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‘70s hoops … Knights, Flivvers, Mountaineers

Remembering Burt Angeli, 1978-79

Nov. 29, 1978

Norway tips Kingsford in 2 OT’s

By BURT ANGELI

Sports Editor

NORWAY — Welcome to the wonderful world of varsity basketball coaching, Milt Krznarich.

Krznarich the yearling coach of the Norway Knights anguished through errors in the scorebook, a lapse in memory and two overtimes before the Knights tipped Kingsford 53-51 in a typical season opener for both teams.

“I’m still shaking like a leaf,” said Krznarich, probably more relieved than elated following the thriller.

Thanks to veterans Dan VanGoethem, Jeff Harvey and Jim Lori the rookie pilot can sleep peacefully after a turnover-inflicted affair. VanGoethem and Harvey provided key markers in the second overtime and Lori’s six fourth quarter points sparked the young Knights.

Kingsford coach John Meyer, who watched a 13-point third quarter advantage disappear, may have a few nightmares. “That was a tough game,” admitted the hoarse Meyer.

In a freakish circumstance, Kingsford’s Bill Rice shot three free throws due to technical fouls in the official ledger. After Rice made two of three tosses, Kingsford started the game with the ball out at mid-court.

Kingsford, omitting its customary shots from the twilight zone, settled down to 10-8 and 25-19 advantages after the first two quarters. “We’ve got to be patient,” said Meyer. “We probably should have been even more patient.”

Both teams were battling like grade schoolers in a shoving match. More tripping and pushing than lethal contact. Norway, 19 of 48 shooting in the game, hit a miserable seven of 24 in the first half.

“Our offensive patterns were open, but we didn’t put the ball in the hole,” said Krznarich. “We had the shots, but we’re not running to the completion of the passing game.” Krznarich indicated that the Knights offense executes properly with several passes.

Norway, which waited four minuets into the second half before scoring, went to the 3:08 point of the third frame until a pair of vanGoethem charity tosses cut the margin to 32-20.

Even the late Don Hill would have applauded Norway’s rousing comeback, utilizing the press for some points. Lori, who fouled out with 4:45 remaining in the period, canned six important points and evened the score at 33-33.

“I put him on the high post and let him go one-on-one,” said Krznarich, un aware of Lori’s foul status. “The kid’s got talent.”

With 1:48 left in regulation, Kingsford’s Kevin French tallied two of his 13 points to knot the score at 41-41.

Only nine seconds into the first overtime, Bill Rice departed with five fouls and a team-high 14 points. A French tip in and a Mark LeDuc bank shot from the free throw area with 26 seconds to go, brought a 45-45 tally.

Kingsford claimed a 51-49 edge in the second overtime, but a VanGoethem steal and Harvey’s layup through the Flivver middle pushed Norway over the top.

We’ve got a small team, but they hustle and our bench did a good job,” said Krznarich, who pressed for four quarters. “If we’re going to win, we have to shoot 45%.”

Norway, 15-28 from the free throw line, totaled 40 rebounds with Chuck Soderlund and Mike McCabe spearing a team high 10 apiece. Harvey registered five assists.

Kingsford overpowered us with French and (Dale) Blagec,” Krznarich said. “They have a good team.

The Flivvers, 19 of 57 shooting from the field, registered 35 rebounds, with French grabbing 15 and Blagec 7. The turnover chart had Kingsford with 15 miscues and Norway seven.

We didn’t move the ball when we should have,” Meyer said.

Steve Massie, an offensive threat for Kingsford, was benched against Norway. Meyer said Massie will be used Friday night when the Flivvers travel to Forest Park. Meyer turned to juniors Jon Lemin, LeDuc and senior Russ Halverson to fill Massie’s absence.

“Lemin and LeDuc did a good job considering it’s their first time on the varsity,” said Meyer, noting LeDuc’s clutch and defensive job on VanGoethem in the first overtime.

Norway won the jayvee game 43-36 and also claimed the freshman battle.

Norway begins their Mid-Peninsula Conference campaign with Friday’s home encounter against Westwood.

Box Score

K– 10 15 7 9 4 6 — 51

N– 8 11 8 14 4 8 — 53

Jan. 31, 1979

Mountaineers exorcise hex, rip Norway 68-50

By BURT ANGELI

Sports Editor

NORWAY — Norway’s nine-game whammy over Iron Mountain ended here Tuesday in a confrontation of Mid-Peninsula Conference basketball quintets.

The Mountaineers, winless since 1975 when facing the Knights, exorcised their malady with a 68-50 stomping. Another close Iron Mountain-Norway scrap seemed in the offing when the Mountaineers nudges out a 24-22 lead with 1:30 left in the second quarter.

After that, Iron Mountain was gang-busters for the next five minuets. Th Mountaineers outscored the Knights 17-4, leaving things at the unreachable stage.

Responsible for the assault, highlighted by picture passes, was Albert Galeazzi. The 6-foot-2 senior, who tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds, pocketed 13 stanza markers. Iron Mountain’s Tom Bertoldi collected 10 of his 20 points in the last frame.

“We’ve been saying all along we have to go inside to Albert and Bert (Bertoldi),” stated Iron Mountain coach Tom Clarke. “Tonight we did.”

But for a chunk of the first quarter, Iron Mountain aimed to blast its way out of Norway’s 2-1-2 zone. The Mountaineers, who shoveled in 28 of 66 shots from the floor, trailed 16-13 when the first buzzer sounded.

“We play a real good first quarter and the we go bad after that,” sighed Norway coach Milt Krznarich. “This is the worst game we’ve played in the last six, and we’re in a slump.”

The Knights have lost three straight games.

Iron Mountain punched out a 17-6 second quarter, as the Knights were 3 of 14 shooting. The Mountaineers led 30-22 at the half. Galeazzi and Bertoldi then bludgeoned the inside as the Mountaineers claimed a dominating 48-29 rebounding edge in the game.

“The trouble is, they’ve got 6-3, 6-4 (height) underneath and we couldn’t stay inside with them,” said Krznarich, who thought Iron Mountain performed “real well.”

A trickle of hope surfaced early in the fourth quarter when Jay Siegler and Dan VanGoethem scored to slice Iron Mountain’s margin to 51-38. Iron Mountain then followed with a 9-1 burst to snuff any comeback thoughts.

“I remember last year we had an 11-point lea down here and we got beat,” Clarke recalled.

Norway’s woes can be summed up in a 25 of 64 field goal shooting, 17 turnovers, 0 for 8 at the free throw line and only 29 rebounds.

“Spurts . . .,” observed Krznarich. “six to eight minuets of good basketball, then 24 minutes of bad basketball.”

Craig Qualley, who snared 10 rebounds, as did Bertoldi, laced 12 points. Tom Pericolosi chipped in 10 points.

Dan VanGoethem’s 14 points topped the Knights, 5-8 for the season and 207 in the MPC. Norway visits Munising on Friday. Frank Zychowski, who impressed Krznarich with his hustle, amassed 10 markers.

Iron Mountain, which won the jayvee game in overtime 58-56, climbed to 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the MPC. The Mountaineers, a 76-67 victim at Negaunee earlier in the season, host the Miners Friday night.

Box Score

Iron Mountain 13 17 21 17 — 68

Norway 16 6 12 16 — 50

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