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Sports Shepley Bombs Southland Raiders By PHIL CLARK T-J Sports Writer Once in a while in covering sports, a writer gets a chance to see something out of the ordinary. Friday night out at the Hornets’ Nest, one of those extraordinary performances occurred as Westfield's junior guard Matt Shepley put on a shooting demonstration that had everyone in awe. Shepley had one of those shooting nights you hear about, but seldom see as he bombed eight three pointers in eight attempts to help the Hornets beat the Southland Raiders 102-77. Shepley had an unusual night, in fact, as he was perfect from three point range and from the foul line, and missed all of his two point attempts! Shepley ended the night with 26 points, all in the first three quarters. The Hornets picked up their eleventh win of the year and improved their region lAAA record to 3-0 with the victory. Southland is 8-5, 1-2 under Perryan Cater Pierce. Southland took a first quarter lead, using just three players in scoring 24 first quarter points. O'Neal Cason, Will Easterlin and Jason Kanazawa each scored eight for the Raiders, who led 24-21 alter one quarter. Shepley had two of his three-pointers in the first and Ben Hulbert added another, but Cason's buzzer-beating trey gave Southkuul the lead. In the middle two quarters, the Hornets scored a total of 63 points as Shepley canned four three pointers in the second and two more in the third quarter. Meanwhile, steady Brian Nash was turned in his usual solid game on the bo;ird and in scoring, as the smooth shooting junior scored 20 for the Hornets as Jim Massey got double figure scoring from six players for the first time this year. But Pierce’s Raiders wouldn't go away as they kept relying on just a few players to do the scoring. In the second quarter, it was David Rumph who did most of the damage, scoring all of his fifteen points in the second as Kanazawa aided four more. But in the third, the Hornets superior numbers began to take it's toll as Shepley, Nash, Todd Rigdon. Jake Walls, Ben Hulbert and Keith Davis combined for 32 third quarter points as Westfield stretched their advantage to 23 points, 84-61. Shepley and Walls each had two three-pointers in the third while the small, scrappy Kanazawa continued to perform nicely for the Raiders, picking up another ten points. With the game well in hand and Lady Panthers Halt Skid, Beat Houston County * *■ -“'-'S s’, s 'S ■k 1 >J BK :• Hfe ■ ■I 9HH| j| > ' ■ »L;^|Z 1: SB :L; 1 v jgl&gyMr W$L jfl {yPH »neif ViClOty Houston county46>39. W' *wr I rM. SLj * * 'WH m i Ul % £ 3 k ; isjfcpiSHFo rum* Photo Rl« Matt Shepley, Westfield junior guard, lays up two points in the Hornets' 102*77 win over Southland Friday night. the spectators watching the scoreboard, the Hornets hit 00 at the 6:14 mark, and two minutes later were at 05. Points 07 and 08 came with 3:20 lett. and everybody by now expected the Hornets to hit a hundred. They did it on a three Max Vickers said "I've got to simplify our offense a little. I've tried to get them to do too much, and I feel I've confused them.” Well, even though he didn't have two of his top players for the Saturday night game with cross county and region rival Houston County, Vickers' team responded witn; a sub-region win, beating the Lady Bears for the second tune this season. With Natalie Taylor and Monique Kendrick out with knee injuries, Vickers had to shuttle players in and out trying to find a combination that would click. Finally, he did it with freshman Felicia Scott, who c;une off the bench to score-ten points including eight in the decisive fourth quarter as Perry held on for a 46-39 win. The victory snapped a three game losing skid for the Lady Panthers. Taylor has that recurring knee problem, while Kendrick was injured while celebrating the Panthers' dramatic overtime victory last week at Peach County. Kendrick is expected back this week, while Taylor could be held out until the following week, since Friday and Saturday g;unes are not region games. Perry battled from behind in a slow, methodical first half as they were able to hit just four field goals. The Lady Bettrs clung to a slim 18-15 lead at the half. But in the third quarter, Perry begun to push the ball upcourl a little taster while playing it tough, tight defense to take control the game. Shenitia Gilbert fed Yatosha Davis on a fast break layup with 5:50 left in the (See LADY PANTHERS, Page 7B) Houston Times-Journal poimer out of the left comer by senior Keith Davis with 2:52 left in the g;une. Shepley had 26. Nash 20, Walls 16, Rigdon 12 and Hulbert and Davis scored eleven each and Greg Adams had four. For Southland, KBgjjy v.