The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 41

V-' 'p I o)(o)lpfe La Crosse Tribune, Sunday, March 18, 198441 State's best team is Kina i 27 Tournament trail EDITOR'S NOTE: La Crosse Tribune sports editor Bob Lamb and sports writer Pete Miller are in Madison this weekend, covering the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association boys' state basketball tournament. team, at least on this night. And it was also apparent to Craig Coach Stan DuFrane. whose team had been quicker than almost every team it faced until Saturday night. Yes.

we lost to the best team in the state tonight." said DuFrane. a former La Crosse Central coach who has brought Craig to the state tournament five times since 1974. Gordon, who has stressed aggressive defense all season, said he decided while watching the two teams warm up that the Generals were quick enough to outrun Craig. "I didn't expect we would run like this." Gordon said. "But when I watched the warmups.

I went down into the locker room and said Hey fellows, we ought to be able run their game on They said. We haven't done that much this year." Continued on next page This Corner Says By PETE MILLER Of the Tribune staff MADISON. Wis. A quick and talented Milwaukee Rufus King team beat top-ranked Janesville Craig at its own game Saturday night in the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse to claim the Class A state high school basketball championship. Playing an aggressive man-to-man defense and running its fast break with wreckless abandon.

King built a commanding first-half lead and held off Craig in the second half for an 80-72 victory. King, champion of the Milwaukee Suburban Conference, completed its season with a 24-0 record and is the fifth Mil-waukee-area team in the last six years to win the Class A championship. "The city of Milwaukee and especially the Suburban Conference is equal to anybody." King Coach James Gordon said. "I think the metropolitan area of Milwaukee has the best basketball in the state of Wisconsin. Other areas play good basketball, but year-in and year-out.

Milwaukee plays the best basketball," Craig, champion of the Big Eight Conference, completed its season with a 23-2 record after holding the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press state poll for almost the entire season. But by the end of the game, it was clear to most of the 11.266 fans, in the fieldhouse that King was the better Valders stays a bridesmaid There was no Joe Woll to highlight the 69th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state basketball tournament. Robert Barnes, the celebrated and perhaps overrated Racine Horlick forward, fizzled, to say the least. Oh sure.

Milwaukee King. Wilmot and Fall Creek won state championships in their respective classes, but the tournament didn't live up to its expectations. And the sorriest situation of the 13-game three-day event occurred in the Class championship game between Fall Creek and Washburn. Washburn's Steve Siroin literally horse-collared, tackled and threw Fall Creek's Todd Logghe to the floor. Moments later.

Siroin got into a shoving match with Dennis Dekan of Fall Creek. And seconds later, he fouled out. Logghe offered his hand to Siroin, who refused to shake. Dekan did the same. Again, Siroin refused as he hung his head and strutted off the court.

Child-like behavior is unnecessary, regardless if it's at the subregional, regional, sectional or state level. Very rarely do you see fans boo a high school player when he leaves the court. Siroin was accorded that type of ovation when he left the floor. Its not a writer's job to cheer or boo. but the thought crossed my mind.

Bob Lamb Sports editor Sports Flashback By PETE MILLER Of the Tribune staff MADISON, Wis. Finishing second is getting to be a habit for Valders High School basketball team. But Coach Dick Nelson still prefers second place to third, or fourth or nothing at all. It's better to be a bridesmaid than never be a bridesmaid," said Nelson, whose team was defeated by Wilmot in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Class state championship game Saturday. 67-54.

Valders has been the Class runner-up the last three years. "Who knows, I might win a state championship someday," Nelson said. "I just feel sorry for the kids. They feel bad, but it wasn't in the cards. Valders, which finished its season with a 24-1 record, had been ranked No.

1 among Class schools almost all' year in the Associated Press state poll. But there never was much doubt in the mind of Wilmot Coach Tom Reigel, whose team finished its season with- a 25-0 record. I thought at the start that we would be good," Reigel said. "I didn't think there would be a team that we'd see we couldnt beat. You never can say you'll go undefeated.

but I thought we could play with anybody." For the most part, guard Randy Kazin and his Wilmot teammates played as if Reigel had already convinced them of that, too. Kazin, a 6-foot-2 senior, scored 25 points, including 11 of 13 free throws and several crucial baskets that helped cut off a Valders rally in the second half. "For three years I've had to do a mini mum of coaching, Reigel said. Any time there was a clutch situation, we just got him (Kazin) the ball. I'm going to miss him." Brothers Dan and Bob Christel helped Valders to an early 74 lead, but a long shot from the comer and two free throws by Kazin gave Wilmot an 8-7 lead it never lost.

Wilmot dominated the remainder of the first quarter, running to a 16-7 lead at the end of the period. Valders spent the rest of the game trying in vain to catch up. We talked about it at halftime, Nelson said. We wanted to get the lead down and go to Dan Christel. Dan Christels short bank shot from the middle of the lane late in the third quarter pulled Valders to within 4947, but Kazin answered just six seconds later with a 17-foot jump shot.

