The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 17

THE LINCOLN STAR SDOltS Tuesday, Page 17 Label Links, Northeast preseason cage favorites A 9 1 if Hicniao a By Randy York Prep Sports Editor Preseason labels are guesses at best, so one must keep things in perspective in discussing the 1976-77 prospects for Lincoln prep basketball teams. But if you have to have labels, here they are: Northeast Loaded with shooters and experience, but still must find a quality pivotman to challenge for the state championship. Lincoln High Owner of its best talent in recent years; experienced, balanced inside and outside, offensively and defensively; may be the best team in the Capital City. Southeast Short on experience, long on potential, if players from a 15-1 reserve team develop in rapid fashion. East Even though the Spartans are the only Lincoln team not in the Class A preseason ratings, they expect to be competitive, opponents may have trouble coping with their quickness.

Pius With only one starter returning from a 6-12 team, the outlook is not bright; one of the toughest Class schedules offers a monumental challenge. Northeast was No. 3 in the pre-season ratings, Lincoln High was No. 5 and Southeast No. 9.

East and Pius were not rated. The Rockets and Links are solid choices. They have to be rated co-favorites for city honors. Southeast coach Wally McNaught and Eat coach Paul Forch. whose teams don't command as much early attention, are split on which team they think should be favored.

"You have to go with NWtheast." McNaught says. "You just ignore four returning starters from a state tournament team Playoff experience is a big item in any sport, especially Forch disagrees. He prefers Lincoln chances over Northeast. E. Johnson Forch A.

JohnsonKelly 1 has the best Forch allows, Lincoln High has the board strength and a better inside game. not hurting at guard either I think all boil down to who can stop Gary Ed Johnson, starting his 28th season at Northeast with a glossy 380-132 career record, isn't fond of his Rockets having to depend so much on shooting. is too big a variable," he says. know Doug Berka, Joe Prai. Gary Karthauser and Mike Sales can shoot the ball.

But got to be able to rebound it. The early line was that Karthauser might move to center to strengthen the inside game. But Johnson want that to happen absolutely In the meantime, been pleased with the progress shown by 6-4 Doug Wicmer and 6-5 Mac Rodgers at pivot. Lincoln High coach Aldie Johnson is enjoying a rare solid depth factor. have six lettermen.

six juniors and six he points out. "I think all are capable of making a contribution. "Our problem early is finding some he says. "I hope we pick up with some of the same things we left all with last season. I think we have good speed and will board fairly well.

I'll reserve judgment on the shooting until I see it under competition." Ralph McWilliams. Alvin Moore and Dennis Scott, all luniors. are the top guards. Jerry Heckman, a much-improved Robert Robinson and Nate Woods are the top forwards Karl Scholz, a 6-5 senior, is the likely starter at center with 6-6 Johnson his backup. Despite having only two lettermen.

McNaught is pleased with raw taient "These kids have played well at the lower levels." he notes. "They lost three games as sophomores and one as reserves. "We'll be putting a unit on the floor that's never appeared McNaught says, if they can display a certain amount of confidence through December, a good share of the battle. We'll be McNaught hopes that lettermen guards Knox Jones and Stan Haas be two of the better guards had since been at Southeast. got to lead Jim Alexander and Paul Molaskey are the Knight forwards with Tony Fejfar having an edge at center over Doug Kaltenberger, recovering from an elbow operation.

pivot is Bob Mulvaney. He was cut last season, but invited back after impressing coaches in Intramural competition. The 6-4 senior reflects the hustle and desire of this Spartans. according to Forch. "They want to he says.

get tested right off the bat But once we get a couple games under our belt, we be too bad. 1 think Jay Rodenburg. Jim Strasheim and Tom Vergith arc three of the quickest guards ever had Vergith. however, likely will start at forward with Dick Chancellor. East's only clear-cut starter in the early-season workouts Pius coach Don Kelley has been pleased with Thunderbolt practices.

"I don't know how bad or how good we are," he admits. "but had good competition for all positions. "If we have a strong suit, it would be a little bit of quickness and a real good attitude," he says "This group wants to be successful and they're willing to work hard to make up for their lack of height and some other things Mark Cooper, a 5-10 senior guard, must provide vital leadership, according to Kelley. Center Orvie Stueck is the only other Bolt with a solid starting position "BXerything else is pretty wide open." Kelley says, this point, there are more question marks than anything else Rosters, schedules, page 19 Work pays off for Duane West. By Ken Hambleton staff Sports Writer Duane West have been frustrated, even Houdini had trouble getting new tricks to work right But just like the master magician, West showed patience and perseverance All the time, effort and positive thinking came together as the Nebraska gymnast won the floor exercise event in the Midwest Gymnastics Open in Chicago last weekend "1 learned a new trick in a long time," said West, a senior all-arounder on the Ml squad "Then everything came together at the right time and I learned new tricks on the floor exercise, rings, and vault just before going to West won the floor exercise with a 9 3.

