Page 158 - 1986.Millard.North

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Discipline

Helps Team
' ' D

esire, hard work, and defense"
were the three characteristics that
· brought the girls' varsity basketball
team to a 19-4 record claimed Head Coach Jeff
Ritz.
With one returning starter and only a few
players with varsity experience, the team
"worked very hard to improve-to reach their
maximum ability," said Coach Ritz .
This hard work was helped by the use of a
smaller-sized ball, but hindered by the new
scheduling of girls'-and-boys' doubleheaders. "It
hurt practiced time, ·~ claimed Ritz.
However, the practice the squad did get in
helped the Mustangs start their season off with
four victories including two blow-outs against
Bryan (73-28) and Bellevue East (62-20).
At the Metro Holiday Tournament, the
squad took third place by first taking two wins
against Benson and Omaha South and then losing
47-54 to the Central Eagles. However, the
Mustangs came back to narrowly defeat Gross 53-
51 in the consolation finals .
Continuing their season, the team claimed
eight more victories building their record to 15-1.
They then were faced with at 41-49 loss to Abe
Lynx.
In the last three games of the season, the
team alternated two victories with one defeat.
They won against Burke 54-39, lost to Lincoln
High 47-54, and came back to beat Westside 41-
39 with a last minute basket by Senior Lynne
Baker.
At Districts, the Mustangs had a comfortable
victory over Bellevue West in the first round.
However, in the finals, the team battled back-and-
forth for the lead, but ended up on top by a last
second shot by Sophomore Heather Taggart to
fin ish the game with a 38-36 score.
By becoming District champions, the team
went to State for the fourth consective year.
In their first and only game of the tourna-
ment, the Mustangs faced Lincoln High, who had
defeated them earlier in the season. The Links,
however, continued their winning record over
Millard North by defeating them 44-32.
"Our defense was good, but they took us out
Junior Diane Beideck shows her agility with a jumpshot in
of our offense," said Ritz , who was pleased with the State Tournament .(photo by 5. Sartin)
the team's extra hard playing in the game.
Moving the ball down the floo r fast is im portant against the
Millard South defense. Junior Diane Beideck hustles toward In a game against Burke, Junior Diane Beideck attempts a
-S. Stokes- the home basket. The Mustangs won this season opener 43- shot in front of three opposing players.(photo by 5. Meese 1
32. (photo by B. Christensen)

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