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1ACentralis (III.) Santinat Sunday, December 21, 1969Niep'sNotesBy Bill Niepoetter“We were expecting a fine team this season, but I lost four potential starters and we're just starting over.” Wabash Valley coach Bill Geurin said prior to Friday’s game against Kas-kaskia CollegeWabash Valley still has size, speed and experience, but that lack of depth. Willie Gandy, overall power expected just won’t materialize because of the prep All-America from Rock ford, is there while Jim Brown gives them a big man under the boards. But the inside scoring punch is not of the caliber as the outside one. and the Warriors will have problems all year.Kaskaskia notched a big victory in the game and Coach Chuck Mundell altered his starting lineup adding 6-7 Stan Jones at center and 6-4 Jerry Hoff-meister at a forward slot It helped the rebounding and Hoff-meister’s hustle was a key factor in the victory.Jones, like Harlan Gerrish and Bill Heiman. a couple of tall youngsters of the past who struggled through their freshman vear to become valuable additions as sophomores, is needed He’s the tallest member of the team and when he learns to become aggressive off the boards, he could become a keycog.Tom Copple. who came from nowhere in high school at Cen-tralia to become a standout his senior year, continues to play basketball the way the game was meant to be played. He hustles every step of the way. rebounds as if he’s 6-10 instead of 5-10 and charges the basket like he’s a pro fullback Centralia OrphansThe Centralia Orphans had an easy time against the Herrin Tigers and racked up a big 90-point total in the process. It also gave Coach Bob Jones arhanfp to imp a lot of Dlaversgame tourney lacks some of the big names of prep basketball, it always produces a strong champion and finishes guaranteed to set you on the edge oi your seatOkawville should prove to be a tough competitor with 6-11 Gail Wolf coupled with a_ pair of forwards measuring 6-51? and 5-5. Assumption is back, bringing along a 6-10 junior Rick Suttle, and a oair of quick guards. A ‘’battle of the giants” is a good possibility for the finale on Dec. 30th, with Assumption in the upper bracket and Okawville in the lower. The exciting Bethalto Eagles shou’d be a strong bid with a well-experienced team.Other teams with great potential include the O’Fallon Panthers. champs of the Conference the past two years, with four starters back from last year. Washington plays a tough schedule in the Peoria and Decatur area. Althoff. runner-up the past three years, has always been a stron contender in’ the Holiday Tournament. Tim Roth returns for the Crusaders for his third year of varisity action. Mater Dei is once again a threat with Ron Strieker, two-year all-tourney team member. Although lacking the size of some of the other teams, the Knights have better than average speed and can rebound with the bestEast St. Louis (Assumption!, defending champion, returns in hope of fulfilling its top seeding The towering Okawville Rockets, rated 2 among the small schools of the state by the Illinois Prep Sports Special, will be trying for something better than last year’s fourth place finish. Third seeded Mater Dei. hoping for their second championship in the history of their Holiday Tourney, is also considered a seriousi\ rV f
Newspaper Details
Centralia Sunday Sentinel
Centralia, Illinois, US
Sun, Dec 21, 1969
Page 16
Full Page
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