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now someone / SECTION 2 - PAGE 16- PLAINDEALER-HER ALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20. |«»85 Regional champs! Johnsburg's girls' cagers celebrate after trouncing Crystal Lake 12-point halftime lead, and hold off the Fox Valley Conference Central for the Johnsburg Class AA Girls' Regional Tournament champions, leading Johnsburg into its first-ever sectional championship last Thursday. The Skyhawks were able to grab a tournament. Fahey's coaching keys JHS success By Barb Ansell Plaindealer-Herald sportawrtter \ • V JOHNSBURG - The John­ sburg High girls' basketball team has seen one of its best' seasons since the school's in­ ception in 1978-79. Besides having a plethora of great talent, one of the main reasons for the great success of the Lady Skyhawks has been Coach Nancy Fahey. Fahey has guided the team over the past three years, and in that time, has turned the program from one with a 5-17 record into this year's regional champion, which finished the regular season at 17-5$ prior to the post-season glories the Skyhawks have enjoyed. Fahey has brought* more to her team, though, thfta just a winning season. She has also brought along her enthusiasm >r th that feeling on my team." "I do want them to want to play and to get mad about sitting on the bench," Fahey added. "But on my team, everybody is important and we need each member to support the team, whether they're on the couri er on the bench Fahey has proven her technical ability about the sport of basketball time and again. Playing a variety of defenses to numerous formations fit the opponent, plus doing fensively and stressing the technical aspects of the game, have caught on with her players. "You have to know what you're talking about," said Fahey. "The kids know if you don't know your subject." Fahey has been influenced by several people in her travels through the basketball world. "My coach in Madison was very defense-oriented and that's rubbed off on me; My emphasis on defense is partly due to her, and from the camps I helped run in the summer u)|?reen Bay and Madison." In Johnsburg boys' basketball coach Ben Beck has also been a help to Fahey in her questj to know the sport better. "I've learned a lot from Ben Beck. He's an excellent coach. There is so much to learn if you just take the time and listen. I try to watch their practices every chance I get." But for Fahey, the learning never stops. The more she learns, the more she yearns to know. "I didn't realize until I got out of college and started coaching, just how much I didn't know about the sport. It's really frustrating sometimes because I want to learn about everything. There are always things changing and if up with it, you els for the sport, her desire to constantly improve, and her xperiences as a player. Fahey is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where she was a four- year member of the Big Ten school's women's basketball I earn. However, her time in Wisconsin's capital was not always easy. "I didn't attend Madison with a basketball scholarship, so I was fortunate iust to make the team my freshman and sophomore years," said Fahey. "I didn't have much opportunity to play. In fact, I was usually one of the last three players off the bench. "At the end of my sophomore year, there was the rumor that the last three players were going to be cut from the squad, so I was ready to transfer," she explained. Fahey told Badger coach Edwina Quails that she wanted to play, and eventually Quails tola Fahey to stay. As fate would have it, Fahey went back to Madison, the university in her home state, and became the starting point guard in her junior ana senior seasons. During Fahey's final year at Madison, she was more than just a starting player. Her leader­ ship qualities were put to work as she was selected to be the Badgers' team captain. "I'll never regret those two years I sat on the bench," Fahey reflected. "I understand what it's like to sit. I can do more than empathize with my players who must also sit, because I do know what it feels like. "I think that gives me an advantage as a coach," she added. "I know there is more pressure on the girls who come off the bench because they feel that if they make one mistake, they're out, and that the starters are allowed to make more mistakes. So I try not to have Ise will." While Fahey appreciates all the attention she and her team are receiving, she knows where she has been, and what the future may hold. "It was a rude awakening to be fresh out of school ready to take on the world. You just don't know how difficult coaching is until you do it yourself," said Fahey. "It was hard not to start doubting yourself after the first year with a 5-17 record. I will never forget that year and I know that there may be similar years yet ahead." For Fahey, maintaining the level of competition her team poses t to opponents is her goal, for now. "I don't like basing my sole criteria on a won-loss record. I'd rather use a criteria of the team enjoying them­ selves, learning what tne team concept