Ashtabula High School - Dart Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

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All fur nne ... Coach Walters builds team unity ' jJ'he basketball team lacked height but had plenty of desire. Coach Walters said that the team practiced and played together. 'They gave every ounce of energy they had untilthe end said Coach Walters. With only two returning senior lettermen, Ray Caudill and Mark Cray, no height, and a late conditioning, the team had its work cut out for it. They had many problems in the beginning of the year, such as shot selection, communication, ano belief in their abilities, but they recognized all the problems they could and worked on them extensively in practice. One goal Coach Walters had was to build unity in the upcoming players. He wanted basketball players from seventh grade on to feel united and have a bond with the varsity players. He had the freshman team go to the )RW game with the junior high to watch and to sit wth them at half time. Also he had the junior high team warm up and practice with the varsity and sith with them at half time. By building this unity. Coach Walters believed that the upcoming teams would play together as a unit and, as a result, become winners. On a fast break, left Craft beats his man and scores a qunk two points with a layup leff was a starter and letterman a sophomore, which was a great act am-pbshment Leaping over his defender, Cory Allgood takes a high percentage rtstde shot. The team lacked height but made up for it with desire, jumping ability, and shot selection.

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At his position of guard Ray Caudill takes the ball out of bounds Ray was a very effective passer throughout the season as wefl as a consistent shooter and scorer. The only two returning senior lettermen, Mark Cray and Ray Caudill, leave Coach Walters' room after a pep talk Coach Walters strongly recognized the need for team unity. 24 VARSITY BASKETBALL

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Spirit fluids an Underdogs show « he basketball team was considered the underdog in basically every game they played this year Pride, made us go out every game and give our all. We know we were the underdog, but that made us want to win even more, ' stated junior Rusty Ezell. The team was looking to upset as many teams as possible. One such upset which stands out in the minds of the players and spectators was the game with Madison. At the time, Madison was second in the NEC and Bula had only one victory. But after the 76-66 major upset, Bula had 2 wins and Madison dropped in the desire on court NEC standings. Senior Bob Sholtis said, 'We went into every game with a positive attitude. We wanted to prove that we were better than anyone else.' Team members may not have been victorious in the number of wins, but they were winners. They played as a team and kept a positive attitude. They had pride in the school and went on the court to play the best they could During basketball practice. Coach Robert Walters oversees moves demonstrated by lotas Taylor A graduate ol AHS and Baldwin Wallace. Mr Walters had coached here (or 16 years After being a part of the basketball program for four yean, senior Bob Shod is displayes cxce ent jumpshot form Bob was also a member of the cross country and tennis teams 26 Varsity Basketball iiMflHi