The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

* / M.I'I.AINDKAI.KK-HKRAI.I). WKI>NfcSI>A\ . JAM'Am 9.19tt> rJ Sports Chris Juzwik Sports Editor Friend says his view is'letter-perfect\ Post-holiday gloom ha ving overtaken our sports editor today, he is thus printing a letter from his friend Rich, a sports reporter in HenMcry, a small town in southern Illinois. Dear Chris: How goes it in McHenry? Things are crazy down here, as usual. I was talking to a friend here recently, and we were discussing coaches. We decided we -wanted to build the quintessential coach. Man, it's a chore-and-a-half. Building a perfect coach is a task I've wanted to undertake for quite a while. People are always working hard trying to build the perfect sports reporter, so here's my chance to return the favor. As you know, Chris, coaches aren't real people. When they're ^ not being coaches, they probably are being real people. But when it's time to put the whistle around the neck, it's like the difference between Dr. Jekyll and Vince Lombardi. SO, AS I TRY to build the flawless coach, many things must be taken into consideration. It's not like building a house, or building a relationship. This is anc her world entirely. The coach first must have a keen eye, or two, if it will help. He has to see the mistakes made by his players out on the field of play, and also keep a lookout for goofoffs on the bench. A loud voice is also essential. If a coach is mad at oneof the players, the player will never know it unless he or she can hear the coach. Whispering "what is Johnny doing out there?' to no one doesn't hold as much impact as: "SMITH! What are you doing out there?" Have to have a loud voice. It also helps if a coach is animated. That way, if the team isn't any good, at least the fans will have something to watch. AND FINALLY, we come to what is, from my perspective at least, the most important facet of the coach. Without it, Coach Infallible is just another name. There is (as you probably well know) the 'game face,' the mug which coaches and players alike put on before every con­ test. But now we're discussing a more important countenance: the media face. The media face is a Feal phenomenon, and the younger the coach, the more widespread the stigma. Media faces are saved for no specific time, save the time when the media is present, specifically. Typical scenario, media person (me) to media face (coach): Me: "Coach, how do you think your team played tonight?" (foot the most searing question, but one we often use rronetheless). Face: "Maybe we didn't play the greatest game, but our kids ' worked real hard." THE FACE KNOWS this because as he or she peeks around the locker room, all the players on the team can be seen with sweat on their brows, hence the face's most insightful answer. Should I get a bit more technical, things turn ugly with the face. y Me: "Coach, your defense tonight really was your best"of­ fense, basically because you didn't have any offense. That is to say, your team forced 546 turnovers, off which your squad scored only three baskets." Face: "546, huh? Wow. I can't say enough about these kids. They work so hard. We've been shooting a lot of layups this week, and working real hard. We should be making more. But we'll have to work harder on that. Did I say how hard these kids have been working?" YES, MAN, YES. If I believed everything coaches told me, I would think their players were dribbling between their legs in the cradle, doing leg lifts from their high chairs, and diagram­ ming plays on their Lite-Brites. I read in the 'big-time' paper the other day a great quote from Mike Ditka. Some goof reporter from San Francisco asked him what he brought to Chicago from Dallas. Ditka said some heavy sweaters, a couple blankets, etc. Great stuff, huh? And what do I get? "We're working so hard, really working hard. We've got some hard-workers." All I can say is if these players go out into the real world with the alleged enthusiasm they show on the sporting field, the world is going to be in great shape. Take care, talk to you soon. b • Rich P S. Did I tell you how hard I've been working? overtime • • • Extra period dooms Johnsburg; Wauconda rolls, 55-50 By Barb Ansell Plalndealer-Herald aportswrttor e JOHNSBURG - Just when It looked as if the Johnsburg High School bcjys' basketball squad was going to waltz away with a hard- fought Northwest Suburban Con­ ference win over Wauconda, something happened, and for the Skyhawks, it was something bad. The Skyhawks