Basketball team to improve, Smitley says By, Jerry Trently Capitol Campus' basketball team will be a conference con tender, according to Capitol's Director of Recreation and • Athletics, Bud Smitley. Smitley predicts the Lions will win the keystone Athletic Con ference title, despite their recent seven-game losing streak. Coach Charlie Bowen stressed the team's average of 35 tur novers a game over the first nine games as the reason for the team's losses., "We just can't expect to stay in our games if we give up the ball as many times as we have," Bowen said after a December 8 loss to conference rival, Alvernia College. Bowen said the team works with each member individually to Lion's Greg Dreisbach reaches for rebound against Alvernia. The Lions lost the contest. General Repair Service on Domestic and Popular Foreign Cars Nastine's Auto Service 234 Oak Hill Drive (Off Vine St.) - Middletown, PA Hours: 8-6 . Mon.-Fri. 9-12 Saturday Don %dine 944-7154 Photo by Jerry Trendy alleviate personal weaknesses each player may have. "We're not playing that badly aside from the turnovers. I guess we just have to keep working at it," said team co-captain Brian Gauger. The team has showed improve ment in eliminating turnovers, • averaging 25 against Haverford College last Saturday, and 16 against Juniata College on Monday. The Lions' 56-54 victory over Jiiniata marked their first win after losing the seven straight. But the team has shown respec table shooting capability, averag ing 69 percent from the foul line, and 43 percent from the field. In a somewhat physical contest against Alvernia, Gauger and fellow co-captain Juan Roach both fouled out of the game. "I know there were some mistakes I made out there tonight, but I guess we'll just have to watch ourselves if we're going to stay close," Gauger said Capitol has to be especially careful, because of its lack of bench strength. "After the semester break we'll have two more players and will be in .every ball game," Smitley said, "I'm not saying we'll win every one, but we'll be close." Smitley said the conference favorites are Alvernia, Misericor dia, Capitol, and Beaver, ex pected to finish the season in that order. The Lions won their first two games before the losing streak, and have an overall record of 3-7 They are 0-1 in conference play. Capitol's last game of the season is at home on February 14 against Misericordia, and con stitutes what Smitley believes can be the deciding game of the year. "Just let me go on record as saying we'll win the conference," he said. The Keystone Athletic League Conference Championships will be held February 17 and 18. Capitol's Barry Richards (40) weaves between Alvernia players in Dec. 8 game at Capitol Campus. 0 harrisburg reproductive health services Blab Control Pregnandy.Testing VD screening Abortion Counseling 100 Chestnut Street, Suite 106, Harrisburg, PA. 171011717)232-9794 Photo by Jerry Trently
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