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From Staff Reports It usually takes many years of hard-fought competition before an annual game can be referred to as a “traditional battle’ but there are some exceptions to this rule. One notable exception is the three-year-old basketball event called the ‘“‘Has Beens’”’ versus the ‘‘Will Bes’’ , played between former Lady Vikings of Fort Walton Beach High School and the team which will repre sent the school in the fall. This fund-raising event has only a two year history but players and fans look for ward to the contest as though it has been en joying a 100-year history. Not only do the players go at it with inten sity but the opposing coaches treat the con test as though it were the NCAA Basketball Championship Final. Kevin Craig, the Lady Vikings’ coach, has said, ‘‘There is no other game in the season as important to me as this one, especially this year when the winner will lead the series 2-1.” Joe Gonzalez, the Has Beens’ coach in each of the past games, stated, ‘‘Each year Craig comes up with a trick such as pro viding a fan for his team’s bench while my team had to do without a fan in a very hot Lady Vikes Clash gym in July. This is not sour grapes but the heat wore out the players rather than the energy expended in the game. This year we have been promised a fan.” The annual battle will be held July 31 at 7 p.m. at the Fort Walton Beach gym. A $1 donation is being suggested and all monies earned will go directly to the Lady Vikings’ program. Both coaches predict this third game will be the best of the three-game series based on the talent available and the building feeling of competition. “I’m sure we’ll blow them out this year,” said Gonzalez. ‘‘It will be the first time our team will be able to practice, something Craig has never arranged for us in the past. We will pull out all the stops and come up with some things Craig is not expecting.” Practice for the Has Beens is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30 at 10 a.m. in the Vikings’ Craig’s teams are always ready and load ed with talented players. This year he boasts four six-footers in Dawn Sinclair, Tara Kline, Jennifer Martin and Safina Turner. Others on this talented squad include Carmen Feliciano, Susie Richards, Kelli Bray, Melissa Dorman, Beth Chaffins, Anna Turner, Kaycee Hardy and Amy Browning. Gonzalez will counter with past stars such as Stephanie Dorman, Rhonda Feldman, Dixie Carr, Cindy Warnock, Debbie Bassi, Etta Shepherd, Cindy Kenton, Zena Miles, Sandi Farr, Diana Lister, Kristi Russell, Marcie Wrench and Trinetta Tucker. ‘Another one of Craig’s tricks,’’ said Gon zalez, ’’ is saying that many of the prior stars will be available and then on game night they are not able to attend. It really doesn’t matter because with the girls on the Has Beens this year, I could beat most college teams. Craig is just as confident. ‘“The team that takes the court for the Willies will be a well practiced, confident group,’’ he said. ‘‘We are a team in condition for basketball, not like the Has Beens who have not played much and are not getting any younger.” The charity affair will be played under high school rules with two officials oversee ing the action. DAWN SINCLAIR ..inside star JENNIFER MARTIN .Strong rebounder
Newspaper Details
Fort Walton Beach Playground Daily News
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, US
Sun, Jul 27, 1986
Page 74
Full Page
Clipped by
Melissa C.
USA 20 Jun 2026
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