• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-02-11_Vol46_No19_07

Sports 7 February ii, 1982/ Western Carolinian Cats Head Down Stretch Of Final Games by Russ Randolph The Southern Conference's version of D-Day is perhaps the best way to describe the Catamounts' next game this Saturday night in Chattanooga. Tennessee where the league leading UT-Chattanooga Mocs await another challenge to their 20-3 record. The game is being called the conference's "game of the year ff2." as top ranked UT-Ccanclinch the regulai season championship with a win while second place WCT1 needs the win desperately to keep its regular season championship hopes alive. The Catamounts became only the third team to defeat UT-C in the first "game of the year." last 1 huisdas in Cullowhee, when the fired up Cats handed the Mocs a 60-56 loss, their first loss in the conference Both teams appear to be playing their best basketball of the season. UT-C, now 12-1 in conference play and 20-3 overall, has won 13 of its last 14 games and became the third team in the nation to reach the 20 win level this past Monday evening. The only blemish on the Moccasins' record in over six weeks is their loss to Western last Thursday. With that win, the Catamounts are now the holders of the longest win streak in the Southern Conference with six straight victories and 11 wins in their last 12 games. Coach Steve Cottrell's team is enjoying its best season since doing the conference with a 16-5 overall record, and 9-3 league record. Western has never won in seven trips to Chattanooga, but the current Catamounts are enjoying unusual success on the road this season with live big road wins. The Cats definitely have a tough road ahead of them. They must defeat UT-C this Saturday, then beat Fast Tennessee State on the road next Thursday and Marshall and the Citadel in Reid Gymnasium to stay in the running for the regular season title. In addition, the Cats are hoping for some help from East Tennessee State and Marshall who play the Moccasins in Chattanooga next week. "Chattanooga is in the driver's seat and rolling down the road again."said Cottrell of the leading Mocs. "We've got to slow them down Saturday and hope for some help," he added. "We've got our two toughest road trips of the season coming up as we go against two outstanding teams in extremely tough places to play. Wc could not be playing better at this point, and 1 feel good about the upcoming games. We've just got to play our style of basketball and hope for the best," Cottrell concluded. Cottrell credits several factors for the Catamount's recent surge improved inside play, free-throw shooting, good bench play, and their renowned fast break offense. "WeVe really got nine starters on this team and have been able to wear some team down with our depth." continued Cottrell. "Minor injuries and off-nights by one or two players hasn't hurt us as much this season as in the past or as much as it has some of the tea ms we 've played." he explained. In the 90-69 blowout of Davidson (their worst defeat of the season) the Cat bench outscored Davidson's bench 39 to I. "Cedric Cokely, Pat Sharp, and Mike MacFarlane have been coming off the bench and sparking us," notes Cottrell. Four Catamounts scored in double figures in that Davidson game Monday night here. Ronnie Carr led the way with 18, followed by Cedric Cokely with 17. Kevin Young with 16, and Kenny Trimier with 12. Trimier also photo by Doug Cavanah The Catamounts are now holders of the longest winning streak in the Southern Conference. Their 11 wins in the last 12 games has added to the excitement of basketball despite troubles with game tickets. had 8 rebounds, followed by Cokely with 7. Mike MacFarlane with 6, and Greg Dennis with 5. The Catamounts' inside play on both ends of the floor has shown much improvement during the hot streak. The starting frontline of Si Simmons. Kenny Trimier and Greg Dennis has had plenty of help from MacFarlane, Cokely, Sharp, and Craig Cordes. Free-throw shooting, as usual, was again a key in wins last week over UT-C and Appalachian. The Catamounts are hitting 77.795 of their free throws, ranking them third in the nation. Good free-throw shooting is especially noteable in the Appalachian game last Saturday, as Greg Dennis hit 9 of 9. Ronnie Carr hit 5 of 6, Kevin Young hit 4 of 4, and Mike MacFarlane hit 2 of 2 that payed off. Carr and Dennis shared the top scoring honors in the App game, each with 19. Pat Sharp had 10, MacFarlane had 6. and Cordes had 4 in that win. In the Davidson game Monday night, Cottrell's fast break offense was perhaps the most effective it has been all season, and is improving with each game. The main reason for that improvement according to Cottrell is due to the recent play of Kevin Young, last week's Carolinian player of the week. The Hendersonville senior is hitting better than 50P of his shots off the break, and his six assists per game is second best in the conference. Ronnie Carr continues to lead the conference in scoring with an 18.8 per game average and Greg Dennis maintains the second place position with 17.8 a game. Carr is now second in the conference free-throw shooting (87.1%) and Dennis is third (86.6P). Vvll Western Carolinian Tim Thompson P<> •»« ** < ■***»#*, v»rth < ir*lhM lffli Business Manager Wrstrrn CftroHfM 1 nlvenft) (704> 227-7267 Bit's V Pieces Of Sports by Russ Randolph How bout' them Cats'.'" Thai's what many of us find ourselves saying in regard to the recent play of WCl Catamount Basketball team. It was out of the frying pan and into the tire last week for the Cats, as they withstood perhaps their toughest homestand of the year, coming through it with 3 BIG wins. As sophomore DAVID MCDOWELL put it, the Cat* "scratched"the Mounties. "de-railed" the Chattanooga Choo-choO, and "clawed" the Wildcats of Davidson. Indeed, Western's plav is b> far, at its peak at the right time. Senior PHILIP CORTESE and sopho-mores FERLIN FRYE and ELLEN SIGMON are very loyal Catamount fans. Ihese three cheered the Cats on at Appalachian in Boone, and