Page 6A THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD Bell's FT gives Sipe 200th win Joseph Bell's free throw with five seconds remaining gave Kings Mountain's Mountaineers an important 61-60 victory over Burns in Southwestern 3-A Conference play Friday at Burns. The victory was important in that it kept the Mountaineers (3- 2, 9-6) in the thick of the battle for the SWC championship and a state playoff berth, and also because it gave Coach Larry Sipe his 200th career victory. . . Sipe, 200-150, is in his 14th ‘season as Mountaineer coach. Only one other basketball coach in KMHS history, Don Parker, has topped the 200-victory total. He was 247-139 in 24 seasons from 1943-67. The Mountaineers had to overcome some adversity to hold off the Bulldogs, but Bell, a versatile, junior was a cool take- charge guy with the game on the line. Kings Mountain led by 13 points in the first half and by 11 points in the fourth quarter. But the Mountaineers’ starting point guard and leading scorer, Marcus Smith, had to leave the game with an injury with six minutes remaining and the Bulldogs started a comeback bid. Alex Burris took over at the point, but fouled out as Burns tied the score at 60-all with a minute to play. Sipe moved Bell from for- ward to the point guard, and he did a masterful job of handling the basketball under pressure and working for a final shot. KMHS girls first in 3-team meet Kings Mountain's girls fin- ished first and the boys were third in a non-conference swim meet with Salisbury and South Caldwell Tuesday at Neisler Natatorium. The girls edged South Caldwell 127-114, with Salisbury finishing third with 76 points. Salisbury won the boys meet with 113 points, fol- lowed-by South Caldwell with 95 and KM with 93. The KM girls were led by - double winners Wendy Neisler and Elise Mayse. Kings Mountain was sched- Finally, with five seconds re- maining, he drove hard to the basket and was fouled. He missed the first foul shot, but hit the second for the winning point. The time period between the first and second foul shot, though, seemed like an eternity to Bell and the Mountaineers. After Bell missed the first shot, the Bulldogs called time-out to let him think about the second one. Before the time-out ended, a fight broke out in the gym lobby and the Burns clock oper- ator left the scorer's table. Bell had to stand at the free throw line while the officials found the clock operator. The end of the game was a big relief for Sipe, because the 200th victory was finally behind him and the Mountaineers were able to win on the road against one of the best teams in the league. "It (the victory) is going to go a long, long way as far as this conference race," said Sipe. "Burns is not to be taken lightly. They had beaten Shelby at their place. We got some good out- side shooting from Marlon Byers, and that's something we have to have to stay competi- tive. We have to hit the jumpers, and he's played some really big games for us lately." Byers = finished as ‘the Mountaineers’ leading scorer with 24 points, half of them coming from 3-point range, and Bell scored 12 points. Bryan 4 Hours: Odums grabbed eight re- bounds. “You've got to get some wins on the road," Sipe said. "We talk about winning at home and stealing a few on the road, but then if you turn around and lose at home you cancel out that one you steal on the road. Really, there's not a lot of differ- ence between number one and number seven in this league.” Sipe said the 200th victory is a testament to his longevity as coach, and nothing more, but he's glad it's behind him. "It's in the back of your mind, but not something you dwell on,” he said. "We're looking to finish in the top four. But it got where the players were talk- ng about it. I just didn't want or to dwell on it. It just means I've been here a long time. You look back and Kings Mountain High School has al- ways had good athletes. Anybody could come in here and run a good program and be fair to everybody, and the wins will come. "But we've still got our goal in front of us - and that is to fin- ish in the top four and get in the playoffs. That's what the kids are excited about, and me too." The Burns girls held onto a share of first place in the open- ing game with a 52-29 victory. The loss left the KM ladies with a 2-3 conference and 3-12 over- all mark. See Burns, 7-A Mon-Fri 9-5 ° Sat 9-3 Sun 1-4 Less than 15 Miles away $26 Per Month Two Burial Spaces Side - By - Side Buy one space get second space Westview Gardens 629-2571 1123 Edgewood Road, Bessemer City, NC 28016 Pre-Plan your burial needs. " GUNNING FROM DOWNTOWN - Kings Mountain's Marlon Byers scored 24 points - half of them from 3-point range - to lead the Mountaineers to a 61-60 victory over Burns Friday night. KM begins second half of Southwestern Conference play Friday at home against R-S Central. { E———————— January 30, 1997 Mountaineers share first place in Southwestern Conference Mounties knock off East 81-79 Kings ‘Mountain's Mountaineers won their third straight game Tuesday night at East Rutherford, and North Gaston's Wildcats won their second straight at Shelby, to force a four-way tie for first place in the Southwestern 3A Conference. Heading into the final six games of the season, KM, Shelby, East and North Gaston all have 4-2 ‘records. The Mountaineers, 10-6 overall, play four of their final six contests at home, including games Friday against R-S Central and Tuesday against South Point. The Mountaineers built an 11- point first quarter lead Tuesday night at East but had to hold on for an 81-79 victory. North Gaston upset Shelby 64-59 in overtime in Shelby. Kings Mountain grabbed an 18-7 first quarter lead at East but saw the Cavaliers come back to tie the score at 57-all go- ng into the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers hit 81 percent of their foul shots to clinch the vic- tory in the fourth quarter. Five players scored in double figures for Larry Sipe's charges. Point guard Marcus Smith re- turned from his injury last week to lead with 18 points. Alex See East, 7-A A 4 McCune Vinyl Siding and Replacement Windows 100% in house financing 1st & 2nd mortgages © Bill consolidation FREE Estimates and consultations Call 922-1199 or 1-800-653-1119 ¢ =| 301 An eclectic collection of 22,500 gently used books uled to host the annual HELPING YOU is what we do best. 26 E. Woodrow Ave. i ! ER Belmont, NC 28012 Southwestern 3-A Conference 805-5433 ZN i : L * ! meet Wednesday. They will 2 CI FT annas cir. compete in the Iron Man Meet Call for a no-obligation review. ~ Pager-836-0413 | SesrerTTyNI 15B S. Main St. Belmont : Fax- 825-5484 . 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Bonded e Insured ¢ Quality Service GUAarantee La — oo eee Jd Girls results 200 medley relay - Neisler, Jimison, Mayse, Haynes second; Ely, Bentley, han, Green fifth. | : 200 free - Elise Mayse first, | | Large selection of Angels and Inspirational gift giving ideas - Personalized cards and a wide selection of Noah's Ark Very affordable & Unique Gifts VYVYVVIVIVVVVVVIIVIVVIVVVY Sis Merry Maids for Kristen Miller second, Bethany panier Jimison, Blake Clary. 200 IM - Wendy Neisler first, Josephine Chan fourth. 50 free - Elizabeth Mauney first, Vi Megan Haynes fifth, Deana Green, . . _ Meline Miller. 100 fly - Chan fourth, Elizabeth | Bentley fifth. Diving - Tiffany Ely first, Abby Haynes second. 100 free - Green third, A. Haynes fourth, Stephanie Saucier, Blair Cannon. | 500 free - Mayse first, Clary fifth. i 200 free relay - Neisler, Jimison, | Mauney, Mayse first; Gore, Branham, Saucier, Haynes fourth. 100 back - Neisler first, K. Miller fourth, Branham. 100 breast - Jimison second, Mauney fifth, Bentley, Mindy Belt. : 400 free relay - Green, A. ‘Haynes, K. Miller, Mauney third; Clary, Cannon, Belt, Ely fifth.