30 Years Ago

Thursday, March 15, 1990

Hawks, Samuelson set new school records

Although the 1989-90 Broadus Hawks failed to earn a berth in Montana State Class B Basketball Tournament action, the overall success of the team speaks for itself in the number of school records broken.

The team broke three school records and sophomore Shawn Samuelson proved that he is among the very best Hawk athletes ever. In just two years, he has set numerous marks for Hawks to shoot for in the future.

This year’s Hawk team smashed the total-year assists record of 286 set in 1976, with a total of 453. The 1989-90 Hawks set a new free-throw record, making 66 percent for the year, which breaks the 63 percent record set in 1984-85. The team also set a record by making 58 percent of their shots from the field, breaking the record of 45 percent set by the 1975-76 Hawks.

In only his second year, Shawn Samuelson now holds the record for most points in a career, 955, among a number of others. Don Samuelson scored 828 points from 1973 to 1976. Shawn averaged 22.2 points per game, breaking the 19.1 points per game record set by his father, Sid, in 1972. Shawn also tied his dad’s total point record for a single game at 37. The sophomore now also holds the new record for most points in a year, 576. Mike Richards scored 433 points in 1976. Shawn made 79 percent of his shots from the line and scored on 73 percent of his shots from the field. Troy Harrington had hit 78 percent free-throws in 1985 and Don Samuelson held the former field goal percentage record with 60 percent, established in 1976.

Shawn also moved into second place in several categories. He came down with 318 total rebounds this year, driving Jim Wenzel’s 1976 record of 300 into third place. Shawn had 211 defensive rebounds, compared to 219 set by Don Samuelson in 1976 and 189, set by Jim Wenzel in 1976.

The outstanding athlete last year, as a freshman, broke the single game rebounding record with 29. Kurt Collins had previously held the record with 19, set during the 1981-82 season.

“We broke a lot of records and we did a lot of positive things. I think our program is at the right stage as far as getting better and getting more pride in the program. And we’re definitely getting more recognition from around the state,” said coach Lynn Safranski. “I’m proud of our players from the grade school right on through the varsity level. I think also that all the coaches in the system did a very good job. It’s a lot more work than people realize and those people involved should be commended for all the effort and time they put in.”

Michelle Perkins wins 1990 spelling bee title

Broadus sixth grader Michelle Perkins has won the 1990 Powder River County Spelling Bee title, while second place honors went to Kacey Compton, an eighth grader at Broadus.

To win the title, Miss Perkins spelled “vealskin” correctly and then “drawloom” to outlast 47 other fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders competing.

She will now advance to represent Powder River County at the Montana State Spelling Bee, which will get underway in Billings on April 7. The winner on the state level will earn a trip to nationals, to be held in Washington, D.C. later this spring.

Miss Compton will serve as alternate.

Of the 47, 28 advanced through the first round of Friday’s event. Only nine were still in the competition at the end of round two. By the end of round three the number has dropped to four and at the close of round four from the field had been narrowed to the two finalists. The finalists then competed one-on-one through the seventh round.

Judges for the event were once again Margaret Scoles, Eleanor Crane and Anita Wetherelt. Kay Plummer served as pronouncer.

AAU matmen win medals

Powder River A.A.U. Wrestlers placed in tournaments at Miles City on March 3 and at Huntley Project, on March 10.

Approximately 300 to 350 youngsters were on hand for the Miles City meet. Bobby Ivester placed second in the 133-pound Schoolboy Class; David Jurica won fourth place in the 75-pound Midget division; Ben Vernon placed fourth in the 75-pound Schoolboy division; Eleno Vallejo placed fifth in the 121-pound Cadet division; 70-pound Junior division wrestler Roy Vernon placed sixth and Skyler Gali placed sixth in the 70-pound Midget division. Also competing were Kurt Copps and Luke Brewer, representing their club respectively in the Junior and Midget divisions.

At Huntley, Scott Rhodes and Ivester placed third, respectively, in the 162.5-pound Cadet and 133 pound Schoolboy divisions. Vallejo, 121-pound Cadet, won fifth place.

Other team members this year include Brendan Bailey and Luke Thorton, Pee Wee division; Roy Vernon and Kurt Copps, Junior division and Grant Galtin and Sheldon Portwine, Bantam division. Travis Black also recently joined the squad, but has not yet been assigned a division.