Christel's shot from the baseline with 44 seconds left brought Valders back within two points at the end of the third quarter. But a rebound shot by Paul Hendricksen and a 12-foot jump shot by Sean Meegan opened Wilmots lead to 5549 in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. Valders could get no closer than four points in the last six minutes. Meegan. a 6-5 senior, and 6-5 center Ken Russell helped Wilmot hold a 48-37 rebounding advantage against the 6-6 Dan Christel and 64 Joe Linsmeier.

Meegan and Russell both pulled down 14 rebounds. Meegan also finished with 18 points and Russell added 11. Dan Christel led Valders with 18 points. One Year Ago 1983 Michael Blair's two tie-breaking free throws with two seconds left give Mayville a 55-53 victory over Valders for the Class title, the most exciting finish of the three championship games. Mayville's Craig Gering leads all scorers with 24 points.

10 Years Ago 19 74 McFarland becomes one of five teams to win back-to-back titles by defeating Mineral Point. 65-43, for the Class championship. Tom Sawyer leads McFarland with 26 points. 25 Years Ago 1959 La Crosse Logan turns back Eau Claire, 74-54. to claim third place after losing an overtime semifinal contest to Superior Central.

Logan's Dave Horton leads the tournament in scoring with 65 points in three games. 50 Years Ago 1934 DePere. coached by E. Braisher, claims the Class title by defeating a strong New Lisbon team. 22-19.

Attendance for the four-day tournament is 19,076. more than 7,000 better than in 1953. Around the Field house AP taserphoto Fall Creek's Dennis Dekan (12), Mark Cota (32) and Pat Stewart (50) celebrate their team's 57-46 victory over Washburn in the Class state championship game Saturday in Madison. The gold finally belongs to Fall Creek Class Fall Creek 57, Washburn 46 Jeff Reiche could not have asked for much more in his first season as Marathon High School's basketball coach, except maybe a state championship. Reiche, a 1982 graduate of the University of Wiscon-sin-La Crosse and former assistant coach at La Crosse Aquinas High School, finished his first season as a head coach with a 23-2 record after the Red Raiders lost a Class semifinal game to Washburn Friday.

1 knew we had some talent coming back from last year's team. Reiche said. "We didn't have a big man. We had one guy who filled in as a big man, but he was only 6-foot-3, more like a forward. "I think we were just one player away from being an excellent team." Reiche was an assistant at Aquinas for one year under Jay Eck and two years under Rod Popp, before taking his first teaching job at Platteville High School, where he was also an assistant basketball coach.

He got the job at Marathon this year, replacing Toni Weinkauf, who coached Marathon to consecutive Class titles in 1975, 1976 and 1977. "I do a lot of things different from Tonj Weinkauf," Reiche said. "The kids deserve a lot of credit because they had to adjust to me. Reiche said a 50-47 victory late in the season over highly-ranked Edgar propelled, his team to the state tournament berth. Washburn, which finished the season with a 23-3 record, had three players in double figures.

Bill Schmidt scored 14 points. Tom Holvick added 12 and Steve Siroin 11 before fouling out late in the game. Siroin fourth foul was an easy call for officials to make as he grabbed Logghe from behind bn a fast break with 2:27 to play. "The official said he was going for the ball, but I thought it was a pretty good tackle." said Schultz. Seconds later.

Siroin and Dennis Dekan got into a shoving match. Siroin fouled out with 2:01 to play, and refused to shake hands with Logghe or Dekan. "He (Siroin) said he (Dekan) punched him in the stomach. I told him to forget it and show a little bit of class." said Gasperini. whose team made the finals for the first time.

"But that's just kids. He's sort of an ornery kid anyway. That's his version of it, but I'm sure their kid has his version too." Fall Creek, whose only other state title was in 1937. loses five seniors, including four starters. Only Cota, a 5-9 starter, returns next year.

Does Schultz have any thoughts about retirement? "Nope." he replied "We haven't won two yet." The Crickets finished the season with a 25-0 record and ranked as the 1 small school in the state. By BOB LAMB Of the Tribune staff MADISON. Wis. The gold belongs to the green on St. Patrick's Day.

Fall Creek, of veteran Coach Ron Schultz, won the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Class state basketball championship with a convincing 57-46 victory over Washburn in the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse Saturday. Along with the state Class title goes the gold trophy, symbolic of state high school championships in Wisconsin. Fall Creek's school colors are green and white. "A few years ago I thought this team would have a super shot because of their size. said Schultz.

"It feels pretty good. We've been down here so many times. I really don't know how to act as a winner." The Crickets, who have been to the state meet four times in Schultz's 19 years as head coach, used a strong inside game and strong rebounding to defeat the shorter Castleguards. The Crickets also used a television timeout to their advantage midway through the first quarter. With Fall Creek trailing.

12-8. with 2 42 left in the first period, a television timeout was taken. Fall Creek then ran off nine straight points for a 17-12 first-quarter lead. The Crickets had to settle for a 26-21 halftime advantage. but outscored Washburn.

