It was only the third week of the season and his team had just beaten Robeson 21-14 at Gately Stadium to remain unbeaten, but East St. Louis Senior coach Bob Shannon was anything but a happy man.
”I deal in reality,” Shannon told Chicago reporters afterwards. ”We have some problems we might not be able to solve.”
Famous last words?
Ten weeks later, after beating Naperville North 14-6 at Parsons Field in East St. Louis Saturday, Shannon`s Flyers are still unbeaten and preparing for next Saturday`s Class 6A title game against 13-0 Mt. Carmel. It`ll be the fifth title-game appearance in the last seven years for Shannon, who has a 130-19 record in 13 years at East St. Louis.
The Flyers` defense, led by senior safety Dwayne Rose (11 interceptions)
has given up only 42 points in the 10 games since the shaky win over Robeson. East St. Louis` secondary of Rose, sophomore Mark Bester, junior Dion Dean and senior Jason Ford has 32 interceptions on the year. The state record for team pickoffs is 41 by Freeport Aquin in 1981.
– On the subject of turnovers, Mt. Carmel quarterback Danny Miller, who lost four fumbles and threw two interceptions in a downpour before leading The Drive that beat Homewood-Flossmoor in the 6A quarterfinals, threw for 187 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Caravan`s 18-7 semifinal win over St. Rita.
Miller credited the fine blocking of his line-Bart Newman, Dan McGuire, Brian McArdle, Steve Rausch, Lloyd Acklin and tight end Mark Norville-for his big improvement.
”Our line gave me all the time in the world today,” said Miller. ”Any quarterback could do it with that kind of protection.”
Norville had three big receptions, including two touchdowns, to key the second-half rally from a 7-0 deficit and Mike Griffin (nine catches, 109 yards) got open in the flat all day long and made six first-down receptions.
”We had to take advantage of all our good athletes,” said Caravan coach Frank Lenti, who will be seeking his 50th victory at Mt. Carmel in only his fifth season as head coach. ”Griffin and Carl Boston always do a nice job, and Mark Norville`s gonna beat you sooner or later.”
With Miller and Co. going up against the fleet Flyer secondary, and East St. Louis QB Vernon Powell running the option against Mt. Carmel`s near impenetrable line, Saturday`s 2:30 p.m. title game figures to have plenty of hits.
– Loyola coach John Hoerster finds himself in an unlikely position going into next week`s Prep Bowl game against Public League champion Julian. The Catholic League representative has almost always been the favorite in recent years, but Loyola (7-4) is considered a slight underdog by most observers against J.W. Smith`s No. 7 Jaguars (12-2). The game pits all-Catholic League linebacker Desmond Werthman and the Ramblers` defense against junior quarterback Torrance Garfield and an offense that has scored 566 points this season, the second-highest total in state history. ”We`ve seen `em, and they`re a very well-coached team,” said Hoerster. ”They throw the ball extremely well and have good skill position players, so we feel they`re going to be a formidable opponent.” With the game moved to Nov. 28 to accommodate the Bears, Loyola will have a full two-week layoff, which is fine with Hoerster. ”It`s a little extra time to heal our wounds, but the big thing is that it`s at Solider Field. The date and time aren`t important. The kids and coaches all wanted to play there.”
– At long last, Richards coach Gary Korhonen will be making the trip to Normal. Long considered one of the finest motivators of high school football players in the state, Korhonen got the Bulldogs into the state playoffs six times between 1978 and 1987. They were beaten in the semifinals twice and in the quarterfinals three times. Saturday`s 28-8 victory over Rockford West was the 115th if Korhonen`s career. The Bulldogs meets Peoria Central (11-2) for the Class 4A title.
