Apache Junction High School - Prospector Yearbook (Apache Junction, AZ)

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S eed, rebounding, height bounces freshmen team to 12 wins, 7 lossesl Despite a disappointing beginning, the Freshmen Basketball Team rallied at the end of the Season to win eight of their last nine games to post a I2 win, 7 loss overall record. Reason for the slow start wa's the fact that we played three AA schools twice each early during the season, said Coach Chris Beatty. He felt that during the course of the season that the team matured and progressed very well. In conference play the Freshmen Team finished with an 8-2 record losing only to Coolidge ttwicel. 4 Second game against Coolidge at Coolidge was the most frustrating for Coach Beatty. He said, The press that we had broke in the first half gave us a lot of trouble in the second half, I might have been slightly responsible for this because my own excitement caused me not to explain clearly what I wanted the players to do. We played several tough teams this year especially Mingus and Coolidge, said Coach Beatty. Full court press and ability to handle the ball which improved during the sea- son were the strongest points which allowed the team to have a winning season. Overall lack of experience and height were definitely weak points for the Freshmen cagers. Their discipline and ability to play team basketball impressed me, said Coach Beatty. Joe Wilson and Milo Blanchard were the most consistent scorers but Coach Beatty said that being able to control the ball is what makes an offense work. Steve Workman, Rene Ramirez, and Pat O'Keefe did an excellent job of this as well as scoring off the press and fast break. ' Discipline was an important factor shown by the fact that they came from behind to win seven games and won both games that went into overtime. They were very willing to work to do well and to work as a team during the season, they also played very close to their potential, but as they mature in the next three years, their potential will increase dramatically, said Coach Beatty. It was Coach Beatty's opinion that they will have an excellent chance at the State Finals when they are sen- tors. Other team members who made up a strong bench and performed hard when they were needed were Jeff Karkos, Take 96 Stop action Mike Cain, Mike Carlton, Loren Ells, Robert Perez, John Graffa, Mike Hutto, Troy Dykstra, and Barry Petti- crew. - Steve Workman lj LOOSE BALL CAUSES action as Freshman Pat O'Keefe scrambles for the ball and Freshman Jeff Karkos eyes the action during the season opener against Gilbert. O'Keefe scored two points and Karkos hit four points, but the Fresh- men Team still came upon the short end of a 45- 51 decision. Zh PLAYERS TAKE a short break, while Freshman Joe Wilson prepares himself for a free throw during a 45-51 defeat to the Gilbert Tigers Wilson tallied I2 points in the loss. 31 JEFF KARKOS. FRESHMAN. said. The most embarrassing thing for me during a basketball game was sitting on the bench all the time.

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4 I3 DAVID GRABNER. SOPHOMORE drives to the hoop. during action in a 57-34 win against Cool- idge. He scored ll, which tied him for top scoring honors. 23 JUNIOR VARSITY, FRONT ROW: Paul Gruner. Jeff Bracken. Rene Huerta, Alan Reynolds. .Iim Gifford. Steve McDonald. Curry Brundrett. Danny Fulcher. Keith Petticrew, Johnny Ellis, David Santistevan, Chuck Celis, and Coach Jeff Mason. ' 33 ALAN REYNOLDS. SOPHOMORE.jumped up for a shot in the game against Coolidge. Alan scored 6 points in that game. which helped the Prospectors win in a 57-34 conference victory. I 43 STEVE MCDONALD. SOPHOMORE puts a shot up while Danny Fulcher. junior positions him- self for rebound. Steve. scoring ll points and Danny contributing 6 to a Prospector victory. I 53 WHAT DID Ilikethe mostaboutbeing inbasket- ball: Well. l had a good coach. Sophomore Mike Euliss. said. 63 DAVID SANTISTEVAN. SOPHOMORE, eyes the ball during a Coolidge game. He paced the Pro- spectors with ll points in a 57-34 victory. Take 95 stop action

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Zl UTRAFFIC JAM APPEARS to be the problem as Jon Graffa stumbles and a Coolidge defender falls. Coolidge defeated the Freshman Team 39-48. 23 FRESHMAN TRACY LEHMAN pull up and shoots a jump shot while Steve Workman watches the action. Lehman scored 7 pts. while Steve hit lO pts, for high scoring honors. but the young Prospec- tors still suffered a loss to Coolidge Bears 39-48. 33 FRESHMAN BASKETBALL TEAM: FRONT ROW: Loren Ells. Jeff Karkos. Pat O'Keefe. BACK ROW: Barry Petticrew. Mike Carlton. Steve Work- man. Milo Blanchard. Joe Wilson and Mr. Chris Beatty. Not pictured are Rene Ramirez. Troy Dyks- tra, Tracy Lehman. .lon Graffa. Robert Perez. Mike Hutto, and Mike Cain. 43 UP IN THE air is Freshman Rene Ramirez as he attempts a shot over his defenders during action against Coolidge. Tracy Lehman and Joe Wilson block out for rebounding position. Wilson scored 8 pts. and Lehman hit 7 pts. while Ramirez contrib- uted 3 pts.. but the Freshman Team still lost the Conference game to Coolidge 39-48. Take 97 Stop action