Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Freshman j-U: 1 JJCIII1 Llliiu II By Michelle Burchette Gomecock Staff Writer During an era of giant steps for women's athletics and in a year when USC gained national recognition in several major sports, it seems only fitting that the USC women's basketball team prospered. The Lady Gamecocks finished the season as the third ranked team in the nation. Individual accomplishments would take hours to list. Aftor losing six nlavers from the 1978-79 sauad. many fans were skeptical about the year ahead. However, the recruiting efforts of head coach Pam Parsons, assistant coach Karen Brown and assistant athletic director for women Linda Singer snagged four freshmen who became integral parts of the team. THE LADY Gamecocks began to win and crept up in the polls. In the regionals, USC carried its winning reputation West to Southern Cal and dealt the Lady Trojans a 70-60 loss. From there it was off to Northwestern University in Chicago. The Lady Gamecocks pulled off a victory anH intr? thn minrfprfinnls of the national UIIV4 Illvv v,,%/ *1? ?? ? tournament held in Columbia. Carolina defeated Stephen F. Austin at home in the quarter finals and packed up to head for Mount Pleasant, Mich, for the final four. USC had advanced from obscurity to national prominence against the toughest schedule they'd ever faced. IN MICHIGAN they lost to Tennessee, a team who they upset in Columbia earlier ir he season. In the consolation match, however, they held together to beat Louisiana Tech and took third place in the national tournament. Sheila Foster, who Parsons claims to be the best woman athlete she has ever coached, and surprising freshman Evelyn Johnson will be returning next year. Foster, named most valuable player in the state championship, and to the all-tournament team in both the regional'and national tournaments, was a dominant force in Carolina's success. 1 *^|3SS$2K^^fl ^ llL W 5b' Si K jn Bf JB si st^Sbsf IBB^R, ?4 HCTM -If J^Hr: :|^^K 4j|^EMra|ii9^^H|[B||| _ ? Jst!^ cf~ ':% SClL $Mf J iiMMIfa^-ggragg^ I, N "Will I ?-:;^<^<,i 1 Former USC basketball star Cedric Hordg (34) battles for position with teammate Kei help USC j 1 i nationals j Johnson also contributed greatly to the team's fate. Coming to Carolina under the label of Magic Johnson's sister, "Sweet E" dazzled the fans with her \ outside shooting and commanding defense. As she grew accustomed to Parsons' faster paced style of play, Johnson began to shed her brother's shadow. , Sharon Rivers, who proved to be an able guard during the national tournament and veteran Chervl See Women, page 14 ' I' . 1>*Q bMWCOCI | j ll'omrn's basketball gttca big time at USC Lady Gamecocks rip Vols in coliseum thriller Coach Ptrioni >nhi >wv..>. uUr'J.' ,okl u* ** cooidii't ^ ,? pg^V "? -?->? *-.'! . < i !*. Qun not fo? a crowd " _ ? *- * ? r-fM J iZmm'i,, "IT. wlT* ' I'Vtlhlf V-"l!.''Tjr.'',s*' "r' [ ?? 7^~n?TI* J?art W??.r>y . ., T|irMJJJ ? >w#r |t-) L jr I rt^w.?.- ?ir. ^,v. *" *,t ^"w/Trr ? Hi ^ ~ - - *xn ??& z .^:IT;^T^ nH * -r^Z ~j' * I Intramural basketball features new look r*v> ? ?-.i rt MIH nil ?. >*M- * .? -> irfffM. ?.AWln?i,f..u. ,?i ?,? ny. * " . . . ?? ***** ? K? ?%? . ^ . K.HV* *%*>? "? ? ?.*** S-HrE-"rT^ * Charitable USC chokes again on road xJBB ^ ?3|B: fl 'sunMHf \.t ^mwl 8^ m ajL -^r^'-L Jikb|^ 1 ijH, ^v?v -.- vffljB?- BHH - i^r4~ SB * ~t;r-*: Darmody (24) against C/omson's Ho rat es Wyatt. Big Cod will move on to pro ball aft fin completing two seasons as a Gamecock. f ^g^mSg^j^mS j. ?\j jjjjj . <~ ^ ^ylpiL ^ ... # : ? '- 4 w J?; Dave RobacK GAMECOCK Rookie of the Year: Evelyn Johnson Powerful Hordges eves NBA contract mS ~ ______ By Robert Schuster Special (o the Gamecock Cedric Hordges is a gentleman among the giants, has the strength of a python and at C>-8 is a perfect prospect for the National Basketball Association as a power forward. "I want to 'boogie' right into the NBA," Hordges said. "My chances are good because of the expansion team next year." Hordges, a native of Montgomery, Ala., played his first two years of collegiate oasKeioan at Auourn university i waniea to piay in ironi 01 the hometown folks. My mother wanted me to stay close to home so she could see me play," he said. AFTER TWO YEARS at Auburn, Hordges was discontent with his coach, Bob Davis, and decided to pack his bags for South Carolina. "He told me I wasn't much of a shooter," Hordges said. "All he used me for was a pick and roll man and a rebounder." "Carolina was my second choice coming out of high school, so I contacted coach McGuire and told him I wanted to be a Gamecock, i Hordges said. Last year Hordges led the Gamecocks in scoring with a 19.6 point average and in rebounding with a 10.2 rebound per game average. Hordges was a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls, but decided to play his final collegiate season "I knew I needed another year to develop, and I needed the experience before going into the NBA," Hordges said. HIS SKNIOK season started with controversy about coach Frank McGuire. "It had a great impact on our season and it broke out backs," he said. "I couldn't see us not winning 20 games. We had everything going for us -- 18 home games, 7 seniors and coach McGuire's final season." The Gamecocks received a bid to Ihe National Invitational Tournament. but McGuire turned it down. "It was in the best interest of coach McGuire to go out a winner. Any decision he made, we accepted We put our careers on the line for him when he was down and out." Hordgesadded. What does the future look like for Cedrick Hordges? 'It looks good and I want to play NBA ball real badly." he said. Chicago still has the rights to Hordges until the upcoming NBA draft. ' ' * * 1 ? " *'? ?* ??> n/\ bul tile JSealllO bUpei'SOIUCS art* Vl'ry imi-icsini III mm II Iiuinv.1 ..V, difference where I go next year. I just want that chance," Hordges said. "1 WOULD L1KK to go to Seattle, but Chicago has drafted me and it ; the price is right, I'll be heading there." "I need a good agent to help me with a contract. I'm looking for a two| year contract with a one-year no-cut clause for a sum of $200,000," he said. When the NBA season starts Hordges hopes to be there. "When the first whistle blows, I'll be ready," he said. I "People like Julius (Dr. J.) Ervingand Danny Roundfield, will bust your eyes out," Hordges said. "I'll be playing for a job and for Cedric ,e Hordges now." 0/" The main ingredient to get into the NBA is the breaks. "All I need is a break hereand thereand I'll be there," Hordges said.