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STAFF PHOTO-WAYNf GAYLOKD more McHenry Warrior coach Ken Ludwig is hoping this will be a familiar scene during the upcoming basketball season. Mark Peterson (with the ball) and Corey Scott are the Warriors only two letterwinners. Both will be playing the post positions and Ludwig has built his offense around those two. Early progress by McHenry cagers I* \lil-: 20 - IM.AINDKAIKR - FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 25.1983 will determine season By Mike Lamb There are two ways to look at the McHenry Warrior boys' basketball squad this year. One way is to look from the outside looking in and see that the Warrior squad has little experience with only two letterwinners returning. Coach Ken Ludwig does have seven seniors on the team, but only the two letterwinners saw any amount of playing time last year. On paper, it could be a long season. But Ludwig isn't paying much attention to what it looks like on paper. He sees the talent on the floor, and he sees a Fox Valley title contending team. But he does admit the progress made by his inexperienced players will be the main difference from a winning and losing season. "We're lacking ex­ perience, no doubt," Ludwig said. "We're the type of team that will improve as time goes on. It depends how fast they mature. If we get off to a fast start it will certainly help. "I think we have a shot at the title. We're as capable as any team in the con­ ference. If the kids think that way, we'll be in there. "On paper it doesn't look good. But our club is capable of beating anybody in the race." McHenry's biggest strength might be in the post area. That's where his two returning letterwinners play. Mark Peterson, a 6- foot-6 220 pound senior was voted by his teammates as captain and is expected to be the team leader. Last year, Peterson started at center for the Warriors in a roller coaster year. But Ludwig points out it was a learning year for Peterson. Some of his big games were a 20 point performance against Dundee, 18 points against Crystal Lake Central and 16 points against Jacobs. Peterson averaged 8.2 points a game, hitting on 53 percent of his field goals and 50 percent on free throws. He also averaged 5.5 rebounds a game. The other letterwinner, 6- foot-3195 pound Corey Scott, will join Peterson in the front court. Scott didn't see (Continued on page 19) Time runs out on Burlington as Johnsburg opens with win By Mike Lamb At no point was the John- sburg's Skyhawks first win in the first game of the season in real doubt, but at the same time it wasn't easy either. Johnsburg just couldn't completly shake off the Burlington Central Rockets. But time just ran out on the Rockets and the Skyhawks were owners of a 1-0 record with a 64-58 win during the Marian Central Holiday Tournament Tuesday. Johnsburg moved on to face Richmond Wednesday and will finish the tournament Saturday against Genoa-Kingston at 8 p.m. "We're a little tentative on playing tonight, due to inex­ perience. We're real pleased to get away with one," said Johnsburg Coach Ben Beck. "This is a definite sign of youth and inexperience. We just couldn't put them away. We had an eight point spread there in the second half, and we just couldn't put them away. The game was tied three times in the first half, until a Joe Majercik jumper put Johnsburg in the lead early in the second quarter. Johnsburg would never fall behind again. The Skyhawks had built the lead up several times to six, seven and eight. But Burlington would come right back. Beck could see one area, however, where Johnsburg could have put the Rockets away - the free throw department. Johnsburg only hit on 10 of 22 free throw attempts for 45 percent. "Were a much better free throw shooting team. That area has to improve. It could be just first game jitters. Majercik, a senior returning letterwinner, led the Skyhawks with a 22 point performance. A total of nine of his points came in the second quarter when Johnsburg took the lead for good. "We have four seniors and they have been real solid for us," said Beck. "Joe just happened to be in the right place at the right time today. He played both ends real hard. He does a real nice job. I'm real pleased with that." Another nemesis for Johnsburg was Kurt Lenschow of Burlington. The Rocket guard scored 17 points. But only five of those points came in the second half. Beck pointed to some adjustments in the second half. "We made some defensive adjustments in the first half. In the second half they made their points from the free throw line." Kurt Getzelman was doing most of the free throw shooting for Burlington. He made nine of 10 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter and finished with 11 points. After Majercik's basket put Johnsburg ahead, the Skyhawks were able to hang on with a 26-23 lead. That's when Burlington coach Wayne Russell was hit with a technical foul for leaving the bench. A new IHSA rule prohibits High School coaches from standing up and leaving the bench while the ball is in play. Majercik hit on one of two free throws. But baskets by Brian Fischbach and Lenschow tied the game at 27-27. However, 6- foot-4 sophomore Johnsburg center, Tim Shine, scored his first points of his varsity career with basket at the end of the first half. Johnsburg owned a 29-27 lead. A Jeff Nichols jumper gave Johsburg its largest lead at 39-31 in the third period. The Skyhawks were able to hold the slim lead through the quarter, going into the fourth quarter with a 47-40 lead. The biggest lead of the night was opened up when Greg Sobiesk hit two free thows for a 61-51 lead. But Burlington came back with five straight points. But a basket bv Shine and one free throw by Jeff Jayko was all Johnsburg needed to hang on for the win as time ran out. • • McHenry's Wild Woody out-rides competitors for 2nd in Illinois Woody Layton By Mike Lamb Success usually comes in two ways - after hard work and talent. In Woody Layton's case, it's more of his talent for riding motorcycles that has brought him success in moto-cross year. How else could you explain how Layton could finish second in the state in the 125 cc class after only one year of racing? How else could you explain how a 16-year-old can out-ride competitors with years of ex­ perience and a lot