Bangor High School - Bangorian Yearbook (Bangor, MI)

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was-,,.,.g.:S-K .-Il .-XBOVE:1 Doug Greenwold, Grand Rapid Lee's big center, and Bangor's Pete Gent duel on the at Ienison Field House in the Class C Basketball Title contest. Jamie Gent, 4f24, and Rich 414, are pictured in background. Yang: First Regional Title in Bangor's -- history is climaxed by removing the net used in the Viking-Oakei-5 tilt. Jamie Gent does the honors. f,..4.aam-5' ' ...ns hardcourt Waite, Guard Rich Waite shoots in K. Christian Tour- ney game. Louie Geresy moves in to grab re- bound, if necessary. i. Left, Cassopolls Rangers at tempt to block Pete Gent as he drived from the key. K. X. ral The Big Six are shown in Post Title game pose QL. to RJ: Louie Geresy, Phil Weiss, Pete Gent, Rich Waite, Bill Mayhak. QSTAND- INGJ: Jamie Gent and Manager Bill Bennett.

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STATE CHAMPS Basketball reigned supreme in Bangor for four months as the Vik- mgs compiled a phenomenal 24-1 record, the best by far in the school's Cage history. The local quintet went all the way to state and came back with Bangor's first Class C basketball title - but not after several quarters of sweat and anxiety on the prep hardcourt. Six boys, led by Coach Marlon Howard, and backed by eight substitutes, were the core ofBangor's squad. Six boys and a coach: Pete Gent, Jamie Gent, Louie Geresy, Bill Mayhak, Phil Weiss, Rich Waite and their coach, Marlon Howard, all cool, calm and sharp in basketball's com- plicated strategy. This was the team and the coach that brought Bangor its third straight KVA title, the District Championship, the first Regional tro- phy the Vikes had won, and the State Chatnpionship of Class C basketball. Never say die is the phrase that best describes the scrappy Vike crew. They had little trouble in the District, whipping Watervliet in the opener, 62 -273 then handing the Lakeshore Lancers a 59-47 defeat. But the regional was a different story. Bangor drew Cassopolis for the first contest, a fine team with depth and height. Bangor edged the Rangers 64-63. Next, the Vikes tackled Kalamazoo Christian, de- fending champs and the only team to defeat Bangor in the regular season. But it was the easiest game of the regionals as the local five dumped the Comets 78-59. The next day, an exhausted Viking squad took the floor against an aroused Three Oaks team. lt took four periods and an overtime to crack the Oaker's defense, but the final score read 64-53. Bangor exploded for 13 straight points while holding the op- position to 2. The win gave the school its first regional cage title. The games seemed to get closer and closer as the tournament progressed. ln the quarter finals, Bangor came from behind in the waning moments to nip Saint Patrick of Wyandotte, 55-53. Gwinn was the next team that the Vikings faced, and the contest proved just as hectic as previous ones. Bur the 'Cardiac Kids' did it again, beat- ing the UP team, 54-49. On Saturday, March 9, the big one was on hand, and Bangor showed the crowds that they didn't need last-minute rallies to win a ball game. The Vikes gave their all, and triumphed over a highly- rated Grand Rapids Lee, 57-45, before a jam packed crowd at Jeni- son Field House at East Lansing, to become the champs of Class C basketball in Michigan. A victory celebration at home climaxed the road to the state championship, a celebration that drew the largest gathering Bangor ever witnessed. The team and their coach were met by the village fire trucks and an estimated 3, 000 Van Buren citizens. The team rode atop the trucks and paraded through town, followed by about 60 honking cars. The victory celebration was ended that afternoon as nearly 2, O00 Viking fans crowded into the gym to see Village Presi- dent, Cleve Stowman present the 'Key to the City' to Coach Howard and his wife. Howard and his team were accorded a standing ovation. va -P 'Em 7 t Q7 v5 1 P v I L F' ,yi s- ,mm gm

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