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PAGE It - PLA1NDEALER - FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984 No pressure on Lady Warriors, Hawks ready With a 3-17 record, McHenry coach Pat Wirtz isn't looking for any miracles from his team Monday during the first game of the McHenry girls basketball regional s. It isn't so much the record that stands in McHenry's way, as the opponent. The Lady Warriors are scheduled to take on first seeded Crystal Lake Central, 14- 6 on the season. Game time is 7 p.m. "We've got nothing to lose," said Wirtz. Meanwhile, the outlook is a little better for the Johnsburg Skyhawks. The Skyhawks, 12-9 on the season, face the Wood­ stock Blue Streaks. The Skyhawks opened the season with a 36-28 win over the Streaks. Game time is 8:45 p.m. We're going to go out there relaxed. There's no pressure," Wirtz said. We'll have a short practice Monday and shoot around for an hour. I just hope the girls will be loose and go for the fioop." Wirtz is hoping the third time around against Central will be little different. The Tigers have had little trouble with the Lady Warriors, winning 59-36 the first game, 53-26 the second game. Wirtz said height is the biggest difference between the two teams. "Hopefully they won't be as tough the third time," said Wirtz. Central shot 67 percent from the field in the second game. Central has the luxury of having the Fox Valley Con­ ference leading scorer in Laura Jensen. Jensen only scored eight points against the Warriors in the second game. McHenry will be looking for scoring from Renee Mezzano, Greta Larsen and Patty Johnson. Wirtz says having the home court advantage will help. "Maybe they (Central) will be looking ahead. I know they are looking ahead to sectionals. If we have anything going for us, its that," Wirtz said. Johnsburg coach Nancy Fahey feels good about their chances against the 7-12 Blue Streaks. The Skyhawks will be led by Theresa Huack who is averaging 14 points a game. But Fahey is hoping her team will follow a balance attack plan. "We need to play a balance game, inside and outside to do a good job against them," said Fahey. Fahey has only seen Wood­ stock play one other time since the first meeting. "I'm sure they have made a lot of changes since the last meeting. I'm sure they have improven. But beating them the first time proves we can play with them. "At this point of the season, we will do what we have been doing all season. We will stay with what has been successful for us. We have to play good basketball. We're not taking any team lightly, "If we play good basketball we will have a good shot Mon­ day. The winners of Monday's games will face each other in the regional final on Thursday. Warrior squad edges Skyhawks for second time By Barb Ansell "It was the game we've waited to play for four years." Johnsburg forward Jeff Preston said that before the Skyhawks faced McHenry for the first time Tuesday night. These two teams, however, actually played against each other four years earlier as freshmen in the Johnsburg Christmas Tournament. Tuesday's game was an identical contest from the first meeting as freshmen. The Warriors defeated Johnsburg in the final seconds in both games. This time, however, it was by six points, rather than three points. The anticipation for a McHenry versus Johnsburg showdown had been in the air since 1978 when the two communities separated into two different schools. The long-awaited game lured an estimated crowd of 1,500 fans into Buckner Gymnasium. In fact, the crowd in the upper level bleachers brought back memories of the Warriors 1976 the combinations TerryHeilly and Tom Ludwig provided the McHenry fans with a 25- 5 season. While most fans ap­ plauded the match-up of the two squads, there were mixed emotions included an added pressure to win. Dick Rabbitt, a member of the McHenry High School faculty and sports columnist for the McHenry Plain- dealer for 23 years, didn't approve of the two teams playing each other. "The match-up was bound to happen, but due to our enrollment size, I don't think the teams should play," said Rabbitt. "McHenry would feel a loss of prestige if they had lost to a smaller school. To the McHenry players this was just another game, but the Johnsburg fans and players are more emotional. I think there is more rivalry bet­ ween the fans than there is between the players, and I feel the game gets lost in the. bitterness of the rivalry." Rabbitt also felt much of the bitterness comes from people who think Johnsburg is just another one of McHenry's high schools. "That has contributed to that reason why there is only one basketball championship and no football championship in McHenry. We're not a Continued on page 15 STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYIOKD SANDWICHED -- between Corey Scott and William Schmitt of the Warriors, Tim Shine of Johnsburg manages to Technical foul sparks Schmitt, Warriors past Johnsburg 45-39 By Mike Lamb Big games can bring out the most unlikely heroes. Unlikely was the case Tuesday night during McHenry Class AA Regional play. While McHenry's leading scorer and rebounder sat out with a leg injury, somebody else had to do the scoring. That somebody turned out to be William Schmitt. Lugging a 2.3 scoring average into the contest, the 6-1 senior scored all of his 10 points iq the fourth quarter to help the Warriors edge Johnsburg, 45-39 The win advanced McHenry / Johnsburg's final basket came into the semi-finals Wednesday on a a rebound shot by Tim against Cary-Grove. Schmitt started for only the second time this season due to starting center Mark Peterson's leg injury. Held