PAGE 3-SPECIAL BASKETBALL EDITION-MONDAY. MARCH 15. 1976 EARL WALSH So I Hear SPORTS EDITOR. SWEET SIXTEEN! Coach Ludwig's MCHS Warriors beat a fine and fast basketball team from Rockford Guilford Friday night at Rock- ford, 59 to 58, to win the Sec tional tournament. It took a gutty performance by the Warriors to close the gap and eke out the victory. Teams with less fortitude would have faded and silently stolen away. Our smiling, happy Irish man, Dick Rabbitt, will have the complete story. Since the great victory is so close to St. Patrick s Day, we asked Wayne Gaylord to take this picture of Dick to dress up our column. Dick tossed out bouquets last week to all who have made the Warrior basketball season such a grand success. Now. let us toss out a bouquet to Dick for the great coverage he has given all high school sports. His keen interest comes smilin' through in his stories. The Warriors started strong, then found their opponents closing in and going ahead. When Tommy Ludwig caught an elbow in his mouth and had to go out for Trainer Earl Cooper's repair job, it took something out of the team. Christy went in for Tommy and did a good job during his stay. He's a good ball handler. Koerber was superb. Reilly was magnificent. All down the line, every player was getting the job done. To put speed in the lineup to match Guilford's quickness, Coach Ludwig had three guards in at the finish, putting Bill Hurckes in with Tommy and "Radar". It worked. Eddie Buss just shakes his head when he thinks of Reilly. Think he would travel any distance to see Terry play. What a difference one point makes. The crowd in our bus was happy as could be on the way home. Crowds gathered at the Fox Hole after both games for a bit of nourishment. After the first game, Evo came up to us and asked. "Did the White Sox win tonight?" They made arrangements for the team to gather at the Fox Hole after the championship game. , You should have heard the cheers when each player came through the door. It was pizza night. Don't think any fan was happier than Winn Phillips. He never misses a game. The Walshes missed seeing Lynn Lund at recent games and didn't know she was hospitalized. That cham pionship will be better than medicine for her. A team that wins its way to the elite "Sweet 16" in the State has to have more than a prayer. The Warriors have worked hard to gain their lofty position. We are mighty proud of the team. Coach Ludwig and his top assistant. El Partenheimer. Now ~ crank up the bus and head for DeKalb Tuesday af ternoon. If you can't attend the tournament, turn to 105 on vour FM dial. ^ Kenneth L. Merley 11 Crooked Lane Naples. Fla. 33940 Ea-1: The enclosure is a bit stale but I saved it for you because it appeared here about the same time as your comment on converting Varese from the Cubs to the Sox. Tony Weitzel still writes a great column as evidenced by this one. Our copy of the Plaindealer really makes the rounds here: The Dean Pauls ( Gearmaster), Warren Trustrud (one of the morning favorites at Bimbos), The Markesons (Formerly Marks Marine and Marks Sporting Goods). We have quite a McHenry enclave here. Thanks to Adele for the an nouncement of our newest grandchild in the Feb 27 edition. K.L.M. Nice to hear from you. Ken Dind't know what happened to Tony Weitzel. His column is great. He always was a good one. Say hello to all the McHenryites in Naples. A few days ago we saw our first robin, a boy flying a kite and another with roller skates Can Spring be far away? Saw Steve Koerber listed in the Tribune-Coca-Cola first 50 basketball players in the state. He belongs. 1« t«M A REBOUND BRINGS Brian Lund and Marty Cohrs off their feet in this third period action under the McHenry net. Also saw Terry Reilly s name in the honorable mention list. He belongs -- higher. Hadn't seen our friend. Vera Kane Hensley, in a long time. Guess we should go to church more often. That's where we met her. It made us feel good to shake her hand -- the hand of a long time friend. Usually a St. Patrick's Day column comes out at this time of year. Guess the Warriors crowded the great Patron Saint of Ireland out of our mind. Irish and would be Irish had a divil's own time at Bimbo's last year. A return engagement is planned and a certain little Shamrock has asked that we meet again. We'll be wearin' the green and claiming it as Our Day. To all of you, this blessing that never grows old: AN IRISH BLESSING May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face May the rains fall soft upon your fields And, until we meet again May God hold you in the palm of His hand STAFF PHOTOS BY WAYNE GAYLORD BUS INFORMATION Bus transportation for students is being arranged at the High school. Coach busses are being arranged for adults. The cost will be $2.25 per person and the busses will leave the McHenry Plaindealer parking lot at 2 p.m. Persons should park cars around A. P. Freund field behind Admiral Building. Game time at DeKalb is 4 p.m. 0S1 CONGRATULATIONS WARRIORS! mm THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of McHENRY Wlim Lobby Hours Drive In Hours Monday 9:00 - 3:00 8 15 - 5 00 F(i CONVENIENT DRIVE UP ^esday , 9 oo - 3 oo 8 15 -5 00 SERVICE AND SIX DAY ,̂2 30 8 , 5 ,̂ , BANKING HOURS F n f l a y " 9 ^ . 3 ^ 8 , 5 - Saturday 9 00-3:00 8 15 - 3:00