Eastside High School - Ram Country Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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1. Merlon Jones goes for a dunk shot and misses. 2. Canes make an attempt to block Eastside's shot. 3. Jimmy Johnson leaps to block Buchholz shot. 4. David Labby, Cleve Anderson, Anthony Thomas, George Gilshrist, Harold Roberts, Merlon Jones, Mar- lon Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Charlie Clark. 5. Rams show how easy it is to make a basket. 3 Men's Varsity Basketballfl l5

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Menis Varsity asketball Rams lose opener but quickly recover to earn seven straight victories. Even after losing a close 69-66 season opener to Jacksonville Bishop Kenny, Coach Mike Kirkman still felt that his team, which made it to the final four in last yearis 3A state basketball playoffs, showed that they are still of championship caliber, but were just feeling the opening night jittersf' North Marion proved to be no contest as the Rams blew past the Colts for an easy 97-49 victory. The Rams then knocked off number 2 Ocala Forest with a big 76-60 decision. The Santa Fe Raiders were the next Ram victims as the number 8 Rams defeated the Raiders 70-52. Santa Fe kept the game close dur- ing the first half and led by three points at the half-time buzzer. Being down by three points, the Rams emerged from the locker room ready to play efficient basketball. They started by dump- ing in ten unanswered points, and never gave up the lead for the remainder of the game. Marlon Jones led the Rams, scoring with his game high 30 points. Titusville Astronaut was caught unprepared for the wrath of the Rams as Eastside notched a 61- 52 decision. The College Town Classic tournament sent the Rams home licking their wounds after they lost a heartbreak, 63-62, to the Buchholz Bobcats. HWe really hurt and banged up,', said Coach Mike Kirkman, f'Wejust didn't have the bench strength after two players fouled out. Later the same week, the Rams traveled to Tallahassee for the Governor's Invitational Tourney and renewed their self confidence as they defeated Rickards of Tallahassee 85-59 to sieze the tournament title. The Rams welcomed a chance for revenge against the Bobcats of Buchholz as the Cats visited the Eastside gym only to be faced with a furious Ram squad who slapped the Cats with a 65-60 loss. ll4fMen's Varsity Basketball

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Men,s Varsity Basketball Second half of the year proved to be as successful as the first. The second half of the year went fantastic, as did the first. Anthony Thomas hit a jumper with 28 seconds left to give the Rams the lead, then grabbed a defensive rebound to preserve it as the Rams topped a tough Palatka team with a close 71-70 decision. The red hot Rams pressed the Tornadoes of Starke into numerous turnovers and used their fast break to obtain an easy 75-44 victory. The Rams jumped to a 25-13 first quarter lead and used a four pronged scoring attack to pull even further away in downing North Marion 85-50. A forfeit by Southeast St. Petersburg gave the Rams a very easy win. The Gainesville Hurricanes were outscored in each quarter as the Rams took command and blew past the Canes for a big 90-55 victory. The Rams had fun while drubbing the Hawthorne Hornets 96-52 as Harold Roberts brought the crowd to its feet with a vicious slam dunk. Even after winning the last four games by no less than thirty points, the Rams fell once again to Buchholz in an excit- ing 48-50 overtime decision. When asked about his feelings toward the basketball team, Coach Mike Kirkman replied, This season has produced the best ever basketball team for Eastside High School as far as the in win-loss record. This was due partly to the fact that we had experienced seniors returning, Merlon and Marlon Jones and Harold Roberts. Anytime you have talent, experience, and dedi- cation, you'll have a winning team. That's what we had this year. For the players and myself, it has been a great honor to have been part of the best team E.H.S. has ever had.