BOYS` BASKETBALL
– Lyons Township High School in La Grange will be a good place to view some of the top teams and players in Illinois this week week. St. Joseph, with De Paul recruit Deryl Cunningham and highly regarded guard Bill Gates, and King, who may be without injured junior guard Jamie Brandon, will join host Lyons and Fenger for a four-team round-robin Thanksgiving tournament Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There are games at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. each day; King plays St. Joseph at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
– At York, things are looking up, says coach Bob Ociepka. Way up. The Dukes are big-and experienced. In his starting lineup Ociepka has 6-8 junior forward Mark Otto, 6-7, 220-pound senior center Mike Kies and 6-2 senior guard Mike Radosta. Steve Kotarba, a 6-3 senior forward and Chris Huot, a 5-10 senior guard complete the starting five. ”We feel this is our year,” says Ociepka. ”We feel ready to play with anybody.” The Dukes were 4-8, 9-17 a year ago but Ociepka thinks they`re ready to contend with Oak Park and Proviso West in the West Suburban Silver if they can find a way to handle full-court pressure, a big bugaboo last season.
More Top Picks Best Premium Diamond Painting Kits
– Grayslake coach Greg Groth knows his team`s weakness this season: ”We have no height at all. Last year we had a front-line of 6-5, 6-5 and 6-6, but they have all have graduated. We lost a lot of power.”
– Crystal Lake South has no returning starters after graduating eight seniors. Somehow, coach Gary Collins remains optimistic about his team`s chances: ”I`m excited. Our kids have worked hard during the summer and have improved a lot. We`re hoping to sneak up on some people.”
– Morris probably wishes basketball was more of a contact sport. All but one of its top eight players were on the school`s football team.
– McHenry will rely on its tandem of guard Mike Hetterman and center Mike Sena, both all-conference picks a year ago.
– Warren coach Darrel Bader: ”This is the quickest team we`ve ever had here.” It better be because: ”We aren`t big and we`re not physical.”
– Providence coach Dick Mandella: ”We are the best-kept secret in Illinois.” He may be right. The Celtics are 218-85 over the last 11 years. While most of those victories came in Class A, Providence was 15-9 (two losses were by forfeit) in Class AA a year ago. ”We average 17 or 18 wins a year. We haven`t gotten the respect we should because we`re a small school. The goal is to reach the level of the prestigous schools in Class AA,” says Mandella.
– Simeon coach Bob Hambric thinks junior guard Cyrus McGinnis, who starred for last year`s sophomore team, Public League runners-up, could crack the starting lineup in place of Jackie Crawford.
– Rich Central opened last season 1-7 before rallying to win 18 of its last 19. That shouldn`t happen this season. The Olympians, who return four players who saw a lot of action last season, are quick as usual, but this season they`re also unusually big. Coach Ron Brauer says he`s normally lucky to have one kid over 6-3, but senior Troy Dillard (6-4), junior Rod Gatson (6-6) and sophomore Wayne Williams (6-7), a transfer from Thornton Fractional North, give the Olympians excellent depth up front.
– Thornton will face a struggle to repeat in the SICA East, with Bloom Trail and Thornwood expected to give the Wildcats all they want. Coach Sam Cameli has three starters back, but is hoping his young bench-sophomores Melvin Smith (6-2) and Donald Chew (6-2) and freshman Floyd Coleman (6-3)-can contribute.
– The rest of the Catholic League is worried about Gordon Tech this season. Here`s why: ”We have experience along with quickness,” said coach Steve Pappas, who is concerned about his team`s size. ”That`s a good combination.” – Bloom Trail is small, but coach Gary Meyer isn`t concerned. ”We don`t use size, or lack of it, as an excuse,” he says. ”The three-point shot can neutralize big kids, and we can hit it. We just have to take care of the ball, get good position on the boards, and play defense.” Meyer is hoping to work 6-3 freshman Randy Rhyms into the lineup slowly. ”With the older kids, we can put him in a role where he doesn`t have to worry about scoring,” Meyer said. ”He can concentrate on rebounding and defense.”
– Joliet West coach Mike O`Connell on the 1988-89 season: ”We have a nice combination of quickness and great leaping ability. We can play well inside and outside. We could be an excellent team.”
– Marshall has lost 6-9 James White and 6-7 Anthony Lewis but the Commandos should be tough again. Coach Luther Bedford believes the key to the season may be whether 5-6 senior guard Vondell Brim or 6-foot senior guard Nathaniel Bell takes charge at point guard. ”Potentially, we`re a better team than last year,” Bedford said.
