Northwest High School - Viking Yearbook (Grand Island, NE)

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Hard Work And Dedication Provide Success Sometimes, after a fall sport championship, it ' s hard to motivate a team for another season of hard work and dedication in a winter sport. But such was not the case for Al Sheffield ' s Vikings. He took his boy ' s basketball team all the way to the semi-finals of the Class B State Tournament and a 23-2 record. This year ' s team was one of Northwest ' s best and it was not only due to the superb coach- ing tactics of Al Sheffield and Rick Hook, but also the players themselves. Ken Brand with his unforgettable style on the basketball court gave fans a lot to cheer about. Ron Maas proved he could play just about anywhere and Dave Sims led the team on the inside. Mark Hudnall became one of the state ' s best sixth players while Larry Brannagan also came off the bench on more than one occasion to spark the team. Junior Jeff Baxter became the team ' s playmaker while Kurt KEN BRAND displays what he does best as he shoots a 15-footer in regular season play. RON MAAS. a leader as well as a talented player, rips down a rebound against the Holdrege Dusters. LARRY BRANNAGAN, an instrumental part o f the Viking ' s bench strength, dishes the ball off to a teammate for an assist. 78 Varsity Boys Basketball

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record, winning seven of their last eight games, and they received the runner-up trophy in the West Division Central Conference Tournament. The high point of the season tor Coach Cathy Betz was defeating Aurora the week before the tournament and then again in the semi-finals of the tournament. The Junior Varsity and Freshmen really matured as players and that in itself spells success for any team. J.V. Scores Kearney 27-42 Adams Central 24-35 Aurora 11-25 Albion 31-23 Minden 23-24 Lexington 27-21 York 26-22 Hastings 32-23 Aurora 19-21 Central City 25-24 Holdrege 33-8 Central Catholic 24-23 Ord 17-19 St. Paul 27-18 Frosh Scores Walnut 24-22 Barr 15-32 Ord 32-23 Wood River 51-22 Minden 34-22 Central Cattiolic 41-11 Albion 36-17 Central City 26-17 York 31-6 Aurora 26-18 Central Conference Tourn, Aurora 24-23 Ord 38-43 f? Vf .f fAi -.« ' ;t 1 FRONT ROW L to R: Stieila Olson, Kim Burney, Gayle Fishier, Amy Chapman, Michelle Mullen MIDDLE ROW: Wanda Hoegren, Deb Olson, Sue Haden, Robin Owings, Candi Hohnholt, Mi- chelle Sorgentrei, Michelle Treffer BACK ROW: Coach Betz, Chelle Larson, Bess Preisendorf, Chris Quandt, Ram Ripa, Angie Vopat, Julie Graham, Linda Theasmeyer, Chris Hodtwalker, Joni Crow. CHRIS HODTWALKER avoids the intimidation of her opponent as she puts up a shot. Freshman Girls Basketball 77

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Grimminger, another Junior starter, also was a key to the Viking ' s success. Northwest lost only two games: one to Class A Hast- ings, and the other, a heart- breaker, to eventual Class B champion Gretna in the semi- finals of the state tournament with the score of 41-53. But more than just having a great season, this team had class and this team had style and that made them number one in the hearts of all Viking fans. Varsity Scores Central City 49-41 Aurora 62-57 York 71-45 Seward 55-53 Seward 48-46 Adams Central 78-52 Kearney 73-70 Holdrege 75-38 Aurora 61-56 Albion 72-58 Holiday Tournament St. Paul 68-44 St. Paul 90-48 Aurora 74-68 Central Cattiolic 66-48 B-5 Districts Minden 65-37 Adams Central 75-57 Central Cathioiic 54-41 Central City 52-47 Ord 52-44 Seward 61-52 Hastings 47-65 State Tournament Wood River 88-61 Holdrege 55-41 Conference Tournament Gretna 41-53 Fairbury 59-45 KNEELING L to R: Jeff Baxter, Mark Hudnall, Jeff Brand, Tom Mattingly, Kent Brannagan STANDING: Coach Sheffield. Ken Brand. Dave Sims. Ron Maas, Kurt Grimminger, Larry Bran- nagan, Coach Hook. MARK HUDNALL, one of the best sixth players in the state, goes for an easy lay-up in a regular season contest. Varsity Boys Basketball 79