is. "These are things the girls will take with them when they leave here," she said. "And it won't matter whether they're playing basketball or not. They'll know how to work with other people and that it takes other people to be successful." Any plans for her own future? "My immediate plans are to maintain this program at its present level. But I admit I did have ideas of sometime being a college c coach. Right now, I feel my best value is at this level." Senior point guard Cris May, the Skynawks floor leader, would agree with that decision "Miss Fahey is an all-around good coach," May said. "She not only knows basketball, but she knows how to deal with us at a level we can understand. "She turned the program around for us, and she's always willing to give us the extra time we may need. She has ways of getting us to give our best," May added. "She makes sure we know basketball is a team sport, and teaches us how to deal with others. Whether I play basketball or not, I can use the things she has taught me." Fahey is obviously pleased with the success of the Skyhawks in the 1984-85 cam­ paign. "I'm real satisfied, especially because this group is so coachable. It's the people that make it all fun and worthwhile. This team makes it pleasurable to work hard and enioy each other. This is a team I don't take for granted." Obviously, that also works in Central blown out in regional finale By Chris Juzwik Plalndealer- Herald (ports editor JOHNSBURG - It was, by all standards, a blowout. Crystal Lake Central brought its lofty 11-0 Fox Valley Con­ ference record into the finals of the Johnsburg Regional last Thursday, as if it would do them any good. ii v/jpiai liiuc was ions of Johnsburg's Apparently, the l't think much of The Tigers also dragged along a rather brash attitude, as if that would matter. The worst thing Central brought from Crystal Lake was its impressions of Johnsbui Skyhawks. Tigers didn' Johnsburg the team, or the schedule the Skyhawks played. All those things played right into Johnsburg s hands, however, as the Skyhawks took a 12-5 lead after one quarter, 29- 17 at the half, and coasted to an easy win over an alleged out­ standing ballclub. "We felt we had something to prove," said Skyhawk coach Nancy Fahey, whose team improved to 19-5 on the year. "We've played a lot of good Amy Erickson collected four fouls in the first half. "That hurt us, having the girls on the bench. We've got good people on the bench, but not as good as our starters. We handled presses all year, but we couldn't do it tonignt. Sure, I'm disap* pointed, but we had a nice season." Johnsburg raced out to the 12- point halftime edge on out­ standing balanced scoring. Frehsman Carolyn Shine and senior Sheri Scavo had seven each, while Laura Oeffling and Vicki DuBeau had six apiece and Cris May three. Central, on the other hand, was just having trouble getting shots off at all A smothering, trapping Johnsburg zone defense caused turnovers galore. "Yeah, I was real surprised to see us ahead by that much. But we came ready to play," Fahey said. "The girls knew what they games this year, but we really didn't have anything to show for it. It really says a lot about the Northwest Suburban Con­ ference. It proves what high quality our conference is." It also proves, what a poor quality conference the Fox Valley was. Central, 11-0 in the league, was 3-7 outside the FVC, including a 30-point loss to Marengo, which tied for third in the NWSC with Johnsburg. "They're a nice shootin ballclub," said Central coac Linda Brady. "We knew they'd be tough, we knew we'd have trouble even if we won. We knew if we won, it would be just by a couple points. We played our hardest, but it just wasn't to be." A rabid Johnsburg crowd played a big Dart in the win, as did the fact mat three Central starters fouled out. Point guard had to do, they recognized what Central was doing, and that was it. We didn't want to get into a half-court game with them, because we knew (Tania) Brammer would kill us inside. So we were able to force her outside, and that helped. I'm just real, real happy." DuBeau was zapped with two quick fouls in the first quarter, and picked up her third five minutes into the third period. But junior Deb Linn came in to score the final six Johnsburg points of the period, as the hosts grabbed a whopping 50-31 heading into the final quarter. The final margin was the closest the Tigers would come. DuBeau's 17 points paced the Skyhawks, while Oef fling tossed in 16 and Scavo nine. Brammer had 17 for Central, the only Tiger in double figures. The Skyhawks reveled in the usual post-regional celebration, complete with net-cutting ceremonies. ^Injiddition to all the other accessories, that's another thing Central didn't need - scissors. Flair, -'paler Herald photos by Chris Juzwik Johnsburg High's Laura Oef fling enjoys the fun after the Skyhawks demolished Crystal Lake Central in the regional title game last Thursday. Oeffling, a junior, and her Johnsburg team­ mates prepare for Cary-Grove, whom they will meet in the regional finale Wednesday evening at Rockford East High School.