-iijM ■ HL - Timt* Pholo Rle Erik Felton waits on the official verdict in wrestling match against Warner Robins. Perry High To Host Wrestling Tournament By PHIL CLARK T-J Sports Writer There'll be a lot of moaning and groaning coming from the Perry High gym this weekend as Perry hosts the fifth annual Perry Invitational Wrestling tournament. For the 28 schools participating in the tournament, it will be the final tuneup for the area tournaments which will follow a week later. This weekend's action gets under way Friday at 5 p.m. as many of the schools will enter wrestlers in all fourteen weight classes. Perry will wrestle ten individuals. Wednesday Jan. 25,1995 Pierce relied on his Montezuma connection for 58 of his team's 77 points with Kanazawa getting 22, Rutnph 15, Easterlin 12. Lloyd Turley had 7 and David McDuffie scored two O'Neal Cason had eight, all in the first quarter. Saturday, the semi-finals begin at 9 a.m. followed by the wrestle back, or consolation matches, and then the finals. Four mats will be used in the tournament, so there will always be plenty of excellent wrestling going on. Teams in the competition include class AAAA Shiloh, one of the favorites to win their classification this year. Griffin, another AAAA school, will also be on hand, along with two of the top ten class AA teams in the state, number 5 Cook County and (See WRESTLING, Page 7B) A Replacement Roster For The Baseball Strike Page 6A So let the baseball strike continue. Since I've been in a nostalgic mood of late, I thought I'd put together a replacement team spring training roster from players I have watched and even played with from the fifties and sixties. Ed Pierce of Perry told me "it might take a little while to work some of these guys into shape, but they could play in their time." I agree. Some have passed on to that great baseball team in the sky, but during their day, when just about every community had a 'town team’, these folks were mighty good. I’ve assembled a team, most of whom would "play for less than a million dollars a year", Ed Pierce told me. One could really assemble a pitching staff! Take Oscar Williams of Montezuma, Bubba Pierce and Billy Bledsoe of Perry, Ken Crazier of Byromville and Grover Lambert, who played in Byromville, Lilly and Montezuma. They would make up my starting rotation. Williams had a blazing fastball and a great curve. He had great stamina and arm strength. Rarely tired. He could pitch both games of a double header, once pitched a no hitter, and pitched a complete game, 16-inning victory in which he struck out 28 batters. Bubba Pierce was in Williams' class. He was a cagy veteran who always seemed to be two or three pitches ahead of a batter. A thinking mans pitcher. Bledsoe was another outstanding Perry pitcher. He was good enough to play pro ball for a while, and later was a scout. Ken Crazier had a wicked underhand delivery that was simply baffling. Besides, he could throw the daylights out of it! Graver Lamberth, in his early years, was a superb pitcher, but later played most positions on the field. He was perhaps the most versatile player of the era. On the mound, he had a good fastball, a good curve, and a gritty determination. Let’s round out our spring tntining staff. Long relievers would include big. strong Boot Hunt of Perry and Cliff Coggins of Cochran Both could start, and as long relievers; would be capable of coming into a game early and going the rest of the way. Cliff West, a hard thrower from Lilly, Mac Kitchens, another hard thrower from Vienna and Gerald Daniels of Unadiila would be others I’d put in the long relief rales. My set-up pitchers would include crafty Ed Pierce of Perry, Carl Roberts of Lilly, Frank Jackson of Bonaire and Howard Davidson of Centerville. My closer would be Percy Hardy of Perry, a fierce competitor with a bulldog tenacity. That's a pretty darn good pitching staff. Now, we need some catchers! There were many outstanding receivers in that era. Tom Dykes of Cochran was probably the best all around. A solid hitter with home run power. Dykes was an outstanding handler of pitchers. Roy Baggett of Montezuma was another good one. He had a great arm, was a good hitter with occasional home run power. Dan Mclnvale of Lilly was the catcher for two members of our pitching staff, Roberts and West. He, too, had a great ;trm and was a solid defensive catcher. Jack Hardy of Perry was a big, rugged individual who just plain looked like a catcher. Jack Doles of Fort Valley was a big, raw-boned left hand hitter who was as touch as nails. Tommy Mooney of Montezuma was made in the Cragi Biggio mold. He Uxtked