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SKirnOM-'PAUK 14- IM.AI\I>KAI.KK-HKRAIJ>, WKUMCSDAl . M \> 29. !%•> Sports No surprise: BuUs By Randy Mlnkoff UPl sports writer CHICAGO - Head coach Kevin Loughery and his top two assistants were fired Tuesday by the Chicago Bulls who said they would begin an immediate search for a new coach. However, vice president in charge of operations Jerry Krause said the NBA club had no timetable for selecting Loughery's replacement, adding it was not necessary to have a new coach in time for the June 18 NBA draft. Loughery, who had one year remaining on a three-year con­ tract, was informed of Krause's decision earlier in the day- Bill Blair and Fred Carter to tell them of tile decision. Chief scout his contract renewed. Speculation that Loughery would be dismissed began as early as February when Jerry Reinsdorf took control of the club. "It was a very, very difficult decision," insisted Krause, who was named in March to replace General Manager Rod Thorn who was also fired. "I hope never to have to do this again. 1 want the next coach to come in and be selected and retire along with me.*' Krause explained Loughery was dismissed because the coach's philosophy did not coin­ cide with his own. He also defended the way the Bulls handled the situation, rejecting critics' claims that the club knew all along it was going to fire Loughery. "Basically, I think it came down to that," Krause said about the difference to thinking «i spent a lot of time, and X mean until 9 and 10 each night, review­ ing tapes and film before I came tolkiis decision." Loughery "took It like a man, he's aH class" according to Krause, wno aaaea meciuo nau decided to pay half the salary of the assistant* Chris iuzwik . . . And quite sad to see it end At about 1:30 Saturday afternoon, Johnsburg High School's Kelly Quinlan hit a towering fly ball to left field which was caught by Crystal Lake South's Kelly McArdle. The play not only ended the regional softball game, but of­ ficially ended the 1984-85 high school sports season as well, for McHenry, Johnsburg and Marian Central Catholic high schools. So, now what? ^ It's been an often difficult, always trying year for area prep sports teams, players and coaches. I've tried to keep track of how many wins, losses and ties I've seen in the last nine or so months, but it became too cumbersome. Anyway, here are some highlights of the past year in high school sports, McHenry-Johnsburg-Marian style. Best Team: Jobnsburg's girls' basketball team, by a long, long shot. They provided the most pleasure, and played with the best teamwork and most discipline of any team around. Marian's football team deserves some note, but after the Hurricanes' state championship in 1983, this season was disappointing. Best Fans: Johnsburg's in general, and Skyhawk girls' sports fans in particular. A stirring rendition of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame' at Saturday's season finale was a fitting cap to what had been outstanding fan support for girls' athletics at JHS in 84- 85. The Skyhawk girls deserved it with great seasons in volleyball, basketball and softball. Coincidence? I doubt it. Best Game: A tie. Johnsburg's girls' basketball sectional say have been winners. Longest Day: April 20, the McHenry County Track Meet, which for the first (and hopefully last) time, combined both the girls' and boys' meets on the same day, same place. Best-Run Event: The McHenry Relays. Organization par excellence. Worst-Run Event: See 'Longest Day.' Worst Luck: McHenry's boys' basketball team, which lost nine games either by one point or in overtime. Honorable mentions go to McHenry's girls' volleyball and basketball teams, which won a combined one game. Best Underclass Female Athletes: McHenry's Tracey Hoff­ man in swimming and track. She has already made a name for herself, running the 800 at the state meet, and is just a freshman. Also, McHenry sophomore Rachel Prushinski, who showed her mettle against Johnsburg in a regional game, scoring 26 points in a rare varsity appearance, and is also a super softball player. Best Underclass Male Athletes: Johnsburg sophomore Frank Husak in