University of Virginia Library

Cagers Reach Finals
Twice In Tournaments

By Steve Giannini
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Virginia's basketball
fortunes took some downward
turns during the Christmas break
and the end result is a 6-6 record
and a squad that now consists of
only 9 players.

The Cavaliers traveled to Salem,
Virginia, for the state Big, Five
Tournament. Richmond provided
the opposition for the first round
and the contest went much the
same way the first game did as
Virginia led all the way and won
90-77. Mike Wilkes had his best
game of the year while scoring 23
points. Kevin Kenelly put on a
show with great ball handling and
had 15 points.

VPI Wins Tourney

The next night in the finals with
VPI, Virginia bogged down. The
Cavalier s could not get inside and
could not hit from outside,
managing only 36% from the floor.
Tech took advantage of Virginia's
problems and won 85-74.

All-Tournament honors went to
Mike Wilkes. Harry Ellis beat out
John Gidding for the tournament's
most valuable player, 13 votes to
11.

Christmas Day the Cavaliers hit
the road again for Greenville, N. C.
and the East Carolina Classic. The
opening game was against the
highly respected Air Force team.
Playing without Buddy Reams the
Cavaliers distinguished themselves.
Norm Carmichael's play was
notable as he completely shut off
Air Force's 6′ 11″ center, Cliff
Parsons. Parsons had been picked
by some as a pre-season
All-American. Besides defense,
Carmichael played a lot of offense,
scoring 23 points.

Gidding Outstanding

John Gidding had another fine
night and was th high scorer with
24 points and 11 rebounds. Mike
Wilkes also helped the scoring with
15 points. It was a close game, but
Virginia led the whole way and
won, 90-85.

In the second round the
Cavaliers met the host team, East
Carolina, and ran into some
trouble. The Pirates completely
dominated the first half. Their 5′
11″ guard, Tom Miller, led the
offense with fast breaks which
overpowered Virginia's defense. At
the half the Cavaliers were down
51-39 and fell to 16 points behind
early in the second half.

Coach Gibson then employed
the full court press and the Pirates'
lead began to dwindle. Within ten
minutes the Cavaliers had taken the
lead, 73-72, on two foul shots by
Tony Kinn. From then on the
Virginia pulled away to win the
game 88-79 and advance to the
finals with Baylor. Gidding was
again the outstanding player,
tallying a season high of 27 points
while grabbing 12 rebounds.
Carmichael added 15 and English
had 14.

Baylor boasted what Coach
Gibson called "one of the best low
postmen in the country" in Larry
Gatewood. For most of the first
half the teams matched basket for
basket, but with the score 26-26,
Virginia turned cold and Baylor
grabbed the lead at halftime 33-26.
The Cavaliers never evened up the
game in the second half. Baylor
used a pressure zone which caused
many turnovers and enabled them
to hold down Virginia's offense.
High scorer and top rebounder for
Virginia was again Gidding.
Carmichael joined Gidding in being
selected to the All-Tourney team.

Drop Two ACC Games

The next weekend the Cavaliers
went back to North Carolina, this
time to Greensboro to face N. C.
State and Wake Forest. Against the
Wolfpack, Virginia opened up an
8-2 lead and the game was tied at
14 all at which point Gidding
received a rap to his knee and had
to be replaced. At the half, State
held a narrow 45-41 edge. Gidding
came back in the second half but
could not continue for the entire
game. N. C. State lengthened their
lead to 20 points at one time and
scored the victory, 95-80. Mike
Wilkes scored 19 points and
collected 11 rebounds while Tony
Kinn had 16 points.

Coach Gibson was faced with
some problems the next night in his
game with Wake Forest. Gidding

could not play due to his injury and
Carmichael was benched while two
second-year men, Bill Fulton and
Bill Gerry, started. Virginia tried to
play a slowdown but the Deacons
pressed effectively and forced
turnovers. At the half Wake led
41-19. In the second half the
Cavaliers came back and matched
their opposition basket for basket
in a losing cause. Wake triumphed
90-66. Mike Wilkes came out on
top for Virginia with 19 points and
Bill Fulton was second high in his
first start scoring 16 points.

First-Year Basketball

Virginia' first-year basketball
team suffered their first defeat at
the hands of North Carolina's
undefeated Tar Babies, 102-76. The
loss was a combination of an ankle
sprain suffered by the
Cavayearlings' big man, Scott
McCandlish, and the talents of a
well coordinated, balanced North
Carolina offense.

Two days later a healthy group
of Cavayearlings downed William
and Mary's once beaten Papooses,
67-65, in the Big Five Tournament.
The First-year men opened up a 17
point lead shortly after
intermission, but lost it with three
minutes left, 61-62. The
Cavayearlings regained their
composure and managed to eke out
their two point triumph.