were back again last week to cheer Western on against the Mounties in Reid Gym last Saturday night. "We just love to rub it in on our ASU friends when we beat Appy State," the group said. "Beating them in football and now twice in basketball has made our year complete." the group added....Freshmen KAY HARDISON, TOM DURANCE, DAVID JARRETT AND "PANAMA" L1TTMAN were among the 3,168 in attendance at Reid Gym Saturday night against Appalachian, and they too, were very supportive and impressed. "I was amazed at the ability of the team," said Littman, who is in his first semester here. "The team makes me proud to go to school here," added Jarrett and the others beside him smiled in agreement as the buzzer sounded with another Reid Gym victory WCU's RIFLE TEAM is preparing for their participation in the Southern Conference Rifle Championships to be held on February 20 in Johnson City, Tennessee. The team placed sixth in a nine-team field on January 30 at Clemson, scoring 1,169 points. That was only 100 points out of second place, and against such opponents as Appalachian, Citadel, Clemson, Furman, and Davidson (who have had rifle teams for years) that's darn good, as the Cat shooters are in their first year of existence Sophomore RAY WILLIAMS is among some of the students still disappointed with the new ticket policy set up for the basketball games. "It's a cramp in my busy schedule to have to wait in line to get tickets," said Williams, "and I've yet to see any print-outs as to who can go on what night," he added WCU BASEBALL PLAYERS are still having to put up with the rainy weather during practice sessions. The Bat Cats start their 1982 season on February 28 at Georgia State. Other teams the Cats will face this season are Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, and all the Southern Conference teams MEN'S TENNIS begins in 2 weeks. The men will play North Greenville College on Feb. 26, and at Gardner Webb on Feb. 27. Charles Bowen is the coach of this promising team TKE BOXING MATCHES are coming up again and if you've yet to see them, then I suggest going to the University Grand Room on March 2 and 3 to see what is always an exciting show of athletic ability. For more information contact VAN STAMEY at 586-9874 or the TKE house at 293-5332 Interested in KARATE? Lessons are now being held in the dance studio of Reid Gym at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information contact PETE at 227-6676 WOMEN'S SOFTBALL is underway and the Lady Cats are having problems getting outside lately due to the weather. The team will be young this year, as veteran coach BETTY PEELE lost seven from her nationally ranked team of last year. "We're still going to be tough," Peele said recently, "and I'm optimistic as to what our capabilities will be," she said. The Lady Cats begin their season in style as they travel to the University of Florida in March for their first tournament. Peele is assisted by TRISH HOWELL and JANE BELL WCU's second year men's VOLLEYBALL TEAM opens its season February 26 in Breese Gym against UT-Chattanooga and East Tennessee State. Sgt. Richard Jenkins is the second year coach of the team which has 12 members Western's GOLF TEAM opens its schedule March 15 in the Limestone College Invitational tournament in Gaffnev South Carolina... Open FOOTBALL TRY-OUTS will begin Wednesday, February 17. The tryouts for walk-ons will begin at 4 p.m. in Whitmire Stadium. Prospective players should come dressed in appropriate clothing. The Carolinian wants you! If you are interested in writing for us. please feel free to drop by for an interview with one of our editors. photo by Doug Cavanah Women's Gymnastics On The Roll by Karen Ashe On Saturday, February 13, at 2:00 p.m.. the women's WCU gymnastics team will host Virginia Polytechnical Institute (VPI) in Reid Gymnasium. This meet will be the fifth meet of the season for the Lady Cats. The past four meets have included the following: Auburn, at Auburn; Duke and Carolina at Duke; Auburn, Radford, and Clemson at WCU; and North Carolina State and East Tennessee State, also at WCU. Coach Sue Fields praises her squad and adds that "each girl has performed an excellent job." Although Fields has a small squad consisting of six, three veterans and three "relatively inexperienced" girls, she is hoping for possible qualifying results in regional competition in preparation for the nationals. The team is "working hard" but has been "plagued by injuries, which have kept the girls from being a fully developed team," said Fields. In the past meets there have been several high individual scores posted by the lady gymnists. In the Auburn, Clemson, and Radford meet, Joy Frazierfrom Columbia. SC, won first place on the uneven parallel bars. Also in the Auburn. Radford. Clemson matchup, freshman "Reenie" McDonald took second place in the balance beam competition. In the vault. Frazier and McMonald took fourth and fifth places, respectively. Members of the 1981-82 Gymnastic Team include sophomore Patty Murphy. Becky Stevenson. Frazier. McDonald, Janice Cole, and Katherine Huffman. Coach Fields commended Keith Robinson and Dean Thompson, student assistant coaches, for their job in helping Fields. Fields broke her leg in a February skiing accident and said that her assistant coaches were doing a "fantastic job." Also, highly praised was Alan Lollor.the team trainer. The 1981-82 season began November 6 and will end March 13, unless the team advances to the National competition. After the February 13 home meet, the last meet at WCU for the season will be held on February 27 against Eastern Kentucky. THE WELL HOUSE SANDWICH CMPORIUM Hot Deli Sandwiches Made with only the finest ingredients available Riverwood Shops, Dillsboro 586-8588

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1982-02-11
  • Date digitized: 2019-01-29
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15" x 11.5"
  • Pages: 12 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-02-11_Vol46_No19
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library