in the horizontal bar with a 9 25. tying freshman Richard Brindisi, and earned 10th in the all-around Nebraskans have won five individual titles' at the Midwest Open, considered the second largest gym meet in the country, with Larry Gerard, Steve Dickey, present coach Francis Allen and Hoppe Baetter. all capturing titles recently Gerard placed fourth in the all-around this vear probably won more titles than any other school in the meet over the past couple of vears." said coach Allen "And for West it was the justification of three years placing runnerup in the West placed third in the floor exercise as a freshman and third in his sophomore and junior vears before this win "I 'just tried to do a simple, cleaner (Without faults) set for the finals in the said West, a Lincoln Northeast graduate. West's mount of a double-back and smooth execution of the other 11 tricks in his routine helpt'd him improve from third in the pulsorios to first by the end of the optionals round with the finals remaining "I knew I had to hit my routine to win the event." said West, who won the Big Eight Invitational parallel bars and high bar events earlier this year West said he is going to be adding some new twists to his floor routine for the Big Eight Conference meet this March "The double- back mount used to be unique but everytxxly does It now so going to add a triple twist and work on my other skills for the Big Eight," he said new vault helped him score a personal best of 9 45 in a dual meet with Illinois- Chicago Circle two-days before the Midwest Open meet. "There are two ways to do my new vault and coach Allen wanted me to do it the Japanese method "But that working for me so one night after thinking about it all day 1 tried it the Russian way and it said West The vault involves a roundoff (carlwheeU with a snap back-thp are only two of us in the Big Eight that can do it and probably SIX in the nation that can perform the West proves young (jog can learn new tricks "1 landed on my hands and knees in the Midwest Open and still ended up with an 8 85 said West just like so many other gymnastics tricks, in that once you do it it a lot easier than before doing it Later West learned a Gerard trick on the rings and is working on even more new tricks for his floor exercise "It's really a confidence builder to havp learned the new tricks and get some titles, said West "1 know now I have the capability to score up there with the top all-arounders if 1 hit all my routines And never betm able to give tho.se guys a real run West, along with junior all-Ame'-ican Gerard, senior (iary Jeurink and fresnman Mark Williams will comprise the Husker team in the Ball State all-around invitational this wtH'kend in Muncie.

Ind Nebraska, which won the iTUH't last year, will competing with 24 tdher all around teams meluding M'AA defending team champion Penn State, NCAA runner-up Big Eight rival Oklahoma jumper peps NU win Seattle. Wash. Nebraska sophomore guard Brian Banks hit a 19-foot jump shot with 13 seconds left to give the Huskers a 59-58 overtime win over Washington here Monday night before some 5.000 fans Banks scored all eight of M' points in the overtime Following shot Washington Chester Dorcy drove the length of the court but lost the ball out of bounds. Banks went to the tree throw line after he was fouled when NU tried to get the ball into the court. Banks missed the first shot of a one-and-one free throw and Husky Mark Scott rebounded with two seconds left, threw the ball the length of the court, but the ball rimmed out and the Huskers won Banks finished with 16 for the 1-1 Huskers.

while 7-toot center James Edwards paced Washington with 25 points. NU center Carl McPipe scored 15 and forward Bob Siegel added 11 for the Huskers, who shot 47 per cent from the field Washington, now 0-2. outrebounded NU by a 47-34 margin. Nebraska led 27-26 at half time speed and quickness really came through when it said NU coach Joe Cipriano. "Brian defensive play at the end of the overtime when he drew a foul that gave us the ball with 26 seconds left was "This was a great comeback win for said Cipriano.

"Anytime you win an overtime game on the road, especially in Washington, you know you've done a great team Cipriano. who was a standout player for Washington, added that defensive play towards the end of the game that caused numerous WU turnovers was "fantastic Nebraska will travel to Hawaii-Hilo on Wednesday, then face Hawaii on Thursday and Friday ViP oe TolsU )5- NtBrssKS (g .4 i 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 (St) a 2'. if li 45 22 St Huskers plummet Now York UPl The University id Pittsburgh was assurtHl ot going into the New Year Day biml action with a No 1 ranking when the Panthers received first place support troin 24 coaches Monday to retain thoir lop spot in the weekly college football ratings With only 39 of the 42-man coaching board voting Pitt collected 365 points by winning Its final game prior to a Sugar Bowl meeting with Georgia, which kept its fourth place ranking on 244 points The Cornhuskers were rated eighth last week then lost to Oklahoma on Thanksgiving Day They are now rated 19th Varner lashes out at ABC, supports Osborne and staff By Randy York Staff Sports Writer Lest any Nebraska football fan think otherwise, the American Broadcasting Co. (ABC) does not hire and fire football coaches at the University of Nebraska B. (Woody) Varner, president of the University of Nebraska, made that point unmistakably clear Monday in an unexpected appearance at the season's final Extra Point Club luncheon.