– Benet coach Tom Allen is looking forward to the season: ”We were happy to be 15-11 last year considering what we had to work with. I think we`ll improve on that. Our kids have great chemistry on the court as well as off, and that`s an intangible that will help us. I`m really optimistic.”
– De La Salle coach Jim Tracy still remembers last season`s opening-round regional loss to Quigley South. He`s making sure his team, one of the state`s best, remembers, too. ”I told them already you`re only as good as your last game, and our last game, we weren`t very good,” he said.
– Rich East quarterback Jamie Pass will join the Rockets` basketball team in late December after he rests up from an ankle injury incurred playing football this fall.
– Downers Grove South coach Dick Flaiz knows having talented ballplayers alone won`t get him far this season. ”We have to have good chemistry,” said Flaiz. ”If we come together as a unit we`ll have a good team.” The Mustangs will be built around returning starters Brian Buscher (14 points, 9 rebounds a game) and Jeff Arnold (10 points). Other key players include forward Duane Anderson, 6-5 center Tim McGladdery and guards Dave Mattiuz and Craig Murphy. ”We have good senior leadership, and that will help with our tough early schedule,” Flaiz said. ”Our conference (West Suburban Gold) is as strong as ever, but we can challenge.”
– From worst to first is the goal of coach Henry Szymanski`s Rolling Meadows Mustangs this winter. Although Rolling Meadows finished dead last in the Mid- Suburban South last year with a 2-8 record and a 14-14 mark overall, it has enough experience to turn things around. A 13-1 record and title game win over Fremd in Harper College summer league action has given the Mustangs a much-needed dose of confidence going into the season. The key is the maturation of 6-7 senior center Aaron Williams and 6-3 forward Chris Freeborn, neither of whom played a minute of varsity ball last year. Returning backcourt starters Brad Martin (5-11) and point guard Bill Howard (5-11) hope to play well early to help Freeborn and Williams get over the anticipated jitters. Andy Maher
(6-2), who averaged 17 ppg in the last few weeks of the season, is out for awhile with strep throat.
– Naperville North coach Dick Whitaker has a simple goal this year: ”We hope to be recognized as a good team,” he said. That shouldn`t be too dificult with Jay Rensink (12 points a game last year) and Dave Rank (9 ppg) at guard for a team that finished 17-9 a year ago. Other key players are 6-9 center Jeff Hrejsa and forwards Omar Hammouda and Ken Cole. ”We have a good nucleus coming back this year,” said Whitaker. ”We have to get everybody working together to be successful.” The Huskies finished second to Naperville Central in the DuPage Valley last season but should overtake Central this time to win the conference. ”Year after year our conference is becoming more balanced,” Whitaker said. ”We`re going to be contenders.”
GIRLS` BASKETBALL
– Maine West and York play host to the best Thanksgiving tournament, beginning Wednesday in Des Plaines. The six-team round-robin features No. 1 Maine West, No. 3 Young, No. 4 York, No. 5 Joliet West, No. 15 Fremd and Oak Park. Play continues Friday and Saturday at Maine West before shifting to York for the final two rounds Dec. 2-3. York faces Joliet West at 7 p.m. Wednesday, and Maine West and Young meet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Maine West plays York at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in Elmhurst in a rematch of last year`s Class AA state final, which was won by Maine West.
– Apparently it`s payback time for Cathedral coach Duane Martin and his Lady Pirates. After going 1-20 and absorbing a 100-plus licking from East St. Louis Lincoln and an 80-plus loss to Mather last year, Martin`s Pirates are unbeaten after three games this season.
”If we do anything this year, it`ll be because the kids dedicated themselves to improving last year,” said Martin. ”They all gave up their summers, attended as many camps as they could and it shows.”
The Pirates could be a team of the future. Shidat Kimbrough is the only senior in the starting lineup. Ayanna Flowers and Erika Bradley are juniors and Kenya Williams and Tamika Ray are sophomores.
MISCELLANY
– St. Ignatius is looking for an assistant baseball coach. Interested parties should contact athletic director G. L. Brockhouse at 421-3558.