Barrett 6 G Cashion 13 BOYS Northbrook (51) Baker 12 Boyles 1 Yount 4 Arthur 22 Anthony 6 Subs': Bethware — Golorth, Queen 2, Herndon, Boyes, Wease. Northbrook: Beam * Halftime score: Northbrook 17, Beth ware 9. . RReporter: Carolyn Whetstlne._ New Coaches Guide Grover Cagers; Girls Seek To Match ’60 Finish Grover High School has a pair of new coaches for its debut in the new Tri-County basketball league this season. James Scruggs, the school principal, is coaching the girls team, and Wilbur Kiser, a Grover teacher for four years, is tutor ing the boys team. They replace Preston Holt who coached both teams for the past five years, but moved this year as principal of Elizabeth Elementary school near Shelby. Coach Scruggs inherited a vet eran girls team, every starter, in fact, returning from the Grover club which marched to the finals of the County tournament last season. The Grover lassies post ed a ten-all record for the con ference games during the regu lar sason but caught fire in the tournament to win three straight games before bowing in the fi nals in a double-overtime game with No. Three. The experienced club has op ened in winning style this year, with three wins in four pre Thanksgiving holiday games, beating Bethware, No. Three and North Brook and losing to Boil ing Springs. Coach Kiser has three starters returning fo>r the Grover boys team, including high scoring Jack Mullinax, the team’s top point maker last year, who al ready is winging as a big scorer this trip. The Grover boys, however, lost their first four games, but Kiser believes the club will round into shape and provide tough compe tition for the Tri-County League. Grover is in the Tri-County circuit, along with five other Cleveland teams, and two clubs each from Lincolnton and Ruth erford Counties. Other Cleveland members are Bethware and No. Three and the three new consol idated units, at Fallston, Polk ville and Boiling Springs. Lin coln clubs are North Brook and Union, and Rutherford entries are Sunshine and Ellenboro. GIRLS TEAM Linda Eaker has been the big scorer for the girls in the first four games, tallying a tot all of 82 points, with a single game high of 33 one night. Gloria Huffste tler, the team’s top point-maker last year, has scored 52 points in early games. The third forward is Reba Go forth, like the other pair starting her second straight year. All three starting guards this] season were regulars or near-1 regulars last winter, Charlene Allien, Phyllis Allen and Virginia! Rollins. Another top-flight guard! of last season, Linda Wilson, will return to the lineup after Christ mas. She has been out with an operation. Gail Huffstetler and Nancy Watterson are the leading for ward reserves, both returnees. Other guards bidding for ber ths and lending bench strength to the team are Cynthia Wright, Shirley Moss, Mary Helen Green and Margaret Sides, all squad members last year. BOTS CLUB Mullinax is one of three return- ■ ing regulars to the boys team the others being C. B. Green and Buddy Robinson and they pro vide the veteran strength for the club. Mullinax has been setting the scoring pace in the early games. David Melton and Richard Little are (the other starters in the early games, replacing the two graduated members of the first club, Billy Crocker and Phillip Humpheries. Completing the 12-member squad are: Alfred Queen, Butch Moss, Steve Heffner, Gerald Mc Daniel, Lewis Cook, Jackie Wray, and Ray Crowder, most of them squad members last year, al though several are only sopho mores. The Grover schedule continues through February 14 and will be followed by a Tri-County tour nament, tentatively scheduled to be held at Gardner-Webb Gym in Boiling Springs. DECEMBER 2 — at Folkville. 6 — Union. 9 — Fallston. 12 — at Kings Mountain. 16 — Kings Mountain. 19 — No. Three (non conf. j game). JANUARY 3 — at No. Three. 6 — at Sunshine. 10 — at Shelby. 13 — at Ellenboro. 17 — Polkville. — at Union. — at Fallston. — Boiling Springs. 31 — at Bethware. FEBRUARY 3 — No. Three. 7 — Sunshine. 10 — at North Brook. 14 — Ellenboro. Larry Boyes, BiKy Wease, and Mitchell Queen. GIRLS TEAM (Five returning regulars form the nucleus for Coach Froneber ger’s girls team. The only loss from last year’s team which had a record of four wins and 16 loss es was all-Conference Jeanneftte Hamrick. Linda Herndon and Pat Bolin, the team’s top scorers last year, are back on hand and again set ting the point pane with better than 20point averages for the first five games. Sheila Gantt and Judy Watter son, other forward starters last year, also return, but are receiv ing plenty of competition from freshman Pat Hoopaugh. Rae Falls and Becky Bolin are starting guards for die second straight year and the lone vacan cy on the team is being filled by a transfer student from Florida, Eileen Davis. The Lady (Buccaneers defeated Fallston and No. Three and lost to Grover in early Conference games, and also lost a pair of games to Tryon in non-loop out ings. THE SCHEDULE Following is the remainder of the Buccaneer schedule for the season: DECEMBER 6 — Bessemer City 9 — Polkville 16 — Cherryville. 