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

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Varsity hoops State title with 1 -4 basketball record We are the champions, said Junior Tim Holder and his words were also the words of the other team players on the bench during the title game of the Class A Championships in the ASU Activity Center. Prospectors bounced off the season strong, 'hard practice, teamwork and a love for basketball makes a good teamg confirmed Jeff Hays , a senior. Hoop- sters started the State tournament with a lot of spirit, everyone yelling, scream- ing and talking it up, according to Jeff. When we played our first game against Mingus, it was a bit shaky, with the score staying close, but everyone pulled together and helped to pull it out, then it was Morenci commented Randy Hayes, a senior. We came out like wolves, hungry for the State championship but no one ever said it was going to be easy, because it wasn't. Morenci gave us a tough time but again we pulled together and came out ahead, said Kevin Lockard, a senior. Due to the rising quality of play, Apache Junction High School basket- ball has proved to be more popular than ever in the community. Through the season, the team was represented by ten players: Chris Bar- wick 1125, Jeff Hays 1125, Randy Hays, 1125, Larry Karkos 1125 Charlie Hunt 1125, Kevin Lockard 1125, Sam Mar- quez 1125, Steve Terwilliger 1125, Den- nis Doerfler 1115, Jeff Graffa 1115 and Tim Holder 11 15. With a 15 win - 4 loss season and a third place at the Coolidge Christmas Tournament, the team entered post basketball play with the Conference Title a 56.2 game point average com- pared to their opponents 44.4. Scoring the highest points, Jeff Hayes racked up a twelve point! game average, while Dennis Doerfler had the best free-throw percentage of 71. Retrieving the most rebounds was Jeff Hayes, who accummulated a 12 reboundfgame average through the season. During the course of the season, the staunchest contender to the team was the Gilbert Tigers. They edged out the Prospectors three times they met, twice during regular season and once during a tournament. Head Coach Cy Henry attributed the ball c1ub's success to the fact that this Take 92 Stop action year's team worked very well as a group, along with a stronger confi- dence in the overall basketball pro- gram. - Speaking for the team, as captain was Kevin Lockard: We work very hard and long and in the end we will come out on top. He further explained that Basketball isn't very recognized around Apache Junction because of the past, but this year we're trying to change that. We are out here for our school and our town, we've great respect for Apache Junction, and espe- cially the student body at AJ . Practices usually lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and Coach Henry commented that one of the team's weaker points was that their percentage of baskets made could be better. Coach Henry expected lO0'Zr effort on the court - and to work on being gentlemen off the court. He enjoys hav- ing past athletes return to watch the games. - The coaching staff is looking for- ward to next year's squad, as there is a lot of upcoming talent.

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Strong junior varsity defense baskets 6-2 co Where were all the fans this year? Coach Jeff Mason doesn't know, but he knows his team played well enough to deserve some. The JV Basketball Team finished with a 6-2 conference record and a 15-4 over-allrecord. They ended the season with 12 play- ers including: Steve McDonald, Jeff Bracken, David Santistevan, Jim Gif- ford, Dan Fulcher, Chuck Celis, Alan Reynolds, Paul'Gruner, Johnny Ells, Currie Brundrett, Keith Petticrew, and Rene Huerta. David Grabner was moved to varsity six games before the end of the season, but he' still beat everyone in point aver- age with 143 points per game, followed by David Santistevan with nine points per game, Steve McDonald nine points per game, and Jim Gifford eight points per game. . . Jim Gifford and Steve McDonald finished the season with the most rebounds. Coach Jeff Mason said the main dif- ference between this year and last year was Last year we depended more on our upper classmen Qjuniorsj. Most of the load was carried by our sopho- moresf, He continued on to say, Our strongest point was our defense. We held opponents to an average of 44 points per game. Attitudes were also pretty fair as Coach Mason said, I think the team enjoyed. themselves, but I'm not quite sure. We did not set any goals that I know of . When asked if there were any JV players who could make varsity, he rep- lied, I definitely think there are 4 or 5 players on this year's team that will help our varsity next year. I can,t tell if the Varisty Team will be stronger though. He continued to say there wasn't one most valuable player. I don't think we really had one. Everyone picked every- one else up when they were downf' - Brian Graffa Take 94 Stop action nferenee record 3 l l lj STEVE MCDONALD, SOPHOMORE, tips off play against Coolidge . . . Coolidge went on to win 66-49. 25 JUNIOR TOM TOLNESS is hard-pressed as he puts one up against Coolidge. Coolidge remained on top 66-49. JUWCTIG5