Blackford High School - Reflections Yearbook (Hartford City, IN)

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As time rum out in regulation play, Mark Brown scores a needed two points which in turn cause a double overtime beiore the Vikings win. With the game just about over, two Bruins put the iinal touches on the Fort Wayne Wayne game. Seniors Bill Johnson (Right) and Ken On (Left) take foul shots as the Generals (ail to get bade in the ball game. The Bruins upset the second-ranked team, 62-56. Just starting the second quarter, no one was suspect- ing the Bruins would upset Marion, but they beat the 6-0 Giants 71-67. After one of the home upset victories, Brian Lanham and Bob Dodds are carried off t e floor by th r elated classmates. Varsity Basketball 97

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As the final whistle blows, team members and fans celebrate the victory over Marion. The first Bruin win came over the 1976 state champion Giants. Bruins spedaCized in amazing upsets Even though the overall outcome of the year wasn ' t too pleasing, the Bruins, in the role of spoilers, pulled off the state ' s biggest upsets and played tricks with the conference race. Marion ' s Gi- ants, previously two-time state champs with a current record of 6-0, were the first victims of the Bruins. Before the game, Blackford was 0-5, and Marion held the rank of fourth in the state. The Giants, who humiliated the Bruins last year at Marion, were outplayed all over the court, and received what they earned. Huntington North, another state power, faced the Bruins the following week, but they took the game a little more seriously than Marion. The Vi- kings finally pulled it out in double overtime, 78-72 at Huntington. With Christmas over and the pre- vious upsets forgotten. Fort Wayne Wayne rolled into Blackford County sit- ting on the number-two spot in the polls. The Generals found themselves wondering what had happened, lost 62-56, outplayed everywhere on the court. Muncie North followed the next night, but two major upsets were too much for the Bruins to handle. With the season just about over and every- one looking to the Sectional, the Bruins hosted Alexandria, CIC leader and pos- sible champ if they could beat Black- ford. Stroup ' s men ' s record against oth- er conference foes had not been too remarkable. They were 1-3 going into the game and not considered much of a threat. The final score of the Tiger game was 95-80 — Blackford ' s victory. This marked the first time in Blackford ' s conference history that there was a three-way tie for first place in the con- ference among Alexandria, Peru, and Wabash. The Bruins and Tipton tied with 3-3 records and were awarded fourth and fifth places, respectively, while Madison-Grant and Elwood rounded out the standings. 96 Varsity Basketball

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young Cubs got game experience The Cubs, under the direction of Coach Rick Teats, closed out the sea- son with a 9-8 record. Sophomores and freshmen made up most of the team which gained experience for their up- coming varsity years, according to Mr. Teats. At Tipton early this year the Cubs were down by as many as 16 points, but rallied to beat the Blue Devils, 60-54. Fort Wayne invaded the Bruin court but were stopped in the JV game, 56- 54, in overtime. Brothers Kris and Greg Clancy had major roles in most of the games. Kris held a 13-point scoring average while Gred had a 10.4 average and 64 assists. Mike Buckner scored a 9.1 average plus eight rebounds per game. As his Alexandria opponents watch, Mike Buckner drives to the hoop for (wo points in a Cub victory over the Tigers, 52-45. As the fast break winds down to a shot, Scott Stalls- mith and Marc Rench watch Gary Langdon score two points the easy way. JUNIOR VARSny BASKETBALL (Bottom Row) Van Smith, Todd Cain, Danny Young, Brian West; (Middle Row) Greg Clancy, Carey Rees, Kris Deardruff, Rick Hicks; (Back Row) Mike Brown, Marty Leichien, Bob Roark, Evan Pethtel.