scoreless through three quarters, he lit up in the fourth quarter. McHenry held a slim 33-30 lead early in the fourth quarter. At that point, Schmitt's hero status was in grave jeopardy. After fouling Johnsburg's Joe Majercik, he said a few words to the referee and was slapped with a technical foul. Johnsburg's Jeff Preston made both penalty shots and Majercik added one on the ensuing one-and-one. Added grief continued when Majercik grabbed the rebound off the missed free throw and hit a jump shot for a five-point Johnsburg play. In a matter of seconds, Johnsburg turned the tables on McHenry and led 35-33. However, that seemed to light a fire under Schmitt, as he went on to score 10 of McHenry's next 12 points. "It just got me psyched up," said Schmitt on the technical. "When I get psyched up, I go nuts." McHenry coach Ken Ludwig, was thrilled with Schmitt's resurgence. "He was so high. The thing about Billy, is he decided to play basketball." The game was the first meeting between the two schools. Johnsburg High School students attended McHenry High School until Johnsburg's opening in 1978. "We just never were relaxed," said Johnsburg coach Ben Beck. "We could never get in the flow. You have to give McHenry a lot of credit. There was a lot of emotion in the game." The emotion of the meeting was displayed early in the first quarter. In front of a loud crowd could score a point for almost three minutes. Preston finally broke the ice at the 5:15 mark when he made a in regional finals Warrior . free throws sink Trojans By Mik<» Lamb Free throws haven't been one of McHenry's strong suits this season, but Wednesday night the Warriors made their free throws when it counted the most. \ Scott Freund sank one free throw to give McHenry a two point lead with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, while Pat Dunce added five more to push McHenry over Cary-Grove, 66- 63. The win gives McHenry one more chance at the Woodstock Blue Streaks, this time for the McHenry regional title tonight. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Woodstock beat Crystal Lake Central earlier in the night, Tfr-* 80». "Yeah, there was a lot of pressure, but you have to just think positive," said Dunne on his winning free throws. McHenry overcame a seven- point deficit in the fourth quarter, and took the lead, 60-59, when Corey Scott muscled in one. Freund's free throw followed, which enabled the Warriors to go into a stall. With time running out, Cary had to foul, and hope for misses. Three times Dunne was the player picked, and the 58 per­ cent free throw shooter canned four-of-five to ice the game. The Warriors made 20-of-29 as a team on the line. / "As a team; we're shooting 58 percent. I'll take 20-out-of-29 anytime. That's good free throw shooting for us," said McHenry coach Ken Ludwig. The fouls that resulted in McHenry's winning free throw's hurt the Trojans more ways than one. With the Warriors closing in, two of Cary's big men fouled out, with four minutes still left on the clock. The Trojans only held a 57-56 ad­ vantage when 6-foot-4 Dave Ward, and 6-foot-3 Soott Apel had to leave the game. With those two out, it paved the way for the Warriors to take the game over. McHenry was without (rfoot-6 Mark Peterson due to a leg injury. "That really hurt their morale," said Ludwig on Ward and Apel fouling out. "We just tried to keep com­ pact and just work on the boards. I think we did a pretty good job," said Scott, who was McHenry's biggest man on the floor at 6-foot-3. Scott finished with 14 points, but he wasn't high man for the Warriors. Craig Hill, a junior guard, put in his best per­ formance of the season with 16 points. Scott was helped on the boards Continued on page 15 grab the rebound during Tuesday's McHenry regional action at Buckner Gymnasium. baseline shot for the score. Corey Scott came right back for McHenry with a jump shot. "Both teams were very emotional and tight. They took about five shots at the basket and we took about five shots at the basket. They weren't bad shots. The kids were just emotional and tight." McHenry won the game by out-scoring Johnsburg 12-4 after the five-point play by the Skyhawks. A short jump shot by Schmitt gave McHenry a 39-37 lead. Schmitt added two more free throws a minute later at the 1:13 mark. e with 37 seconds left to cut e margin at 41-39. Shine was fouled on the shot, but missed the free throw. Dunne grabbed the rebound for McHenry and was fouled. Dunne iced the game by hitting two free throws with 16 seconds left. One of the major keys of the ballgame was McHenry's fullcourt press. The Warriors stuck with the press for the whole game and it flustered the Skyhawks on some occassions. "If we didn't press, they would walk the ball up," Ludwig said. "They are a patient team, which makes us play defense longer. We are not a very patient ballclub. "Hie press did its job. They (Johnsburg) had to work hard." Beck admitted the McHenry press did bother his team somewhat. "Maybe it was a factor. It did prevent us from getting a second wind and get into some kind of flow." McHenry could have had an easier time in winning. After breaking an 8-8 first quarter tie, McHenry built up a 22-18 half- time lead. The Warriors padded the advantage by scoring the first seven points of the third quarter for a 29-18 lead. After taking a timeout, Johnsburg came charging back with 12 straight points to grab the lead back at the end of the quarter, 30-29. "You have to give the John- Continued on page 15 kAYlORD REACHING -- for the loose ball, Scott Freund of McHenry is surrounded by (left to right) Tim bnine, Jeff Preston and Jeff Jayko of the Skyhawks.