The ROP Rams basketball team accomplished their goals for the season, winning their conference championship and qualifying for the state playoffs. They won the annual Rail City Classic basketball tournament before Christmas. However, the Rams will lose many of their starters to graduation, including their top rebounder and third-leading rebounder. Their coach expects only about four players will return next season to defend their title.

1. - Sffits Mason Valley News
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Rams
From page Bl
Enter Deshields.
Then it 'as a rntter of httin_e
pieces into the puzzle md seenr!
how well the finished product
looked. ROP completed a success-
firl preseason where it won the
annual Rail City Classic basketball
tournament just before Christnas.
Third on the teamb agenda was
to qualify for the playoffs, shooting
for a conference championship first
and then move on to state.
Mission accomplished on all
counts.
Although the process of discov-
ering players among its students
and fitting them into the basketball
program will start all over again
next season, coach Jordan expects
about four at}letes to refurn in
defense of the Rams'title.
"That's not something that hap-
pens very often here," he said.
In addition to Deshields, the
Rams will lose the rest oftheir start-
ing lineup, including Barefield and
Reed next year. They were an inte-
gral part of ROP's inside game in
2004.
Barefiel( a 6-7 senior, was the
top-ranked rebounder in Northem
Nevada, having averaged 12.2
grabs per game. He will be attend-
ing Panhandle State University in
Oklahoma after graduation from
ROP
And Reed was third behind his
teammate in the same category
pulling doun 10.6 boards per game.
Others like Frazier and Parker are
likely heading to the Midwest.
Frazier will finish high school in
South Ben( Ind., while Parker is
looking to transfer to a jrmior col-
lege near there.
Coach Jordan said the academy
is also on the lookout for jrmior col-
leges in California and Nelada that
might fit Parker as well.
RE EcrED: Rams senior
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a shot by Dayton's Adam Diament last Friday.
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HOFer
From page Bl
Nevertheless, 42yearc and four
children later, Robert Fisher has
finally and duly been recopized as
one of the all-time greats. I{is
statistics weren't staggering, but he
drove home the runs when it count-
ed most. He was ahvays there when
the team needed a pinch-hitter. He
imparted his wisdom to the
younger players. And though he'd
strike out from time to time- as all
the great ones do, Dad would come
right back in his next at-bat and
make that pitcher wish he hadnl.
Most importantly, Dad's sports-
marship and conduct were an
sxample for the rest of his team to
emulate. He was as gracious in
defeat as he was in victory. And he
offered his hand to fallen oppo-
nents.
Okay, maybe not on the baseball
diamond, but that is how I will
always respect my da4 the hall-of-
fame father.
I'm proud to have been a mem-
ber ofhis team and to have been so
affectionately regarded by a man
against whom I measure myseH.
Dad, I want you to know how
happy I am that you have been
cormted among the Citrus College
all-time elite. It is rmique company
to which you now belong and
always will. Treasure that special
moment as an accomplishment few
others may aspire to.
But also know that my fondness
for you is not greater knowing now
that you are a ha11-of-famer. You've
ahvays been one to me.
s
Y
I
Sports in brief