A14 (CP) (A12 - LWReGC) ~J ,';
I I, i I , I I! I i I , .. HOOPS - Eppler helps <strong>Canton</strong> de-claw South Lyon 2: GIRLS HOOPS - All-Area team has Midas touch 5 Kye courts four Western Lakes schools .~ \ BY BRAD EMONS STAFF WRITER The Kensington Valley Conference is looking to expand and four members of <strong>the</strong> Western Lakes Activities Association appear to be on <strong>the</strong> "most wanted" list. The Observer has learned that <strong>the</strong> KVC has already entered into preliminary talks and has approached WLAAmembers Walled Lake Central, Western and Nor<strong>the</strong>rn, along with Northville - about joining for <strong>the</strong> 2<strong>00</strong>7-08 school year The KVC currently consists of eight schools bordering <strong>the</strong> 1-96 corridor- Novi, Brighton, Pinckney, Milford, White Lake Lakeland, Howell, South Lyon and Hartland. 'l\vo new schools, Howell Parker and BY ED WRIGHT STAFF WRITER South Lyon East, have already been admitted as members and will start KVC play within <strong>the</strong> next two years. Bringing in <strong>the</strong> four WLAA schools would make <strong>the</strong> Kensington Valley a 14;team conference. "It's all preliminary, but <strong>the</strong>y (KVC) wants a decision made by <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> school year (2<strong>00</strong>6)," Northville athletic director Bryan Masi said. "There are some attractive things and some things which would be hard to leave <strong>the</strong> WLAA. "We share a lot of similarities as far as what <strong>the</strong>y do and we do, which are a full complement of sports. We also are associated already in middle school sports, which is a natural. But you have to weigh everything. Everything is preliminary and we don't know which direction we'll go." hal'll, but <strong>the</strong>y're young." The way <strong>the</strong> early portions of <strong>the</strong> gaine unfolded, it looked as though it was going to be a 32-minute barn-burner. When Salem's John Johnson filled <strong>the</strong> net with a 12-foot baseline jumper \j'ith 5:50 to go in <strong>the</strong> first half, <strong>the</strong> Rocks trailed just 19-17.However, <strong>the</strong> Patriots followed with a 20-2 run over <strong>the</strong> next four-plus minutes to build a 39-19 cushion. At <strong>the</strong> half, <strong>the</strong> Rocks had outscored Schmelzer, 21-18,but trailed <strong>the</strong> BILL BRESLER I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A group of area women fulfill <strong>the</strong>ir basketball fix by competing in tWDleagues. Pictured (back row from left) are Carrie Dickison, Diane Ziroll, Lori Mross, (front row from left) Shelly Dunphy,Amanda Hilden and Tami Bea!ert. The women currently play for <strong>the</strong> ,Arena !?estaurant in Ann Arbor on Thur~days_ Beginning in January. <strong>the</strong>y will double up when <strong>the</strong>ir Northville league begins. Cousino triples its pleasure in 67-49 victory over Salem Three-mendous. That's <strong>the</strong> word that best describes Warren Cousino's long-range shooting during <strong>the</strong> first half of Friday night's game against Salem. The Patriots (2-1) treated 20-foot bombs like <strong>the</strong>y were laynps, swishing 10-of-15 triples in <strong>the</strong> first half of <strong>the</strong>ir 67-49 road victory over <strong>the</strong> Rocks. The loss dropped Salem to 0-3. "Cousino scored 87 in a game last week, so we knew <strong>the</strong>y could shoot," said Salem coach Bob Brodie. "When <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r team is draining threes like <strong>the</strong>y were in <strong>the</strong> first half, you know you're in for a long night. A couple of <strong>the</strong>ir long shots were uncontested, which I wasn't happy about. But for <strong>the</strong> most part, we were right <strong>the</strong>re with <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong> ball went in anywaY:' The Patriot with <strong>the</strong> hottest hand was senior guard Danny Schmelzer, who went 6-for-7 from beynnd <strong>the</strong> arc in <strong>the</strong> first half before finishing with a gamehigh 22 points. Schmelzer connected on four of his triples from a few feet behind <strong>the</strong> line with a Salem defender's hand waving a few inches from his face. Cousino senior forward Joe Rivard also enjoyed a productive evening, netting 15 points. Nine of his points were <strong>the</strong> result of triples. "We like tp freelance On \l1fense, but we're always setting scr&& lind trying to get Danny and Joe open outside;' said Cousino coach Brad Nettles. 'We were definitely successful at doing that tonight. "It really is an honor to play against Salem because Bob is a coaching legend. It looks like he has some nice tools to work with this year. They play very 'iJllDitTH"REI'" ::"': ,',:" '''\',:,. , IRI£~~ \I"./':~.~~,,', '," , , , i' > , , ' . Salem's basketball team was vlc~ ' timlzed by a pair of sh/irp-sll,o.pt-, . ing, Innq-distance War-terteOllsinQ' . players in Friday nlqllt's 67-4Q'set:back. following are some of <strong>the</strong> three-point stats from llle game: • ThePatriots' DannySCfimelzer bu~jed:6-oH thte\~pointmlll.<strong>the</strong> , first half alone'and flnis!ledwUb22' points. ' .' " .. CousinQ'sJoe Rtvar.dwent 3-for- ,6from beyond <strong>the</strong>af'G. He finls!led wltlr15. " ::. , . • Asa teilm, ,CoUSifl() conbeJ;tep. on 10-of-15shots from three-pOint land in <strong>the</strong> first halt: ", • On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hana, Sa:letTtstl'Uq Township are eiigible 1iY.~ play in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Canton</strong> Liti: League. Teams wlii pi ~ 20-game schedule an , ..., compete in a Fa<strong>the</strong>r's"':: Day tournament andf: tournament against .~ teams from Belleville." i For more informatlo\'l,~, contact Ray Waack at; ,;~ (734) 397-0147. 'I:; Coaches: Pleasi,:\~ call in resufts~ r.!i The area's prep athil!tl~ coaches are encourage"', to caii <strong>the</strong> results of tHeir. teams' competitions i~tO~ Observer Sports Editor: t Ed Wright so that <strong>the</strong>: .:, high school athietes ~:;,: receive <strong>the</strong> recogniti0tlv ~ <strong>the</strong>y deserve. I:~~' Results can be phonI in to Wright at (734) '. , ," 953-2108; <strong>the</strong>y can b : faxed to (734) 591-72~, or <strong>the</strong>y can be e-mall~; to ewright@hometown-a' Iife.com. If"", If Wright is covering,an] event at <strong>the</strong> time of y~ call, please leave a me,~ sage and he will return" > Ii your call promptly. ¥" ::J' ,i The deadline for ~r ,. ., Thursday's Observer is ~ Tuesday at 11p.m. The .:.",' deadline for Sunday's .~;; issue is Friday at 11P.;'t: ~I' Re-broadcast ",J:;t The Fox Sports ~!I' Network wiil be re-airl!JI <strong>the</strong> Division 1football.~ final between <strong>Canton</strong>*' Rockford at 12:30 p.ml::;I Sunday, Jan. 8. .. k,:": \ ~., ~,,~