Hide Article Text (OCR)
1977-78TIGERS—This year’s edition of the Howland High basketball team is seeking to reverse last season’s 4-15 record. Under the tutelage of second-year boss Don Andres (kneeing right) and Mark Fleischer, the Tigers have high hopes of challenging for the Steel Valley Conference title. Members ofthe squad (from left to right) include Doug Askey, Tim Brogan, Bill Byrdy, Greg Beck, Jim Sehnaible, John Seaver, Joe DeJohn, Kevin Cope, Bob Bolen and Dave Fetsko.Tigers host Irish in opener Gene Merolla nomBY SAL MARINOHOWLAND—This Friday, December 2, the 1977 edition of the Howland Tiger high school basketball squad will rake to the hardwoods to unleash their attack against the Ursuline Irish in a home game contest. It will be the lidlifter for both squads and it will also be a Steel Valley Conference game for both teams.Head Coach Don Andres will unveil his squad of 21 team members, which includes the varsity and junior varsity teams. He will greet three seniors, six juniors and twelve sophmores. Heading the list of five returning let-termen are 6’0 senior Bob Bolen, who could be one of the best one-on-one players in thisvicinity; 6’5 Jim Sehnaible, with excellent jumping ability and a starter last year, and Bill Byrdy. another senior, who also excelled in football. Junior lettermen returning are 6’1 Kevin Cole, a starter last year with talent In shooting and jumping, and playmaker, 5’10 Tim Brogan, who worked hard during the off season to prepare for this year’s campaign.Those moving up from last year’s junior varsity are DougAskey, a 5’8 junior guard and one of the quickest of the Tigers; John Seaver, a 6’3 junior, Joe DeJohn, a 6’4 junior, and Greg Beck, a 6’3 junior. Andres is countingheavily on the latter three for available help under the boards.The Tigers have other talent to bolster their attack with the likes of 6’0 guard Dave Fetsko, a fine ball handling sophmore; 6’0 Bob Prokop, 5’8 Charlie Snyder, 6'3 Gerald DeBerry, 5’8 Jim Walker, 57 Rich Stevens, and 5’11 Byron Rossi. The remainder of sophmores who will make up this year’s junior varsity are 6’3 Tony Cade, 6’1 John Marhulik, 6’0 Frank Neimeyer, 5’10 Joe Opalka, and 5J11 Mike Smith.Andres, whose squad posted a 4-15 record during the 1975-76 season, will use his team’s experience both at guard and under the nets, hoping to live up to what the 1977-78 basketball Tigers call The Year of Revenge.How much revenge this year’s squad will improve on will depend on several factors such as mental attitude, winning the close games, the toughness of the Tigers opponents, and how well the continuation of the program initiated last year goes.The personable basketball mentor states, “We have people here who have worked 365 days to regain respectability from last season. They want to prove that theyare winners. Thus, we are very enthusiastic about this season.” Participating in the tough Steel Valley Con-Here andBY SAL MARINOCollege basketball will be in full bloom and for the members of the Ohio Athletic Conference, the two division conference will have to be aware of two good basketball squads, plus several other member schools who could grab ail the marbles.The Wooster Scots, who won the Northern Divisional finals last season and eventually lost to Muskingum of the Southern Division in the CAC championship game 79-63, have some returning lettermen with talent like 67 senior Wayne Alliscn. Allison tallied 15.1 points per gamelast year and a game average of 7.7 rebounds per tilt. Helping in their quest for another banner seascn will be junior forward George Zambie. Zambie stands 6*3 and averaged 11.2 points per game last basketball season.Wittenburg will be in the thick of the Southern Division. They have excellent players in G’O Brian Agler who averaged 8.4 points per game as a freshman last season. Senior Duane Ewing, a 6‘U center also returns for added help. Last year, the Tigers won the National Championship if: Division III.ference, they also face an array of