West Forsyth High School - Cronus Yearbook (Clemmons, NC)

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THE INTRODUCTIONS: Doug Harrington and Deric Byers appear to be relaxed as starting point guard David Summers is introduced to the Winston- Salem Memorial Coliseum crowd. Coach Hawkins, however, looks on with a little more intensity. Andrew Tilley BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM, FIRST ROW: Mgr. Melanie Wilcox, Vince Hairston, David Summers, Mgr. Beth Fulp, SECOND ROW: Head Coach Otis Hawkins, Jesse Byrd, Todd Beckner, Carlos Mumford, Jeff Johnsen, Keith Hester, Pat Carter, Brian Young, Doug Harrington, Greg Robbins, Mark Senter, Jonathan Hawkins, Todd Jones, Assistant Coach Steve Hurley. OH, CLO E! After A Slow Start The Boys' Varsity Basketball Team Made A Late Run At The Playoffs, But To No Avail After returning only one starter from last year's conference championship team, Head Coach Otis Hawkins knew he was in for a rebuilding season. However, the team issued in their campaign slower than most people expected. They dropped three games before picking up their first win. I expected the wins to be hard to come by simply because we were rebuilding. But we lost several players early for various reasons which created difficult problems. This, coupled with the way the team tend- ed to turn the ball over, made winning almost impossible. For most of the season the team strug- gled, losing eight of their twelve games. Then, when the season seemed all but over, they put together two weeks of highly competitive basketball. The team cap- tured victories in all but two of their final six contests. Again Coach Hawkins stated, It just took them time tojell. With all the distrac- tions we had, it made it very difficult to find a chemistry. Once we got through all the personal changes and the kids could work together on a consistent basis, we started winning. Unfortunately, their chemistry started to form just a little too late. The team's frantic rush for the playoffs fell painfully short. Had they won their final regular season game at Reynolds or the confer- ence tournament they would have been in. They did neither. Even with the lack of success that these guys suffered in the win column, they did rebuild for next year. Although, senior starters such as leading rebounder Todd Jones, Jeff Johnson, Vince Hairston and David Summers will be lost, their places should be competently filled. The whole team saw action during the season, and players like Carlos Mumford, Todd Beckner and Doug Harrington made valu- able contributions. The lofty aspirations of fans still re- membering last year's triumphs may have proved out of reach, but with a solid base there is hope for the future. For this year's fans there will be the memory of a team that battled back from much adversity to nearly make the playoffs. They didn't quite make it, but they did come oh, so close.

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IN CLOSE: Todd Jones gets inside for an easy deuce in a loss to Wilkes Central in the Frank Spencer. The holiday tournament wasn't as kind to the Titans this year ushering the team out after two games. ll'llEAlDllllNll1lIQS There are only a fewseconds left. The score is tied and the ball is dangerously close to going out of bounds. What do you do? If you're 6'l , 155 pounds and your name is Vince Hairston you lunge for the . ball. Grab it. Throw it over your back and through the hoop for the winning points. It may sound iike fantasy, but it was really true. Vince Hairston, or Mr, Clutehman' by his own estimation, actually performed this miracle in a home tilt against the War Eagles of Davie High School on February ll. And on February I9 he hit a twelve foot baseline jumpshot with only three seconds ieft to beat Reynolds. To the suprise of his coach, Vince turned up his level of play tremendously this year. Stated Vince, 1 just assumed the role of team leader, I mean we lost so many leaders last year. Some one had to do it. Although he may sound a little overconlident at times, his stats back him up. Vince led the team in scoring, grabbed fifty-three rebounds from his guard spot, dished out fifty assists, blocked eleven shots, and led the team in steals with fifty-six. Playing in college would be a dream come true for a lot of people. The same is true for Vince. However, if this chance doesnit come it won't be the end of the world for him. Vince may be confident in his abilities, but heis not unrealistic. Perhaps it's this combination that enabled Vince Hairston to achieve the level oi' success that he did. W . Rob Harris JUST OUT OF REACH: A Wilkes Central player tries to force his way in on Deric Byers and Chris Legette. Todd Jones watched his teammates snare the rebound in a 61-87 loss in the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic. 192 f Boys, Varsity Basketball

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GIRLS' VARSITY BASKETBALL FRONT anie Arnold Lori Goins Karen Kivett Tiffan , , , . Y ROW: Kim Cole, Linda Wood, Julie Wood, Jennifer McKinnie, Crystal Cooper, Kim Jessup, Coach Vicki Singer. SECOND ROW: Tami Meyer. BACK Gilbert. Not Pictured: Meridith Phillips. ROW: Coach Janet Beavers, Cathy Oberly, Steph- W NNING POTE TIAL Although Victories Were Absent Determination Was Not By Ashley Harrell Determination was the key factor in this year's Girls' Varsity Basketball Team. With 5 victories out of 21 games, the girls improved the record for our school and with the teaching techniques of Coach Vicki Gilbert and Coach Janet Beavers, the team learned skills to use in the up- coming years. Under the guidance of Coach Gilbert and Coach Beavers, the team's goals were to establish a winning season in the girls' basketball program. Although this partic- ular goal was met, the team had others to accomplish. They wanted the team to have cooperation of all the members, have the willingness to work together, and for all the players to give 10096 at practice and at l94fGirls' Varsity Basketball the games. Working together and rebounding on both ends of the court were areas the team needed to improve on. These and their pressure defense had to improve for them to win a game. When asked how successful the team was, Coach Gilbert replied, We gradually improved with each game. The team had the willingness to work hard at practice and be successful in games. Our wins over Davie County and Mt. Tabor could not have come at a better time because they kept us in the playoff race and also served as confidence builders to our players. With well learned skills and their win- ning potential, West's Girls' Varsity Bas- ketball will provide the chemistry of con- tinuing a winning tradition at our school. AHEAD OF THE REST: Jennifer Singer leaves the other players behind as she lays the ball right over the hands of the Kannapolis players. This shot earned two of her 373 points this season.