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sp,!tIts.., Mark amen Chronicle Stall Standing in a corridor with a group of old high school friends, the freshman player, still attired in his game uniform. is approached by a young admirer. “Would you please sign my basketball?" the youngster timidly asks the dimly-built University of Waterloo Warrior. Initially startled by the request, the 19-year-old player graciously complies. The hard work is fun1ly paying off for Jason Poag. "l wasn't really ready for university ball at the beginning of the season and I was really getting whipped out there as a result," admitted the iN" Pea; following his team's 8861 win over Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Saturday. , ' "But coach (Don) Mme stuck it out with me and it's beginning to pay off. It was tough though, and there was a point that I was really getting sick of it, 'Tm just glad he decided I was worth the extra effort." A graduate of Blnevale collegiate, Pong was s last-mi. nute addition to the varsity roster. McCrae had planned to keep him around as a non-playing extra, but for some reason had second thoughts. “Juan il one of our really good athletes - period," said McCru. "ht the tall I didn't think he was ready for varsity athletics, but it was in no short period of time that he allowed us his qualifieations His perseverance has allowed him to prove“ to where he is today." 1uguiuGtmmtottheeotietltehettft priorto WI ttnt meeting with the Golden Hawks on Feb. 1, but Bluevale grad is turning heads gtUW UW'I Andy 2hnttttttt moves around WLU's Lorenzo Segato. The hltrfyng Warden adv-Mutilation mundoteompetitiootttormoeerthet1oltiertrelrul"t night at the PAC. M m we Learning the ropes an injury to sophomore standoutChris Troynk forced McCrae into starting Poag at the point-guard position. He responded with a strong performance as the Warriors escaped with a one-point win. With the team no'w in the playoffs, Pong is likely to see less floor time during the crunch moments, but McCrae plans to get him into as much actio.tyy possible. . “The Gt two or three weeks could beireat tor Jason's develeertt,", said McCrae._ _ . . _ . . "l see him playing a meaningful role for us in the years to come at the off-guard or small forwgrd posigiqn." _ That, in itself, is quite a tribute to Poag's ability when you consider the quality of player that has performed the off-guard role for McCrae at UR, Do the names Peter Savich, Paul Boyce, Rob Froese and Tom Schneider mega anything? They should. The first three were allCanadians at the position and Schneider will likely make that elite group at the end of this season. "1hat's quite a list of players," said Poag. "But who knows? Maybe I'll be sinking the clutch shots from the corner one day - just like Tom." if that does happen, Pong knows who to thank. 'Tom and Chris monk) have been a big help to me this year. Thty don't come down on you after a mistake, they explain what you did wrong, give you a pat on the rear end and tell you to get it going," said Pong. Ag tor playing at the university level, Pong admits to still being a bit star-struck. "it's a great atmosphere and I'm enjoying every minute of it." ' Notbadtar,agurthatmurtt'tsuerdtoamutlte WLU boachquitg following game Warriors advance Wilfrid laurier University Golden Hawks learned a valuable 1mm at the Physical Activities Complex Tuesday night. You can knock down the University of Waterloo Warrior mascot, but when it comes to the buietba" team, they don’t fall quite so easily. _ Hawks found that out the hard way, dropping a 8665 decision to the Warriors in a phytieally-played Ontario Universities Athletic Association West Division quarterfinal game The win advances UW into the semi-final round against Guelph Gryphons Friday night in Lndtm. The peedrtutte crowd watched in disbelief as one of the Hawks fired a ball at L'W's aometimeunnoying Warrior mm. The armored cheerleader was performing his antics underneath the Laurier net during warmupa when he received a ball in the face for his efforts The Warrior immediately fell to the ground, and tttter being helped out of the gymnasium. did not return until the second half - in civvies and wearing an eyepateh, WLU coach Chris Coulthard was the firat to admit that the difference m the game was enthusiam - the Warriors controlled theirs, his team did not. "We came out too emotional, made some stupid mistakes. made some poor choices. got into early foul trouble. and we were out of the game early," said Coulthard. who told reporters following the game that it would be his last as the Laurier coach "Puying with emotion is one thing, but when you can't control it, that's another .- WLU committed seven fouls in the early going to Waterloo's one as the Warriors built from an early Itro lead to go in at halftime with a comfortable 41411 margin Tony Marcotullio, who led the Hawks with 19 points, received his third foul just sixurnd-a-half minutes into the first half. From the whatelaeianew department, Warriors guard Tom Schneider - playing his Gal game on the hardwood at UW - scored a game-high 24 prints Ron Braley added 11 and Don Muse IO, "I was a little bit neared before the game, but you forget about it once you get out there," said Schneider of his fitsal home game. UW coach Don Mch was obviously satitfed following the one-sided win "We played very well defensively, with the exception of the few times that Marcotullio was allowed to go tmgbtoettagt on us," said McCrae, -ihiiiiiiLGiiGlgi,e a real' test Friday as they are forced to deal with Guelph} version of the 'Twin Towers" - Eric Hammond and Tim Man - who both check m at 6'8" Launer. which is probably the smallest team in univ_e_gsi§y basketball, was not the ideal warm~up GaL'irriiiariirii,aik/wiGers over Wind'sor Lancers last mght. will squan- off nth the Western Mustangs in the other tsemifinal, The two winners will meet Saturday afternoon As ifriiLthardiretiremeat, he said it was simply a case of no longer havmg the drive needed to do his job right. _ _ A» . 71:15 simply not" m1riU to put the kind of hours into this program that are needed to bung n where I'd like it," said Coulthard. who has been at Laurier for 14 years _ _ _ iiuiiriijLiLiiLidiate plahs for the future. A fatherof thredyoung children, he sand he would like to spend more time with his family. WATERtOOWWE. WY mumv 22, 1m.mss A33 ttard-tOrt-tni-tttest-tr-tttter-tthr" -ttsattro-tJ-iAtqy. 7 ttts"-et Belles wlli gold In Montreal Page A40