more like a second baseman than a catcher. But, boy, was he a tough cookie, and a solid single and double hitter. First basemen were plentiful, too. Elwyn Greer of Unadiila would be among them. He bad a sting as a pro player and was a very smart hitter who would always hit his pitch, not the pitcher's. P.E. W.trren of Hawkinsville was a left handed hitter who hit the ball as hard as anyone. Strib McCants of Bryan Adrian Summer Basketball Camp Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Bryan Adrian Summer Basketball Camp. Boys and girls ages 5 through 18 are eligible. Included on the 1995 Summer Camp Staff are: Jerry Stackhouse (UNC), Rasheed Wallace (UNC), Randoph Childress (Wake Forest), George Lynch (NBA), Donald Williams (UNC), Drew Barry (Ga. Tech), Jeff Mclnnis (UNC), Chris Corchiana (NBA), Pat Sullivan (UNC), Derrick Phelps (NBA), Junior Burrough (UVA), and Jason Williford (UVA). jdttk PhiiPL H Clark I jIkS I Fort Valley was very much like him. Wilbum Hartman of Bonaire was probably the best defensive first baseman of the era. He was great with the glove, and also a solid hitter. John Williams of Montezuma was a solid, left handed hitter and outstanding with the glove. A college catcher, he could also play the outfield. A very versatile player you could list in several positions. Middle infielders would include Baby Fowler of Montezuma, a decent glove man, though with limited range. But he could fiat out hit. He was also the team clown, you know, the guy who always keeps everybody loose! Cecil Howard, who played at Perry, was the best shortstop of the era. A great hitter and outstanding defensive player. Skeet Chapman played second base at Perry, and he was another solid player at bat and in the field. Gene Bailey of Montezuma played shortstop, had blazing speed and was one of the toughest to strike out of that era. Jimmy Medlin of Cordele played second base professionally for a short while. He also pitched some. Dewey Brantley of the Dooly High community was also a versatile player who would give you a good days work at several positions. Hap Jones of Hawkinsville and Cochran was another. Jones also had outstanding power, and could play shortstop, third or the outfield. Bob Green of Montezuma was the best third baseman you'd find anywhere. He didn't play the position 'pretty', but was rugged, made few errors and knew how to positions hitters. He could also hit, and with power. Some other middle infielders we'd have to take along include Lewis Bledsoe of Perry, Frank Fennell of Fort Valley. Bob Jones of Cochran, and third basemen Ray Hambrick of Byromville and Wally Bassett of Byron, whose arm injury cut short a promising pro career as a pitcher. Let's move to the outfield. W.C. Jones of Montezuma would be a centerfielder. He was big for a centerfielder, but he amid run like a deer. He had good power; and a strong arm, but sometimes had a weakness for curve balls. Billy Irwin of Unadiila could hit the hall as hard as anybody. Tall and rangy, he was also a top defensive outfielder. Glenn Cassell of Vienna was another good one, and so was Ed Thompson of Perry, a fleet centerfielder who could really aiver the ground. Farrer Stembridge of Americas and Montezuma was a solid left handed hitter with a super attitude, but very competitive. He became a green beret, and an instructor in the ranger school at Fort Benning. Mack Lockerman of Montezuma was also a solid defensive centerfielder who had perhaps the strongest and most accurate throwing arm of the era. Others I would want to take along include Aldene Lasseter, Lory Dunter, Pete Hunt and Ed Chapman of Perry; Whit Reaves of Cochran; Ed Casey of Warner Robins and Fred Bailey of Montezuma, who would be my designated hitters. Casey hit right handed, Bailey left handed. Bobby Lamberth of Montezuma, an infielder, and his brother J.C., and outfielder and pitcher, would also be invited. Managers and coaches? Clint Hardy of Perry, Bob Massee of Hawkinsville, Bill Collins of Unadiila, Joe Matt and J.C. Lowe of Montezuma All of them devoted years to serving as managers. I'm just sorry most of you didn't get a chance to see these fellows play. As Oscar Williams told me, "we played because we loved the game. Besides, we didn't have anything else to do." There are several locations including Charlotte, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Banner Elk, N.C.; Hickory, N.C.; Mount Olive, N.C.; Elkin, N.C.; Gastonia, N.C.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Lynchburg, Va.; and Elkins, W.Va. The Bryan Adrian Basketball Camp is recognized as one of The Top Teaching Programs in the county. For a brochure call (704) 37?,- 3236.