basketball. Program With Best Potential: McHenry wrestling. Watch out. Also, any and all girls sports at Johnsburg, and Skyhawk boys' tennis and wrestling. Idiotic Fan of the Year: The dufus from Woodstock who threw a candy bar at McHenry basketball coach Ken Ludwig. No contest here. Bi W est Cheapskate: The person at the program booth at the tock-McHenry football game in Woodstock last fall, who wouldn't give a penniless sportswriter a 50-cerit program. For shame, for shame. Best Road Trip: A tie. To Rockford East (twice) for Skyhawk girls' basketball games; and to Amboy for the Marian Central- Amboy state football semifinal. Worst Road Trip: To Wheeling over Christmas, to watch McHenry's boys' basketballers lose to the hosts by 25 points. Most Missed: Ben Beck, Johnsburg basketball coach, who was released after an 8-17 season. Coach of the Year: Johnsburg girls' basketball coach Nancy Fahey. A landslide. / All in all, although it wasn't an overwhelmingly successful year for Johnsburg, McHenry and Marian, it was an eventful one nonetheless. From blown leads to thrown Butterfingers, it certainly was memorable. Here's to it. 4- McHenry pitcher Kris Carlson fires a pitch to a Jacobs hitter during the War­ riors' 9-3 loss Thursday otter- noon. The defeat, in the first round of the Crystal Lake Central Class AA Regional, ended McHenry's season. The Golden Eagles then went on to down Dundee-Crown Saturday, advancing to Tues­ day's finale against Crystal Lake South. I Plaindealer-Herald photo by Barb Ansell -< >«• u i W 1 * ~ > - • - r -.fj f SOFTBALL (Continued from page 16) board in the sixth, thanks to some uncharacteristic wildness by Gibson. Senior Roberta Kucharski reached on an error with two out, and then Gibson walked four straight before May popped out to first baseperson Molly Naughton to end the threat, but it was a ballgame at 5-2. South tallied two more in the seventh to up its lead to 7-2, but the resilient Skyhawks bounced back in their half of the seventh. Swartzloff led off with a triple, and Deb Tvaroh singled to score Swartzloff. Tvaroh then came home on a single by Deb Linn, to tighten the game to 7-4, but Quintan's high fly to left was ^ai^git by McArme to end the JOHNSBURG - (Continued from page 16) track team, junior Bill Dust was tabbed most valuable varsity performer, while John Shiman won the award on the frosh-soph level. The 100 percent award was shard by Mike Lawrence and Bill Meyer, while Ed Schultz was the most improved. Lawrence and Harry Giovanni were the team's co-captains. Meyer and Tom Maiorca were named to the conference's all- academic unit. Tim Shine and Shiman were honorable men­ tions. t For the boys' tennis team, coached by Mark Pasztor, junior Tim Krodel was the most valuable, while Tom Valiant was most improved and Dennis Leary the team captain. Leary and Krodel were the NWSC's No. 1 doubles champions, while Valiant and Andy Krodel were the No. 2 champs in the con­ ference. The NWSC named Lears and Tim Krodel to its honorable mention list of all- academic performers. For the girls' softball team under Todd Lewison, Cris May was most valuable, with the most improved player honor going to Lisa Hartigan. Deb Tvaroh was the team's best defensive player, while Cindy Swartzloff was the top offensive standout. Tvaroh, May and Hartigan were named to the NWSC all-conference team, while Roberta Kucharski and Tvaroh were the team's oo- captains. Patty Butler, May and Tvaroh were listed on the conference all-academic team. Hartigan, Swartzloff. Deb Linn and Kelly Quinlan were honorable men­ tions. Men's Sunday Night 12-inch Softball Skyhawk rightfielder Patti Butler zips one back into the infield McHenry Men's 16-inch Softball Contrasting styles and out­ comes were the rule In play last week in the McHenry Men's 16- inch Softball League. In Tuesday's trio of outings, the closest margin of victory was R a y m o n d ' s B o w l - H u f f ' s Decorating's 18-7 win over Knights of Columbus, an 11 run spread. On Thursday night, the opposite was the case. The three winners won by a combined total of just 10 runs, the closest an 18-17 thriller, won by Palace Bowl-Dean Con­ crete over Decker Construction. Games