had the tables suddenly turned on them, as the Bulldogs snatched a 55-50 over­ time victory. Johnsburg is 5-6 overall, 1-3 in the NWSC. Waucon- d a i s 6 - 6 , 1 - 3 . It was a see-saw battle throughout, and the fourth quarter was no different, as the lead changed hands several times in the final eight minutes. With less than four minutes re­ maining, JHS forward Mark DuRei appeared to be trapped underneath the basket. Somehow the senior managed to get the shot away, and the ball swished through the net, giving the Skyhawks a 39-37 lead. AFTER GETTING the ball back, still clinging to the two-point advantage, Johnsburg went to the delay. Their patience paid off as inside baskets from Frank Husak and Jeff Nichols put the 'Hawks ahead 43-39 with und^ra minute to Play. s Johnsburg's Mike Toussaint missed a bonus free throw op­ portunity with 45 seconds left, and Wauconda's Dennis Hubbard sank a Jumper from the left side to nar­ row the Johnsburg lead to 43-41. JTom Walsh of Johnsburg also missed a one-and-one chance with 20 seconds left. WHS guard Brian Podraza hit a shot from right in front of the basket with only seven seconds left, knotting the game at 43. Johnsburg took over and moved the ball down the court, but with one second left, Husak's jumper from the top of the key missed, forcing the overtime. "I THINK we showed a lot of maturity," said Wauconda coach Chuck Neary. "We were down by four points with only one minute left and we didn't panic. "^¥e ran the plays and Hubbard and Podraza were our clutch ballplayers. They came through when we needed them," Neary ad­ ded. » Wauconda controlled the tip in the extra session, and the Bulldogs' Nick Saebeler made use of that possession driving the ball down court for the layup and the first points in the overtime period. Johnsburg forward Rick Easterling got the ball inside for an easy hoop, tying the game at 45. AS THE clock ticked down to just under two minutes to play, Saebeler went to work again, scor­ ing to boost the Bulldogs to a 47-45 advantage. Multiple trips to the charity stripe put the Bulldogs way out in front as they grabbed the lead for good. Podraza sank four buckets, while Saebeler and Hubbard each sank two free throws in the over­ time pe^od. Nichols cotold only hit one of his two free throw attempts and baskets by DuRei on an offensive rebound and Husak kept the 'Hawks close, but not quite close enough. FOR THE night, game-high scoring honors went to Waucon­ da's Saebeler who had 22 points. Saebeler was followed by Nichols who had 16 points. "It was a good baUgame," said Skyhawk coach Ben Beck. "However, the loss does dampen the effort shown." Effort and balance were definitely two pluses to the Skyhawks' game. Forward Bill Dust displayed a tremendous amount of effort in the third quarter. Dust dumped in three baskets and grabbed two defen­ sive rebounds to help the 'Hawks outscore the Bulldogs by two points in the third stanza. "We had good balance," said Beck. "Everyone got involved at least a little bit." Four different Skyhawks tallied eight points apiece. 4 Johnsburg was able to improve its inside game against Waucon­ da, a facet which had troubled Beck and the Skyhawks in recent outings. Beck had hoped to see several players take on the challenge of getting inside to score and that's exactly what happened. "WE HAD problems early In the first quarter," explained Beck. "We finally got the shots inside at the right time and to the right peo­ ple, but they just wouldn't go down. "Then again in the early part of the fourth quarter the shots didn't go in," added Beck. "Those were critical shots which could have widened our lead." The offense was not the only problem the Skyhawks had in the fourth quarter. "We had a breakdown in defense, when we let the Wauconda guards in to shoot those two baskets at the end of the fourth quarter. < "But Hubbard is probably the best guard in the league and our defense did a good job of holding him to*just five baskets," Beck commented. "Saebel^ killed us. That post player had a strong ball game. But he was nothing we couldn't have stopped." The Johnsburg defense did manage to hold down another Wauconda threat as they allowed the usually high-scoring Podraza just three baskets. "Johnsburg did an excellent job to deny us the outside shot," said Neary. "We run best,v but Johnsburg didn't let us run as much as we would have liked to." The Skyhawks traveled to Richmond-Burton Tuesday for a non-league game, and will trek to Lake Zurich Friday. Johnsburg's Jeff