rugged independent games.Coach Andres’ background far exceeds his difficult year in 1976-77. That was the only-losing season he has had and he would like nothing better than to turn the tables around this year. His overall coaching record consists of 138 wins and 73 losses, for a .550 winning percentage. He is in charge of the overall program at Howdand.Assisting Andres, are junior varsity coach Mark Fleischer and Nick Bellino. Fleischer, the former Thiel College star is now in his second year at Howland. Bellino will be lending a hand as the program coordinator at all levels, which includes elementary through high school. He. too, is in his second year for Howland.The junior high school staff has David Baker tutoring the ninth grade, Rick Skibo has the eighth graders, and the duties fail on Chuck Swindler tf guide the seventh graders. All of their programs are going full speed ahead.Howland's entire basketball program is total and includes grades four through 12 with fun stressed with fundamentals in the early years. It is hopeful that these little Tigers will grow up to be successful big Tigers in the future.Basketball will be in full swing this weekend as the Tigers gear up for the Ursuline Irish on Friday, then await the arrival of arch rival JFK on Saturday. Their complete schedule folfollows: Dec. 2—Ursuline Dec. 3—JFKDec. 6—at Warren Harding Dec. 9—at Boararnan Dec. 13—at LaBrae Dec. 16—at Hubbard Dec. 20—Campbell Jan. 6—Struthers Jan. 10—Niles Jan. 13—at C. Mooney Jan. 17—A. Fitch Jan. 20- at Ursuline Jan. 24—Boardman Jan. 27—Hubbard Jan. 31—at Struthers Feb. 3—at Struthers Feb. 7—C. Mooney Feb. 10—at A. Fitchfor Player of theGene Merolla of Howland is one or 17 players who have been nominated as Trumbull County Player of the Y'ear, to be announced at the third annual Trumbull County Football Recognition Banquet, Sunday, Dec. 11 at Alberini’s Restaurant.The affair is being sponsored by the Trumbull County Coaches Association and Alberini’s Restaurant and a special committee reviewed the information regarding the nominees as presented by the head football coaches, athletic directors and principals of the 17 schools in the county who participate infootball. The committee’sselection will be announced at the banquet, which will begin at 6 p.m.Previous winners of theaward were Dan Gatta ofNiles McKinley in 1975 and Sal Ponzio of Girard last year.The activities will begin at noon when high schcol coaches and collegiate coaches gather at Alberini’s to review information and films on college prospects.The speaker for the banquetwill be announced at a later date.Persons wishing to attend the banquet are asked to contact Howland head football coach Jack Pierson.Merolla holds a 2.8 grade average and ranks 160th in a class of 453 students. He was selected the track and football MVP and was named to the second team offensive unit ofthe All-Trumbull County by the Warren Tribune.Other nominees for the award include Leo DelGar-bino of Kennedy, Robert Bogner of McDonald, Gary Crump of Champion, Bob Herberger of Liberty, Anthony Carsone of Hubbard, Pete Lucic of Girard, Lynn Richardson of LaBrae. Rusty Lloyd of Southington, Dan Storer of Newton Falls, Gary Burazev of Lakeview, Ed Pryts of Brookfield, Keith Heltzel of Mathews, Maurice Hal1 of Warren Harding, Van■rmC.v. i€B Club sets auction Dec. 4NILES—The BroKen Wheel C. B. Club will sponsor a Christmas Auction Dec. 4 at the Eagles Club Basement at 6 p.m. -n Niles.Items to be auctioned include a truck load of newmerchandise, appliances ofall kinds, vacuum sweepers, watches, tools, table lamps, lots of toys, games, glassware, stereo’s tape players, radios and lots more, too numerous to mention.• •; 5vs.* • *• • •- *■ ■/ • . •• :• - • -• - * - *• ‘ «. - - s.:V JGENE MEmm
Newspaper Details
Howland Bandwagon
Howland, Ohio, US
Wed, Nov 30, 1977
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Akron S.
OH, USA 15 Dec 2018
Other Publications Near Howland, Ohio
Howland Bandwagon
Howland Independent