20 — at Cherryville. JANUARY 3 — Sunshine. 6 — at Ellenboro. 10 — Union. 13 — Boiling Springs. 17 — at No. Three. 20 — North Brook. 24 — at Polkville. 27 — Fallston. 31 — Grover. FEBRUARY 3 — at Sunshine. 7 — EUenboro. 10 — at Union. v 14 — at Boiling Springs. Betty Fite Rolls Leading Scores Betty Fite bowled the top sco res of the week in the Ladies Duckpin League Tuesday night, a 122 line and 310 series. Despite her leading marks, her team, (the Barbara Goins club, lost to (the Lib Bolin team, two games to one. Betty Cash with a 106 game and Lib Bolin with a series of 283 topped the losers in scoring. The last-plape Jenny Oates team defeated the second place Ora Bennett club, two games to one in the other match Tues day. Jenny led her namesakes with a 98 line and 277 set. Ora Mae was best for her club with scores of 104 and 275. The standings: Team Lib Bolin Ora Bennett Barbara Goins Jenny Oates W L Pet. 31 11 .738 23 19 .548 19 23 .452 11 31 .262 Nope, Punch Isn't On Shrine Team There’s many a slip betwixt the ward and the deed. And, Punch Parker is not a member of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team, as was er roneously reported in a couple of neighborhood papers last week. The reporter covering the Lions Bowl game in Forest City on Thanksgiving Day re ported to the Shelby and Gas tonia papers that Parker’s next action would be in the Shrine game on December 3. But, as much as we hate to do so, we must correct the statement, and inform that the Mountaineers’ ace back, and the star of the Lions Bowl, is not a member of the Shrine •team. K M Stars Shine In Lions Bowl Win; Parker Is TopBack The South rose, again, suh, in the Lions Bowl football* game at Forest City on Thanksgiving af ternoon. With the Mountaineers furn ishing coaching and player as sistance, the south team snared a 14-13 victory over the North in the fourth annual bowl game for players in the area embraced by the Western Conference. John Gamble of Rings Moun tain was one of the co-coaches far the South, along with Gerall Allen of Shelby, and four Moun taineer pQayers figured* promin ently in the victory. Halfback Punch Parker scored the first touchdown for the win ners on a 60-yard pass play and he later was voted the most out standing back in the game. Quarterback James Robbs of KM shared duty at the signal calling post and played full time as defensive safety man. A pair of Mountaineer line men also figured in the victory, end Jerry Adams playing almost the entire game at end, on both offense and defense, and guard Chaxttes Bums playing all the way on defense and part time on offense. Bums intercepted one pass during the first half. An other Mountaineer lineman, Dale Hollifield, was unable to play due ito a leg injury. Parker scored the game’s first touchdown with two minutes re maining in the first half. He caught a flat pass from R. S. Central's Tommy Culbreth at the midfield stripe, ten yards be yond the (line of scrimmage, and streaked the remaining 50 yards for the score. Fired Lowe kicked the first of his two extra point boots and the South took a lead which it never relinquished. Parker almost added another TD on the first scrimmage play of the second half, (taking a 30 yaird pass deep into North terri tory. North stopped the threat, but the long gain, in effect, set the stage for the next touch down. After losing the ball at the North 20, Culbreth intercepted a pass and raced 45 yards for the scare, with Lowe again booting the point which proved the mar gin. Parker was the game’s biggest ground gainer, picking up 72 yards in 11 carries for a 6.5 yard gain per carry. He caught three passes for 94 yards and ran back two punts for 41 yards. North scored both TD’s in the final quarter after recovering South fumbles, Marion backs Jim Wall and Don Millwood ma king the touchdowns. Both teams made 11 first downs, with the South gaining 164 yards rushing, compared to 155 for the losers. South passers completed four of nine tosses for 110 yards, and the North con nected on six of 18 for 64 yards. Burns And Parker To. Attend Banquet Coach John Gamble and two of his Mountaineer football players will be among the guests at the annual Gastonia Gazette football banquet at the Eagles Club in Gastonia next Monday night. Halfback Punch Parker and guard Charles Burns will be the two Kings Mountain play ers honored at the gathering. Parker was named twice as “back of the week’’ in the a rea, and Bums was nominated onoe as "lineman of the week” In prep