older? Woody's mother knows why, "He's a natural." Layton began his racing career June of 1982. His first season on the Illinois circuit was mule yjL less a learning ex­ perience. By 1983, he was ready. "My first year was spent learning the basics of racing and traveling to different tracks in the midwest," he said. But, the following season brought success. While riding a Honda CR125, he jumped off to fifth place in the Illinois stan­ dings in April among 300 riders in his division. He held the fifth place in the point standings through May and in June he moved up to third. In July he moved to second. By August, he was first. He held first, until overtaken in October and November by Tony Passini of Peoria. Passini has been racing for eight years, so experience did eventually overcome Layton. But nobody can argue with the success the McHenry High School East Campus student has had in such a short time. He has won 10 races this season, while finishing second 10 times and third six times. "I have to take the finish and work harder next year," said Layton. Layton's driving skill was respected by many of the riders in his division. The announcer at one of the races nicknamed him "Wild" Woody and that name has stuck with him wherever he goes. Layton's mother, Christine, says Woody's ambition to race was seen as earlv as two-Years old. Later on, says his mother, "He would ride around the neighborhood on a mini-bike." Layton later watched a couple of motor-cross races and that's when he caught the bug for the sport. "I just wanted to race, and my dad thought it would be too expensive," said Layton. "Working around the house I earned enough money to buy a bike." Any second thoughts by his parents where quickly brushed aside after they saw him race. Woody's moto-cross racing has now become a family project. His father, Durwood, helps Woody with the mechanics and his mother helps him with the public relations work. His younger brother has also started racing. With the help of his mother and his success, Layton has received some help from sponsors. Being an expensive sport, that has helped Layton continue racing. Besides being expensive, moto-cross can be dangerous. Racing on dirt tracks with hills and tough turns, wipe-outs are common. Most of the time, the rider can get up and continue racing after a wipe-out. But sometimes injuries do happen and sometimes the machine is wrecked. Layton has wiped-out quite often, and that does scare his mother. But she is confident he knows what he's doing. The worst accident was when he wiped-out and the bike fell on top of him knocking him unconscious. He also broke his foot in three places at one race. Layton will be moving up to a higher division. Although the competition is expected to be tougher, Layton expects to continue with the success. Alumni honor undefeated Marian squad By Barb Ansell It has been many yearS since the Marian Central Catholic Hurricanes have held the spotlight in their football stadium. In fact, not since 1964 has Marian won a conference championship. But after their 26-0 shutout of Polo, much attention has turned to Marian. The sucpeas^olf this year's team ha£ brought back many alumni, former students and teachers. Those people from throughout the past 25 years joined with the current students, faculty, and parents to fill the stands to capacity. Among those returning was former principal Tom Parsley. Parsley had also been the football coach in 1964 when the Hurricanes went undefeated in the Suburban Catholic Conference and were ranked eighth in the state. Although Parsley found it difficult to compare the two winning Hurricane teams because of the many changes that had taken place over the years, he liked what he saw now. "This year's team is a team of talent and skill. Not only can they run and pass the ball effectively, but they are tough defensively too." Another familiar McHenry fan at Saturday's game was Dan Jamieson. Jamieson, a 1965 graduate of Marian Central had a special personal interest in the game. Jamieson was a member of the 1964 conference championship team. In a conference game against Immaculate Conception that year, Jamieson playing cornerback intercepted a pass and returned it 65 yards, setting a school record which has yet to be broken. "It's wonderful to see them doing so well," said Jamieson. "Not many teams around here have been this successful and we might not see a feanythis good and with such exceptional talent again in years." Hie talent of several McHenry players on the Hurricane team is visible. Saturday's game against Polo however was a frustrating game for McHenry senior guard Gary Tonyan. Tonyan was injured on a guard cross defensive play in the second quarter. "This is the first game I've been hurt in," said Tonyan. "It's great to see the team win and head to state, but it's hard jnot being able to be on the field with them." Tonyan's injury to his right knee required surgery to repair torn cartilage and will force him to remain sidelined throughout the Marian basketball season also. \ For senior defensive back Jim "Jimbo" Mass, alsb from McHenry, this was the game they (the team) had waited for. "We've waited 15 weeks for this game. We've been talking Bloomington since the beginning of the year.We knew Polo couldn't run and once we stopped their passing game, by half-time we knew we had clinched the game." M c H e n r y ' s B r i a n Truckenbrod, a junior tight end, said quarterback Chuck Hartlieb make defense easy. "Hartlieb has the leadership and has pulled us together into a family. That makes everything a lot easier and makes you want to block for him." Chris Brown, a junior wide receiver from Wonder Lake, summed up the team's attitude as they head for Bloomington. "We are doing something that has never been done before. We are a team from all different towns playing together as a team, and we are going to win this next game for Marian Central, not just for our class but for those who have already played §uid for those teams in the ftiture." The Marian Central Catholic Hurricanes will face last year's state champions Bloomington Central Catholic High School, at 3 p.m. at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Jim Mass, playing strong safety for Marian, intercepts a pass during last Saturday's semi-final win over Polo.