are played Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the McHenry VFW Field. Details from last week's bat­ tles: Raymond's-Hufrs 18, Knight* of Columbia 7 Dan Miller led a 21-hlt onslaught (or Ray­ mond's Bowl-Huff's Decorating in an 18-7 rout of the Knights ol Columbus. Miller was 4-for-4, with four runs scored and eight RBI. Three of Miller's hits were home runs. Tom Spasojevlch < who says he's retired?) also had four hits, while Mark Mayer had three for the winners, who rolled .to the win after scoring seven first inning runs. Tom Sharp, Mike Miller and Chris Juzwik col­ lected two hits apiece for K of-C. Dan Coughlin knocked in two runs. Novotny's 17, H*M3 Novotny Sales scored seven runs In the first three innings, and then added nine In the fourth, to roll to a 17-3 romp over H*M Machinery Movers. NovotnyVs lineup, especially the top half, look­ ed strong. Randy Vauk had three hits, while Leon Palatas. Dave Miller and Chris Felde had two apiece for the winners. Steve Fallon scored H&M's first run ever, while Don Schroeder and Cary Cur an helped out The Men's Sunday Night, Soft­ ball League began play Sunday, with two low-scoring, close games leading the way. John's Sport Stop II edged Scott B's 6-5, while John's Sport Stop I was nipped by Gary Lang Chevrolet, 6-4. In other games, Mike's Buzz Out West ripped Garrelt's Plumbing 19-7 in five innings, while Just Video needed extra frames to ouUastQ.E.D. 8-6. Details from Sunday's outings: John's II6, Scott B's 5 Scott Buss tagged a three-run homer in the first to give John's Sport Stop II an early lead. with hits. Palace-Dean's 19, After the Fox 6 Balanced hitting was the key as Palace Bowl- Dean's Concrete walloped After the Fox 29-6, col­ lecting 25 hits in the five-inning affair Tony Aiello and Frank Simmons had four each to pace the winner's attack, each scoring four runs in the process. Aiello knocked in five runs, while Simmons bettered that with seven RBI. Craig Hill had threeJilts and five RBI, while Tim Frantz scored three. Tim McGuire was 3-for-3, while Bob Freil had three RBI for After the Fox. After the Fox 11 Old Bridge 6 After the Fox started strong with an eight-run first inning, and held off Old Bridge to win. 12-6. the first ATF win of the season. Jim Murphy, Mike Hughes and Ollie Miller paved the way for the winners. Miller knocking In three runs. Bob Lunkenheimer. Phil Kent and John Doessel led Old Bridge, while outhit After the Fox, 10-9. • Palace-Dean's 18, Decker 17 and the winners held off Scott B's, 6-5. Dean Neuhbser made a diving stop for John's of a hard-hit liner in the sixth, preventing Scott B's from scoring the tying run Each team amassed 11 hits. Neuhaser and John Lanway had two hits for the winners, while Buss had three, and added four RBI. Tom Milbratz and Rich Wynn paced Scott B's attack. Gary Lang 8, Join's 14 Gary Lang Chevrolet broke open a close game. In the bottom of the third with four runs, and held off John's Sport Stop I for a 6-4 triumph. < Jack Thennes had two hits, while Len Chutka singled in two runs and Pete Buss one for Gary Lang. Rick Sorenson and Rick Lively had two singles^ apiece for John's. Palace Bowl-Dean's Concrete won an exciting > eight-inning affair, topping Decker Construction > 18-17. The game was highlighted by a whopping 18 er­ rors between the two teams, and a 10-mlnute delay after a collision at first base between Jim Grabowski of Decker, and Palace's Tony Aiello. Aiello ana brother Sam helped the Palace- Dean's attack, with Tony chipping in three doubles. Tim Frantz had three hits and three runs scored, whiie Frank Simmons had four RBI Brian Miller wt>. 4-for-5 for Decker Grabowski and Joe Ubrig had three hits each, John Griffith knocked in three. Decker 13, Old Brfcfce 10 A tired Decker team came back to win its se­ cond game of the night, 13-10 over Old bridge Decker scored five In the first to tafe an earlv lead, and held off an Old Bridge rally. Joe Ubrig was a perfect 4-for-4 for the winners Kevin Miller had three hits and Brett Decker two. John Doessel and Bob Hetterman each col­ lected three safeties for Old Bridge, while Dan McAuliffe and Dave Pliner had two hits and two runs scored. K,