West Valley High School - Aurora Yearbook (Fairbanks, AK)

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n PEAKING T THE RIGHT TIME WOLFPACK GIRLS ENDED THEIR SEASON IN VICTORY Chosen as pre-season favorites with four starters returning from the '79-'80 season, the '80-'81 Varsity Girls Basketball team knew deep down that another successful season was ahead of them. Although experiencing a shaky start, the team fulfilled most of the pre- season predictions. The girls got off to a slow start. The team was almost too talented. There were so many good ballplayers, that Coach Hagglund had a hard time finding an unchanging starting five. Because playing times varied for the girls, consistancy was a problem. The team beat some very good teams, yet lost to some weaker ones. They finished with only a 16-14 record, but they knew they could do better. lt was a relief to everyone when the Varsity members were: FRONT ROW: Lucia LaFIeur, Calle Gonzales, Ruth Milan, Esther Lindemann, Anita Krejcig BACK ROW: Coach Karen Hagglund, Kerri Rutt, Pam Baker, Lori 'real' girls basketball team showed up for the Region VI tourney. The team overcame previous difficulties and many of the younger girls matured. They roared past Monroe and Lathrop for a state tournament bid. The girls made a strong showing in the Region title game. They led by as much as nine points, before in the third quarter key players fouled out, finally surrendering the game by three. At state our girls made a very respectable showing by taking fourth. They trampled Ketchikan in the first round before losing two close games to the eventual state champions Kodiak, and the Bartlett Bears. Congratulations to Lori Meier who was selected to first team All-Region, and to Helen Schruf and Pam Baker who were selected to the second team. Nordgulen, Jessica Gavora, Helen Schruf, Lori Meier, Manager Joy Simon. Not Pictured: Germaine LaFleur. GIRLS' BASKETBALL WVHS Opponent 54 Monroe 50 45 North Pole 24 34 Eielson 51 54 Lathrop 44 44 Eielson 46 39 Monroe 45 34 North Pole 28 40 Lathrop 32 33 Eielson 50 35 Monroe 37 48 North Pole 38 51 Lathrop 69 46 Eielson 52 55 Monroe 54 42 Lathrop 45 42 North Pole 33 2nd in Region IV fW-135 IL-111 ' KT-Cl 4th in State Self-possessed Kerri Rutt keeps her head in the game as she waits for the offense to set up. 146 GIRLS BASKETBALL 2 f

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,,,. ,,,. ll Opponght . ,,,1 ,,, . ,.V, .,,., . .W,,,::,,l:1,, ,,, .. . 41 . 78 Eielson ..,,,..,,,..., :,,,1h: .:,,, i': f' 'L 0 . 49 .......... NON P012 74 .. ,W , .. ,,,LL ,,,, . Lathrop 61. .W,, . ,,.. .W,, .,,,L.,,,,. . . ..,,,, . ..,, EICISOI 78 Mo'-we T mann Pole ...rl Lathrop -11:-1 sa f,,.:-f '--fff'1 '. . . . 65 ,,,.. .. .,,, .57 lfathmp :,, IIW . . 55 Place 3rd Place W'20 U6 ill ways on the move, Varsity eager Dale :lty posltions himself on the floor. THE 1980-81 SEASON WAS A STORY OF SUCCESS FOR THE BOYS VARSITY CAGERS The 1980-81 edition of the West Valley Wolfpack boys' Varsity basketball team was the most successful team in West's five year history. It won its, first region championship and finished the season with a sparkling 20-6 record. The team had five returning seniors lead by Captain Tyrone Thomas. After a rocky 5-3 start the team members got themselves together and learned their roles. They finished the regular season with a 17-5 mark. After the team's second road trip to Anchorage they compiled an eleven game winning streak, including three wins over tough arch-rival Lathrop. Because West was the number one seed in the region, they automatically played in the championship game. They faced their old foe Lathrop and sailed past the Malemutes 70 to 63. West Valley went to the state tournament ranked second in the statewide basketball poll to the undefeated East High Thunderbirds. However, because of the seeding, West faced East in the semifinals instead of the finals. West Valley fell to East as they had in their two previous meetings, but came back in the consolation game to take third With eyes intent on the basketball Bob Burcell and a Barrow opponent prepare for a possible rebound. Before the tip-off that will mark the beginning of another Wolfpack victory, team captain Tyrone Thomas meets with the officials and the Barrow Whalers' captain. in State. The Wolfpack owed its' late season surge to the maturing of its' seniors. Ben Blackburn, although only 5'10 , sprang to the boards and helped the team in that area immensely. The team was small and relied heavily on a fulllElUcourt press and a whirlwind fast break. The Wolfpack hounded their opponents into submission, and because of their greater playing experience were able to win close games that were decided in the final moments. West's domination on Region VI was evident when West landed three players on the all-region squad. Dave Morris, with his assortment of racehorse drives to the basket and thirty-footers was one of the region's best scorers. Bob Burcell was West's ball handler and field marshall. He played his best ball under pressure. Despite being outsized by many of his opponents, Dale Welty pulled his share off the boards and scored with numerous inside moves. The 1980-81 basketball team began a basketball tradition that is an example of the excellence that is constantly growing in West sports. BASKETBALL 145

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