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The
1982-83
Roger Bacon Varsity Basketball Team began the season in the
shadow of last year's State Championship. Five new Spartans would be wear–
ing the Brown and White, trying to carve out their niches in Roger Bacon
Basketball Tradition.
It
was a year which mirrored life itself. The season was
characterized by a series of mini-successes and mini failures . In each in–
stance, these proud young men showed their ability to bounce back from
defeat and to push on to what might lie ahead.
It was in post-season play that the team really began to jell. The Cincinnati
AAA Sectional Tournament saw the defending state champions open with
G.C.L. rival PURCELL-MARIAN at Western Hills High School. In another typical
league match, the game went down to the wire before Bacon prevailed 56-55.
In the second round, Roger Bacon faced the third-seeded LASALLE at St.
Xavier High School. After having lost to the lancers by a total of 3 points
during the season, the Spartans said "no way" this time out. Before the shouts
of a large student cheering section, Roger Bacon played its most intense game
of the year, winning 65-57.
Miami University's Millett Hall was the scene for the Sectional Champion–
ship with WALNUT HILLS. The Eagles, playing superbly, won the first three
quarters but forgot to keep on scoring in the fourth . The Spartans, never
forgetting to hustle, bounced back to outscore Walnut Hills
13-5
to send the
game into overtime. From there, Bacon took the lead early and stayed there
to win its second consecutive Sectional Championship and its eleventh
straight tournament game.
The District Championship game was played in University of Dayton Arena
where Roger Bacon faced KETTERING AlTER. Against the Knights' huge front
line, Bacon hustled and scrapped but could not overcome the height factor
and its own cold shooting. Alter became the District Champions 57-40.
Those who had hoped for a second straight State Title might have been
disappointed with the
1982-83
basketball season1 nevertheless, the Spartans
can be proud of the PRIDE, HUSTLE, AND DESIRE shown by this senior-led
team. Spartans can also be proud of the student body as a whole for providing
an outstanding cheering section throughout the Sectional and District Tour–
naments.
The intensity of the RB cheering section made a big difference to Coach
Callahan and the entire squad. One of the most inspiring moments occured in
Dayton when the cheering section remained until the very end of the game
and then sang the school's fight song in spite of the Spartans' defeat. This was
truly a great tribute to a "gutsy" team. "For Men of Bacon, win or lose, are
Men of Victory."