Nichols tries to lay the ball in over the outstretched arm of Wauconda's Nick • Plaindealer-Herald photo by Barb Ansell Saebeler. Johnsburg dropped a 55-50 overtime decision to the Bulldogs. Skyhawk matm^n 1st at Geneva GENEVA -- There's success. And then there's success. ' Johnsburg High School's wrestl­ ing team had a plateful of the tastier stuff last weekend, topping Wauconda in a non-conference match Friday night, and then roll­ ing to the the title at the Geneva ^Tournament Saturday. The dual meet win over Wauconda raises the Skyhawks' record to 7-5 overall, 3-1 in the Northwest Suburban Conference. Powerhouse Grant, at 4-0, leads the way in the NWSC. "We're real happy with what oc­ curred," said Johnsburg coach Mike Roberts.. "It was a good weekend for us." Indeed. JOHNSBURG TOPPED the eight-team Geneva event with 160 points. Elgin St. Edward with 141 Vi was second, with Hampshire third, Westmont fourth and Marian Central, with 86, fifth. The tournament championship was buoyed by three title-winning performances by JHS wrestlers. L e a d i n g t h e w a y w a s heavyweight Bob Bentz. The junior, seeded first going into the tournament, showed why as he pinned both opponents en route to the heavyweight crown. In the title match. Bentz pinned Marian Central's John Powers in 3:38. His overall record now stands at an impressive 16-2-1. Also winning individual top honors at Geneva were John Shiman (138) and Jim Walker (126). Walker, who improved his record to a sparkling 16-3, deci- sioned Jeff Zophi of Hampshire 9-4 in the finals. SHIMAN (11-3), edged Mike Tovarof St. Ed's; 5-4. T h r e e o t h e r J o h n . s b u r g wrestlers lost in title matches. JOHNSBURG-Page 19 l i t f > | | | l H i l l /J CNSCOVCR i ^ # JjH W«*r«* McH*nry's Largest Furniture Merchandise At Discount Prices I McHENRY-ANTlOCN 90 DAYS SAM? AS CASH WITH MINIMUM PURCHASE I • | OF S300 AND APPROVED CREDIT | (HIP & DENT SPECIALS ['."Vtiriy i 'c/jf it.fyiif f^j j .'/•' .«• /. i' j1?X^ ??2 !30H(40W0 v /n VISIT ANY ONE OF OUR OUTLETS FOR ONE OF A KIND FLOOR SAMPLE CLEARANCE SPECIALS SAVE UP TO VI AND MORE CHAIRS & RECLINERS WOOD ROCKERS & RECLINERS STRATLOUNGER FLEXSTEEL KROEHLER HALLMARK BERKLINE S MORE BEDROOM BUYS • SLEEPER SOFAS IMPACT EARLY AMERICAN 5 PC. BEDROOM SET LARGE DRESSER HUTCH MIRROR CHESI ^HEADBOARD FRAME REG $1095 ONLY *577 5 PCS FLOOR SAMPLE CLOSEOUT BEDROOM PIECES DRESSER MIRROR CHEST HEADBOARD NITE STANDS SAVE 20% to46% BROYHILL PINEDALE ALL WOOD BEDROOM DRESSER MIRROR LARGE CHEST HEADBOARD REG SI 195 NAME BRAND LOVESEAT SLEEPER SOFA HERCULON COVERS *237 WHILE THEY LAST FULL SIZE MODERN SLEEPERS HERCULON COVERS DELUXE MATTRESS Irom *288 WHILE THEY LAST FLEXSTEEl SIMMONS CLOSEOUTS SLEEPER SOFAS QUEEN SIZE BROYHILL DINING ROOM SPECIAL &§: CHINA TABLE 4 SIDE CHAIRS $788 FORMICA TOP TABLE W/LEAF & (4) VINYL CHAIRS 128 „ -I ('wKWf.Y m *98 *697 *497 from WHILE THEY LAST ALL WOOD i TRESTLE TABLE ALL SWIVEL ROCKERS ARE ON SALE WEBB MASTER BEDROOM ALL WOOD DRESSER, MIRROR LARGE CHEST, HEADBOARD REG S1095 *877*5 5 PCS FLEXSTEEL FULL-SIZE SLEEPER WITH MATTRESS WHILE THEY LAST FROM *447 4 WOOD CHAIRS 198 TABLE LAMPS 7* OFF j'i CHOOSE FROM BRASS WOOD CONTEMPORARY COLONIAL TRADIIIONAL ODD END TABLES FLOOR SAMPLES SAVE % CASH & CARRY MODERN TABLES SET OF 3 '2/1 NO I, COFFEE WALNUT FINISH *99 pcs BRAND NAME BEDDING EVERYTHING FOR THE LIVING ROOM! uvmo iON\ 139 MODERN LOVESEATS, SOFAS AND CHAIRS SCHWEIGER STRATFORD FLEXSTEEL & MORE HERCULON VELVETS NYLONS 3 PCS FROM EARLY AMERICAN SOFA, LOVESEAT & CHAIR HERCULON 3 PC. «SSssssg#®*** ^ *288 onL*588 FLOOR SAMPLE QUEEJ)| SIZE SLEEPER SECTIONAL *488 ONE ONLY SEALY, SERTA. SIMMONS, KING KOIL T MORE FOUNDATIONS, STANDARD SIZE *63 ec • ron WHILE THfcY LAST CUSTOM MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING STANDARD SIZE BOTH PIECES *138 SOMr only MISMATCHED KING KOIL MATTRESS 8 BOX SPRING QUEEN SIZE 60.80 Reg S424 BOTH PEICtS EXTRA FIRM *277 CHIROPEDIC MATTRESS 2 BOX SPRINGS KING SIZE 76.80 REG $498 NOW 3 PC *247 SOME MATCHED SETS I QUEEN SIZE 60.80 BRAND NAME MATTRESS < BOX SPRING OUR REG S398 BOTH PIECES NOW FROM 198 IBM SHOPPING CENTERS NEXT TO FIRE STATION RT. I}0 AT 31 DELIVERY SALE STARTS TODAY! (815)385-1800 UeoMclown HOURS DAILY 910 6 • FRI 9:30 9 SUN 11-3 McHENRY ANTIOCH NEXT TO FIRE STATION ON fir 83 . ON,J" 110 AT 31 I Mill SOUTH (•IS) 3*5 1*00 OFRT 173 FREE PARKING IN REAR 395 5*00 ANTIOCH McHENRY • BANK FINANCING • BUDGET TERMS • IAYAWAY PLAN • FREE DELIVERY TUIJBr 1 ON RT. 83 1 MIU SOUTH OF RT. 173 ANTIOCH t: