• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1989-02-02_Vol54_No17_11

Sports The Western Carolinian Page 11 Thursday, February 2, 1989 Catamounts Return Home to Face ASU &ETSU After Successful Road Trip Western Carolina University's men's basketball team, coming off the program's most successful road trip in three years, returns home looking for some success on its home floor and to get back into the wacky Southern Conference race. The Catamounts will meet the conference's win- ningest teams in the Ramsey Center in the space of three days as they will host Appalachian State this Saturday evening and East Tennessee State Monday evening. Western, 2-5 in conference play and 8-10 overall, finds itself only two games out of second place and three games out of first halfway through the league's schedule. UT-Chattanooga sits atop the standings with a 5-2 record followed by a four-way tie for second place as Appalachian State, East Ten- The Cats Gain Revenge Over UNC-A By Richard Sumner Carolinian Staff Writer ASHEVILLE - In Cullowhee, six weeks earlier, Western Carolina's basketball Catamounts found themselves on the wrong side of a 94-91 double overtime victory. The Bulldogs of UNC-Ashville beat the Cats on strong play from Brent Keck. This time, however, the UNCA crowd in the Asheville Civic Center saw Keck score only 11 points as Western's Terry Miller lead the Cats to a 76-72 win last Thursday night. Miller had 24 points in the contest and shot 73 percent from the floor and the foul line to lead the Western scoring. David Donerlson hit for 16 points and Keith Gray added 14. Bennie Goettie continued to slide his scoring average as he scored only 11. He came into the game with a 21.2 point average. The Dog's Milton Moore had a fabulous night scoring 32 total points, but his shooting was not enough to overcome the disappointing scoring from his teammates. Brent Keck put 11 on the board, Robert Watson added 8, and Harvey Shropshire hit for only seven, all below their season averages. The Bulldogs jumped to a quick 2-0 lead with a shot from Brandt Williams after controlling the opening tap. Western replied with a Goettie jump shot in the lane over a minute and a half later. Asheville scored another basket and two free throws to put (See UNCA, PACK 13) nessee State, The Citadel and Furman all have 4-3 records. Marshall is in sixth place at 3-4 while WCU and Virginia Military are tied for seventh with 2-4 marks. Western will get another shot at each of the league's other seven schools over the next four weekends as the countdown begins for the Southern Conference Tournament which will be held in the Asheville Civic Center, March 3-5. The Catamounts equalled last season's team win total with road wins over UNC-Asheville and Furman last week before losing at The Citadel Monday evening. The 76-72 win over UNC-A was Western's first victory on the Bulldog's homecourt since the series between the schools was re- newedinl986. Terry Miller, a junior forward, turned in a season high 24 points and freshman guard David Donerlson connected on nine of 10 free throws, including six straight in the last 53 seconds that provided the winning points. The 80-68 win over Furman was the Catamounts' first victory in Greenville, SC since 1983, breaking a string of five straight road losses to the Paladins. Western rallied from a five point halftime deficit by outscoring Furman 16-4 in the opening five minutes of the second half. Donerlson tossed in a collegiate career high 21 points, including three key 3-point baskets and six consecutive free throws in the last 57 seconds. Keith Gray, a junior forward, turned in an all around performance as he scored 12 points, captured eight rebounds, and recorded six steals. The road trip ended on a sour note as Dave Possinger's team suffered its worst defeat of the season, 79-51, at The Citadel. The Catamounts shot only 36% from the floor, 44% from the free throw line, were significantly outrebounded, and committed 28 turnovers. "We had played three pretty good games Robert Hill shoots over UNCA player Brian Combs last week and I guess we were due for a bad game. I think that it was the combination of the crowd taking us out of the game early and The Citadel executing everything extremely well. The only positive thing that came out of the game is that The Citadel has to come to our place in a few weeks and play on our floor in front of our crowd," said Possinger. In Saturday night's game at the Ramsey Center, WCU will be meeting its oldest rival in Appalachian Stite. The team has played 122 time3 since 1928. The Mountaineers ralliad the in closing seconds to pull out a 60-57 victory in Boone on January 9. The Catamounts had led with less than two minutes to play, but could not score on their last three possessions. East Tennessee held off Western's late rally for an 83-74 win in Johnson City on January 8. The Buccaneers had to overcome Bennie Goettie's 30 point performance. Furman Shocked by Cats By Richard Sumner Carolinian Staff Writer GREENVILLE S.C. - For the first time this season foul shooting has not been a problem for the Catamounts of Western Carolina. They hit 7 7 percent in the first half and 94 percent in the second, to give a game total of 87 percent from the line. The foul line gave the Cats 27 points and saved the game, as they went on to win their second Southern Conference match-up 80-68. "All we did yesterday was shoot free throws..." said Coach Dave Possinger after the game. "You realize we are playing without a Sophomore class, and really without a recruiting class. A win like this on the road just does so much for our kids and our program. Obviously a win on national television doesn't hurt either. It's a great win for Western Carolina University." The game was televised nationally on FNN's Score sports network. The first half saw the Paladins jump to a quick two point lead, and by the 16:39 mark, shots by Bruce Evans, David Brown, Tom Chase, and Joey Brooks, placed the Cats down seven at 11-4. A Maurice Johnson lay-up started the Catamount comeback, and was followed by Keith Gray and Terry Miller to tie the score at 11-11. Western could not stay in the game defensively and Furman reached 27-20 with seven minutes in the half. The Paladins surged themselves down by 13. Possinger told the team during a television time-out that they "must bring the score within a single digit" before going to the lockers. A sudden burst of defense, including Keith Gray's fourth steal of the half, allowed the Cats to out-score the Paladins 8-0 (SEE FURMAN, PAGE 13) Appalachian State at WCU Date: Feb. 4, Saturday night Tipoff/Site: 7:30 p.m. / Ramsey Center Records: Appalachian State 4-3, 14-4; WCU 2-5,8-10 Leading Scorers: ASU: C Sam Gibson 15.9, G Kemp Phillips 11.8. WCU: CBennieGoeuie 10.3,F.Keith Gray 13.5,GDave Donerlson 11.0. Game Notes: First of two conference games at home for Cats...ASU defeated WCU 60-57 in last minute at Boone earlier this season with over 5000 in attendance...Seniors Robert Hill, Bennie Goettie, Maurice Johnson and Greg O'Connor's last chance to defeat the Mountaineers...Apps have won four straight over Cats...Poss's Pit will play sixth man rolL.Big Mountain Rivalry—enough said. East Tennessee At WCU Date: February 6, Monday night Tipoff/Site: 7:30 p.m. / Ramsey Center Records: East Tennessee State 4-3,12-5; WCU 2-5, 8-10 Leading Scorers:ETSU: C. Greg Dennis 16.6, G Keith Jennings 16.0; WCU: C. Bennie Goettie 20.3, F Keith Gray 13.5 Game Notes: Second of two home conference matchups for Cats .. .Western will look to avenge early season loss to Bucs in Johnson City, TN in which the Cats were within six points (78-72) with 1:46 to play before losing 83-74...Seniors last shot at Bucs...Bucs have won four straight over Cats...ETSU was voted top team in the conference in preseason polls...Poss's Pit will be back and ready for Bucs. Donerlson Named Conference Player of the Week David Donerlson, Western Carolina's freshman shooting guard, was named Southern Conference Basketball Player of the Week for his outstanding performances in three games last week. He becomes the first WCU freshman to claim the league's player of the week award in 10 years. The Syracuse, New York product scored 53 points, shot 59% from the floor, hit 17 of 18 free throws, and connected on 61 % of his 3-point attempts in last week's games against UT-Chattanooga, UNC Asheville and Furman. He had 16 points and hit six consecutive free throws in the closing minute to provide the winning points in a 76-72 win. His best effort of the week came Saturday in Greenville, SC when he scored a collegiate high 21 points in WCUs 80-68 upset win over Furman. Again he came through under pressure as he iced the game with six consecutive free throws in the last minute. He also spearheaded the Catamounts' rally early in the second half when he connected on three straight 3-point f / baskets. Dave Possinger, WCUs first year head coach, says Donerlson matured last week. "David came into his own. We promoted him to sophomore status because he didn't play like a freshman. He played with a tremendous amount of confidence and hit several key shots in pressure situations," noted Possinger. Donerlson is a product of Corcoran High in Syracuse, NY and played last season at Worcester (MA) Academy. Open Football Tryouts for WCU Student Body DATE: Tuesday, Feb. 7 PLACE: Whitmire Stadium TIME: 3:30 pm Anyone interested in trying out should report to the stadium in appropriate gear (tennis or turf shoes and shorts). Any questions call: WCU football office 227-7395 "Mo's" last shot at Appalachian State CULLOWHEE - If there's one game that WCU point guard Maurice "Mo" Johnson wants to win more than any this season it's Saturday night's Southern Conference confrontation with mountain rival Appalachian State. The senior piaymaker from Wytheville, Virginia knows this could be his last shot at the Mountaineers, unless a meeting in the conference tournament in March would develop. He feels nothing would be more fitting than a Catamount victory at home in the Ramsey Center. "The App game ranks up there as high as any game this season," says Johnson. "Because of the rivalry, this is a really big game. Not only for me, but for my teammates. A victory this weekend over App would make a good season great." Earlier this season, the Mountaineers rallied in the closing seconds to pull out a 60-57 victory at Boone in front of 5,000 screaming App fans. The Cats had led with less than two minutes to play, but could not score on their last three possessions. "Mo" feels that game was one the Cats should have won, and the team has a score to settle with App. "That was a game we could have definitely won," stated Johnson. "We made a couple of mistakes when it got down to crunch time and we blew it. It was a tough loss and we have to settle a score with them (ASU)." One key to this Saturday's game will be how well the Cats' contain 6"9" center Sam Gibson (15.6 ppg.) and point guard Kemp Phillips (11.4 ppg.). "Mo" draws the assignment of guarding Phillips. "I will have to play my best defensive game of the season on Kemp (Phillips), because he's not just a scorer but a playmaker as well," commented Johnson. "Once he gets going, Appalachian State gets going, but my job will be to contain him." Containing opposing players is nothing new to "Mo". Against UNC-A last Thursday night, Johnson took their point guard completely out of the Bulldog's offense, and on Saturday against Furman, "Mo" held highly-rated guard David Brown in check as the Paladin standout had a hand in his face all afternoon. The Cats won both games on the road. On Monday night, "Mo" will face last year's Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in the form of Keith Jennings of East Tennessee State, but App State comes first. "Mo" acknowledges that good players will have good games, but for the Cats to stay close, he feels they must stop App from "pounding the ball inside and keeping them off the boards". The homecourt advantage will play a big role in this contest, as in all conference games, and "Mo" is looking forward to a big Catamount crowd to be at the game. "The crowd has been increasing at every game," adds Johnson, "We just need them to get as loud and wild as some of the fans we face on the road. Since this game Mauricejohnson will be against Appalachian. . .I'm sure we can expect it." To upset the Mountaineers, "Mo" sees three objectives the Cats must achieve during the game. "We must control the tempo, because we can't afford to get into a running game with anybody in the conference," says Johnson, "Second, we must play intense pressure defense and finally, play as hard as we can with 110% effort the entire game." On a Dave Possinger coached team, each player has a certain role, and this season Maurice Johnson's role has been leadership. It will take leadership to defeat the Mountaineers on Saturday. "Mo" is ready for the challenge, but he admits the personal importance of the game. "Everybody says we're going to be better next year," concluded Johnson. "But, this is the last one for me. My last shot at Appalachian State. I'm looking forward to it."

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: 1989-02-02
  • Date digitized: 2019-09-12
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • Pages: 20 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_1989-02-02_Vol54_No17
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library