play. Parker also Is assured of at least one trophy at the ban quet, as the highest scorer in the three-county area, with 122 points on the season. KM Favorites / Lose h State Playoff Games The football seasons ended a. braptly for a (trio of staite title seeking (teams with Kings Moun tain connections last weekend. Coach Shu Carlton’s Gastonia Ashley team came to the end of the line in .the quest for the state 4-A grid .title, losing to Greens boro, 19-6, in a state playoffs semi-finals game played in the Gate City. Ex-Mountaineer mentor Carl ton’s club started fast, as if to make short-order of .the Whirlies, marching 70 yards following the opening kickoff for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead. But Greensboro stormed right back with a touchdown in each of the first three periods to nab the game and the berth in the state big schools finals, against Winston Salem Reynolds. Kings Mountain’s representa tives in a pair of South Caroilina state championship games also faltered. The Easley team, of which Kings Mountain native Jerry McCarter is assistant coach, lost on Thanksgiving Day to Orange burg, 18-0, in the finals of the Class AA playoffs. The victory was the 13th straight on the sea son for Orangeburg which had been tabbed as (the top prep team in (the Palmetto State. Easley gained the state finals the week before with a 20-12 tri umph over Clinton for the Upper State crown. York’s Green Dragons, with a pair of Kings Mountain Legion junior stars of last summer in' the lineup, lost to Berkley, 21-7, for the South Carolina Class A * championship. Earnest McCarter, one of the local juniors top hurlere last summer, was quarterback for York, and Billy Dover, baseball outfielder, was a guard for the state finalists. Hickory, Cannons 1 Are Co-champs The WNCHSAA football race will have co-champions for the 1960 season. Western Conference champ Hickory and Piedmont winner Kannapolis battled to a scoreless tie in Hickory on Friday night in the finals of the Association playoffs, and officials declared them co-champions for the year. Defending champion Hickory concluded its campaign with a record of nine wins, one loss and the title game tie. The loss was to Shu Carlton’s Gastonia Ash ley team in the opening game of the season. Kannapolis wound up the year with nine wins and two ties. Friday night’s title game turn ed out to be a battle between big Gene Isenhour, Hickory fullback, who carried the ball 17 times for 116 yards, and little Ronnie Bar low, Kannapolis halfback, with 88 yards gained in 20 rushes. Both teams pushed inside the foe’s ten-yard dine, but failed to muster the offense to score. Hic kory led in first downs, 12-9, and also had the yardage edge, 169 yards to 163 rushing, and 66 passing against none for the d Cannons. ^ Hickory' gained the WNCHSAA finals far the second straight season with a 38-7 win over Southwest champion Linoolnton the previous Friday night. Mountaineers Opening Cage Game Moved-up To Monday, December 12 The Mountaineers opening basketball game of the season has been moved-up one night so as not to conflict with the Lions’ Club annual football banquet which was set for the same ev ening. As result of the change, the Kings Mountain cage clubs will] tip-off the season on Monday night, December 12, instead of on the originally-planned De cember 13th opening date. The Lions Club set the annual gathering to honor the Moun taineer football team on its Tuesday meeting night and lin ed-up Coach Bill Dole of David son as the main speaker for the December 13th date. Coach Don Parker then arran- j ged the switch in dates with Coach James Scruggs of the Gro ver team. The games will be the first of the 16-game schedules for the Mountaineer boys and girls teams. Kings Mountain will re turn ito visit Grover on Friday night, December 16, for the only other games prior to the Christ mas holidays. All Southwest Conference contests are carded after the vacation. Mountaineer pre-season drills stepped up in tempo this week with the arrival at practice of three players who participated in the Lions Bowl football game at Forest City on Thanksgiving They ate Punch Parekr, James Robbs and Jerry Adams. Dale Hollifield also plans to play bas ketball this season, but is ham pered with a knee injury now. Robbs and Parker constitute of the letterman force for the Mountaineers and are the lone two returning starters from last year. The other ttetrtermen on the club are Arthur Allen and Perp' Champion. Six letter winners are setting girls basketball drills. They are forwards Mar lene Weir, Pat Gladden, Pucky L^wis and Marion Plonk and guards Charlene Yates and Sara Rose Lennon. Coach Bill Bates still has some 30 candidates seeking posts on the Mountainette team.

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