behalf of Board lUfenU, I want you to know that Dave Diles don not hire and fin football at the University of Nebraska," Varner said. The sparse luncbeon croivd meted the remark with resoundlnf applause. Diles is a wpohM amMMincer tor ABC'i PrudenUal Collefe Scoreboard. Saturday night, during haUUme of tbe State game, he obaerved that loss to Oklahoma may coat Ms job. tiie first time this season attended this iimeheon," 1 iMd.

"I want everyonn to laow wt fotl wn iff blMsed with ont of thl ItaMt conehMf staffs tn thl ooMtry. cooiiif rm not miMlid with 7- 3-1 added Varner. nterestingly, neither is Tom Osborne, his staff or his athletes, even though they gave one heckuva an effort know there will be a lot of people who think our football program has gone to hell with this loss." Varner said "But you can expect that kind of commentary from the Monday morning quarterbacks and the fair weather fan. here to urge people to Join and put their shoulder to the wheel, so we're all pushing in the same directitm, not to tear a proven program down." Varner said be could ictentify three or four plays, it seems to me, could have Iwlpisd us be sitting No. 4 or 5 in the country right now, if they had gtme the right way.

to Um blocked kick against LSU, tbe desperation pass agalnat Mtasouri and either one oS tboae paim OklaMmui ojmpleted agaiut us," Varner lald. "Coicbbii oumot control fumble or be totally mpoMlble for a fataful, amnlBfly onei'lB-a'llfiiimi play." Varoar lakL "I Utlnk our coaches have Osborne stirred by Varner Even though University of Nebraska prwident (Woody) Varner delivered a sailid endorsement for Tom Osborne at Extra Point Club luncheon, the Cornhusker head football coach admitted some initial alarm with appearance got to Osborne said with a smile, "that when WiHidy walked through the door, a lot of things went through my mind Osborne thanked the sparse luncheon crowd for showing up. "I appreciate your being here. he said "Of course, I also realize most of the really violent tans are in Hawaii Osborne done a helluva job I expect a solid front of backing for them I know they have my unqualified enthusiasm and support Varner the only one. giving Osborne a solid endorsement Monday Dr.

Robert Koefoot, a member (rf the NU Board of RegenU from Grand Island, said be will recommend gt the Dec. meetmg in Uncoln that (Mwnw be given an addiUonal three-year contract with a salary increase. "Ai far concerned," lUefoot said, "he'i (Oabome) nuMt deserving of every consideration done an excellent job as coach Koefoot said, "This is a time when the state of Nebraska has to stand behind coach Osborne just impossible to win every game although we all to Bob Devaney, Nebraska athletic director and foriMr Husker Iwad foothall coach, hte described Osborne as the best college football coach in the country He also said references made on national televiiiM that nugbt be fired in tlto walto of the (MUaboma loss even worth dignifying Osborne was moved by Varner appearance and endorsement "That speech has to rank right up there with the Gettysburg he mused "I think it ought to be saved tor posterity's sake Seriously. Osborne thought a lot ot the things he said are true, but you ve also got to remember biased sure the president of a university has more important things to do than defend a football Osborne added, "but I do appreciate his showing up Osborne recalled that four years ago. in his rookie season as Nebraska's head coach, after Nebraska lost to Oklahoma, 27-0.

at "Woody came over to my borne that evening to offer his encouragement and Osborne recalled guess that is something never forget Offensive backfield coach John Melton opened his sMirt remarks, tongue-in- cheek, in agreement with every thing Woody has said Then, surveying the crowd, Melton nouced that vocal Nebraska football and basketball supporter Bus Whitehead was absent I see Bus Whitehead isn here today Melton I can understand that 1 guess he pretty after ioaehing a football game Friday and a game Saturday and losing both As a special guest a'-astant basketball coach Lonnie Porter gave a explanation of 71-57 loss to Iowa at the Sports enter Saturday night 'T in just on my wav out to ret'ruit Porter said "And if any of you were at the game Saturday night you re probably wondering what I doing here now "We just played a horrible game and we know it Porter said "When Lou (RoperI called me this morning about coining over. I thought about using my dress a denim outfit as an excuse not to come But I decided 1 didn want to shy away from it "At this stage of the game, we knew we be that good," he added. we had no idea that we would bt that bad.".