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In Chippewa Cage ScrambleWest Holmes will go after four in a row.That’s the story of the Chippewa Conference basketball race in a nutshell — West Holmes is favored to win its fourth straight crown, an unprecedented feat.The Knights have completely dominated the league the last three years, losing only four games over that span. And to make it even worse for the other five league members, the Knights have four starters back from their latest championship team.The end of the West Holmes domination may be in sight, however, but not this year. The Knights have a senior-ladened team with only two underclassmen on the varsity roster.Senior Mike Cline, a 6-2 forward-guard, has been a pain in the neck for Holmes’ opponents the last two years. He is a well-rounded player. Some felt that a knee injury suffered during football season might slow him down, but Cline answered with a 30-point night in the Knights’ 86-55 opening victory over Ridgewood.The other returning starters are guard Randy Day (5-10), forward Randy Reiheld (6-2) and center Joe Norman (6-1). All are seniors except Norman, a junior. Days, a fine outside shooter, scored 26 points against Ridgewood.Perhaps one of the strongest points of Coach Jack Van Reeth’s team is that it has played its best game under pressurein the past.Seniors Rex Baker (5-8), Tom McDaniel (5-10), Mark Moravy (5-10) and Kevin Wagers (5-8) and junior Don Baker (6-0) round out the Knights'varsity.Wadsworth is the team given the best chance to dethrone the Knights by most Chippewa coaches and observers.Coach Dave Sladky welcomed sixlettermen back from a 12-8 team thatpeaked late in the season. Although the Grizzlies lost two fine individuals in Kim Kinsley and Jim Swain, they’ll still have a senior ballclub this year.Three-year letterman Blaine Guy (6-3), Tom Flippo (6-4), Jerry Everhard (6-3), Chris Siesky (6-3), Bob Kelly (6-4) and Steve Saal (5-10) all logged a good deal of playing time last year. Guy is a center, Kelly a center-forward, Flippo and Everhard forwards, Siesky a forward-guard and Saal a guard. All are seniors.Wadsworth has good overall height and fine depth, which is essential for Sladky’s pressing style of play.Sladky will have seniors Matt Seifert (6-2),KimVeverka (6-1), Mel Long (5-8), Greg Wilmouth (5-8) and Bill Foote (5-7) and juniors Larry Esterle (5-10), Tom Benek (5-10), Ted Given (6-2) and Steve French (6-2) to employ in his running game.Cloverleaf is also a team which could figure in the midst of the leaguescramble.topscorers back from a 6-13 team, Dick Bittner, Steve Markley and Ken Clark. Markley (6-3) is a center, Bittner (6-2) a forward and Clark (6-0) a guard.Other seniors who figure in Coach Dick Anderson’s plans are guard Bill Haldiman (5-8), guard Jim Martin (5-10) and forward Don Pinkerton (6-1).Markley and Bittner led the Colts’ scoring in their opening 49-47 win over Rittman. Markley and junior forward Jim Hewit (6-1) were impressive on the boards for the Colts.Juniors Dave Griffin (64)), Randy Allen (6-0), Rich Lucas (6-3), Tom Kozy (6-2) and Tom McDermott (5-8) are the Colts’ other candidates.Triway, Orrville and Brunswick were hit hard by graduation, but all could be possible spoilers for the frontrunners.Triway will put the smallest team in the league on the floor as Coach Dave Hutchinson doesn’t have a player over 6-1. To offset this lack of height, the Titans will try to run fresh troops in and out to work a full-court press.Doug Akins (6-0), senior forward, was the top scorer for the Titans last year as he averaged 19.6 points per game. He’s ahead of that pace already with 48 points in the Titans’ two opening losses to Northwestern and Canton Timken. Senior center Terry Smetzer (5-11) scored 22 points in the 89-58 loss to Timken.Seniors Mike Grenert (5-11), Joel Teague (6-1) and Greg DeFelice (5-11),Champ Has 4 Starfers BackIt’s South Central against the other includes Dale Marschall (6-2) and Steve two games and guards (5-11) Joe Gross seven teams in the Firelands Conference Caldwell (6-0). 32 and John Meesig (6-1) 23. All arethis year. Two senior starters are back for juniors.juniors Stu Starr (6-0), Steve Thompson (5-10), DelHackett (5-11), Bruce Hess (6-1) and Ed Fredericks (5-8) and sophomore Terry Ramey (5-7) also figure in the Titans' plans.Junior guards Ken Flinner (5-11) and Casey Dutter (5-10) will help Triway once they return from a broken collarbone and thumb, respectively.Orrville has one starter back and three lettermen, but the graduation of Don Boop and Rufus Johnson hurt the Red Riders.Coach Wayne Wachtel feels his team has more balance and depth this season than the Riders had last year, however.The starter returning is guard Tom Sines (5-8) who was the only Rider indouble figures in Orrville’s only game, a 69-57 loss to Waynedale. Center Jamie Ray (6-3) and forward Jeff Martin (6-4) are the other returning lettermen. Those two and forward Denny Ray (6-0) can jump and are expected to lead a strong Rider rebounding game.Other candidates are Mike Vining (6-2), I^s Boop (5-11), Len Griffin (5-7), Charles Dodson (6-1), Mike Davisson (6-3), Ron McGrew (6-1), Kelly Ross (6-2) and Roy Robinson (6-0). TTie last five players and Jamie Ray are all juniors.Brunswick has only two lettermen coming back, senior guard Marke Gibson (6-0) and senior forward Dean Kutz (6-1), to greet new coach Jack Schneider.The Blue Devils lost their opener against Medina 70-55, but they still shotJoe Cantrell (6-1), the top scorer from last year’s JV team, led the Devils with 16 points.Brunswick would like to be stronger inside. Senior Jim Checkelsky (6-2) is looked to for added rebounding strength at center.Seniors John Wills (5-10) and Dan Barlock (5-9) and juniors Rick Andrews (5-6), Jim Vasarhelyi (5-7), Rusty Rogers (6-0), Rick Kloos (5-10), Seth Bailey (5-11), Tom Kohuth (6-3) and Bob Brazis (5-10) round out the squad.Schneider figures the Devils must tighten their defense and foul less if they are to figure in the midst of the league race.■SHPHr**'Wk. Tfy 7 9 /y?JOE CANTRELLSTEVE MARKLEYTOM FLIPPO
Newspaper Details
Medina County Gazette
Medina, Ohio, US
Wed, Nov 28, 1973
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Akron S.
OH, USA 13 Dec 2018
Other Publications Near Medina, Ohio
Medina Sentinel
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