9-4. early in the third period for a 35-27 lead, the closest the Castleguards could get the remainder of the game. "I'm not taking anything away from Fall Creek." said Washburn Coach Bob Gaspenni. "They have a fine team and certainly deserved to win. But we re not happy with the way we played.

"They intimidated us and we allowed them to intimidate us inside. (Todd) Logghe did a great job. "The game got away from us. They outrebounded us badly in the second and third quarters. (Paul) Henning just tore us up in there.

Said Gasperini. Logghe, at 6-foot-8. and Henning. 6-3. carried the Crickets to a 46-34 rebounding advantage and scored most of their points from close range.

Logghe scored 11 points, blocked seven shots and pulled down eight rebounds. Henning added 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Teammates Mark Cota and Pat Stewart added 15 and 11 points, respectively. Cable companies differ on Sportsvue offer "We think it's a great asset for us." Dale Clements Jones Intercable manager Sore shoulder hampers Ghelfi CLEARWATER, Fla. Right-hander Tony Ghelfi tried to pitch batting practice in the Philadelphia Phillies' major league baseball training camp Thursday, but he couldn't.

The former La Crosse Central High School pitcher is still bothered by a sore right shoulder and has not been able to compete for a spot on the Phillies' staff this spring. The shoulder injury hampered Ghelfi last year when the Phillies called him up from their Class AA team at Reading. Pa. Despite the injury, Ghelfi posted a 1-1 record and 3.14 earned run average for the National League champions in September. If he had been healthy, he was a strong candidate to break into the Phillies' starting rotation this season.

Ghelfi said his shoulder "only hurts when I throw." He said he does not have a rotator cuff problem. but described the injury as bursitis in the front area of the shoulder. He said he would meet with the Phillies' team physician to decide what his next step will be. "I've been resting it and taking ultrasound treatments, but obviously thats not working. The doctor seems to think a Continued on page 45 Barbera said the ban might also extend to delayed cable telecasts.

Clements said his company will offer the pay service to its customers at an additional rate of $8 a month. Jones Intercable Inc. serves customers in Onalaska. the town of Campbell, Holmen. West Salem.

Bangor and Barre Mills. Morton said he decided the risks were too great for his company to offer the service to La Crosse viewers. "After examining the costs involved, we decided it would not be a wise investment on our part at this time," he said. Morton said costs of satellite equipment, cable converters and labor were considered in making the decision. "We have a lot of sports right now," he said, citing the USA and ESPN cable stations and WGN in Chicago, which offers Chicago Cubs' baseball.

Morton said less than 30 people have called Group to inquire about Sportsvue since the new network started its advertising campaign. The Brewers still plan to televise 30 games on "free TV" this summer, and those games will not be the same ones aired by Sportsvue. Channel 19 in La Crosse will carry the 30-game schedule. Steve Shannon, Mike Hegan and Bob Uecker will be the Brewers' announcing team for Sportsvue, according to Barbera, and Jon McGlocklin and Eddie Doucette will be featured on the Bucks' telecasts. Of the 450,000 households in Wisconsin which have cable TV, about 250,000 will have access to Sportsvue by the time the network begins its programming.

Barbera said. By CHARLES GARDNER Of the Tribune staff Jones Intercable Inc. of Onalaska will offer the Sportsvue Cable Network to subscribers, possibly in time for the network's April 3 debut, according to Jones Intercable Manager Dale Clements. But Group Cable of La Crosse has decided not to provide the service, said Dean Morton, the local firm's manager. Sportsvue is the Wisconsin pay-TV network which will feature Milwaukee Brewers baseball, Milwaukee Bucks basketball and University of Wisconsin sports events.

The network's first telecast is scheduled April 3. when the Milwaukee Brewers open their 1984 major league baseball season against the Oakland A's. The Brewers' game against the A the following night also will be telecast, and the network's first Milwaukee Bucks' game is slated April 5. "We're definitely adding it," Clements said. We re trying to line up all the equipment so that we can get it on by then (April 3).

We re happy to have it. We think it's a great asset for us. Sportsvue plans to televise at least 200 events annually. This year the network will televise 67 Brewers' games, including 22 home games, and 33 Bucks' games, including 13 home games. The network, a joint venture of the Brewers and Bucks, plans to supplement its programming with UW and Marquette University events, as well as other American League baseball games.

Sportsvue has not yet signed contracts with UW or Marquette, although it has advertised those events as part of its package. Larry Barbera, Sportsvue vice-president of sales and marketing, said the network hopes to complete an agreement with the two schools sometime this summer, "We have no signed contract with them yet," he said. "But it just a matter of time before they get some of their things in order. We've talked about 40 (UW) events, primarily basketball and hockey. And we like to do some things like gymnastics, wrestling and swimming, too, to get some statewide exposure for the sports that aren't big-income producers for the university.

Sportsvue had hoped to show Badger football games, but Barbera admitted that is a remote possibility. The S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on the National Collegiate Athletic Association's fight to retain exclusive control of TV rights for football, which is being challenged by a group of member schools. An added factor is the probation slapped on Wisconsin by the NCAA ior the upcoming football season. The probation forbids any live telecasts of Badger games in 1984.

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