The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 25

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1983- -THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- PAGE 25 Field 'bunches nip in ICessler Classic I.U. coach overreacts to referees A WHEN YOU'VE been out Sports By DAVE GARLICK The Kessler Classic went up for grabs Sunday. Seven bowlers moved within 100 pins of leader Hugh Miller going into today's final 16 games, and of the 24 bowlers who started match play Sunday night at Woodland Bowl, 19 pros have an excellent chance to finish in the top five and qualify for Tuesday night's championship round. Miller, a native of Seattle, took the lead in the last game of the night vaulting past Buffalo's Tom Baker, who had led since the second round of qualifying Saturday night. But Miller's lead is a slim one, just 34 pins: 5,808 5,774.

A three time winner in his five-year career, he was able to take advantage of the match-play format that awards 30 points to the winner of a game. He won seven of his eight matches, earning 210 bonus pins to go with his actual total of 1,804. In fact. Miller barely made the match play finals, qualifying in 17th place just 22 pins ahead of No. 25 Sam Zurrich.

"THE BONUS pins really help and I had a 289 in the last game," said Miller, who won the Tucson Open earlier this season and stands 61st on the Professional Bowlers' Association earnings list. Miller said he often has trouble in the first 16 qualifying games. But when the head to head battle starts, his game usually improves. "Give me someone to bowl Slar Photo Dy Frank Espich PBA tour since the 1980 Kessler Classic. But he started the day in 23rd, advanced to 10th after Sunday morning's round and is 15th going into today's round at 5,607.

just 122 pins behind fifth place Holman. "I just picked up my PBA card this week," said the southpaw. "I'm very surprised and very happy about the way things have gone. I wasn't even going to bowl here, I just got the card so I could bowl in the regional tournaments, but a friend of mind convinced me to enter. I'm glad I did it." THE DAY wasn't so good for two other Hoosiers, local stars Wayne Webb and Mike Aulby.

Both failed to qualify for the finals. Webb, who had hoped to end a slump in the Kessler, finished 57th with a 3,674 total for 12 games. Aubly fared a little better, starting the day 69th and climbing to 49th. He missed 48th place, the last position to earn a check, by just four pins. The final eight match play games are scheduled for 6:30 tonight.

Then the field will be cut to the top five for Tuesday's 7 p.m. finale. Tom Baker shows form in Kessler qualifying Buffalo (TV. native loses lead, now trails by 34 pins Isiah, Pistons pop Pacers against and I'll do better every time," he said. "It's like that in everything I do.

I jog a lot and I have a friend I run with who is a little better than me, but when I run with him my times are aFways better. I guess I just like the competition." Miller will have plenty of challenges when the second eight game block opens at 11 a.m. today. Just 11 pins behind Baker is Steve Wunder-lich of St. Louis with a 5,763 total.

George Pappas of Charlotte, N.C., is another 33 pins back at 5,730 and Marshall Holman, Jacksonville, is at 5,729. Paul Gibson of O'Fallon, and Warren Nelson of Downey, also are within 100 pins. IT WAS a frustrating evening for Baker. He entered match play with a 100 pin lead over second-place Holman. He bowled well in the eight evening games, averaging 210, but was able to win just three matches.

The surprise of the tournament is Anderson native Tom Banner. The owner of a garbage collecting company. Banner hasn't competed on the For that matter, Fabi isn't planning on being the first rookie champion ever or the first foreign-resident titlist since Dario Resta in 1916. "We're going to try," he said, "but I'm sure it is going to be very difficult to beat Unser. This was the first race Al didn't finish (actually the second) and it's not likely that it will happen twice in a row." It's also not likely that the little guy from Milan will dominate another race like he did this one.

His Skoal Bandit March was out of the lead only twice once for a couple hundred feet and again for three laps. The couple hundred feet were between Turns 5 and 6 on the 29th lap when Derek Daly whipped by in I CUP THIS Record crowd watches Fabi win; Mario second traffic on a restart then T-boned Steve Chassey, sustaining enough suspension damage to eliminate the Provimi Veal March for the afternoon. "DALY FORGOT the brakes," said Fabi. "We had just had a yellow and I had trouble with traffic in the turn. He was quicker.

He passed me but he forgot to brake." The only other time Fabi was out of the lead was on Laps 63-65 when Andretti set the pace while Teo was making his second pit slop. When Mario pitted the Budweiser Lola, Fabi went back in front by 7.2 seconds and steadily pulled away. The final drive was not without See CART Page 27 COUPON STILL, THERE were some good Pacer performances. Clark Kellogg and Herb Williams each scored 25 points with Williams pulling down 15 rebounds and Kellogg "They came to me early because I had a little man on me," explained the 6 11 Williams, who had 12 points in the first quarter. "I knew I was stronger and bigger than Cliff Lev-ingston, so I used that advantage." Carter added 17 while Kevin Mc-Kenna and Sidney Lowe came off the bench for 12 each.

In the first half, both teams played in spurts. The Pacers started off well, building a lead of seven, 20-13, with 4:10 to go on a Williams' rebound basket. But Detroit quickly countered with a Tripucka dunk. Long layup and Isiah Thomas layup to bring the Pistons back and eventually into a 24 24 first-quarter tie. Then in the second period, it was Detroit's turn to pull away.

Scoring nine of the quarter's 11 points, the See PACERS Page 29 INDIANA (100) Min. FG FT A PF TP Williams 38 1119 2-2 IS 3 I 7i Kellogg 43 10-14 4- i 13 1 24 Stipanoxich W2-7 3-4J 2 7 Carter 33 7-12 3- 3 2 5 2 17 Sichting 32 1- 6 0-00 42 2 GJohnson 10 0-4 0-02 la 0 Thomas 12 I- 4 2 McKenna 23 4-11 0-0 2 3 12 Lowe 15 4- 8 3- 4 0 6 2 12 Waiters 30-0 0-00 00 0 Steppe 30-0 0-00 0 1 0 Totals 42- 85 15-18 47 34 21 100 Includes 10 team rebounds. DETROIT (104) Min. FG FT A PF TP Livingston 28 4- 8 1- 2 4 2 4 9 Tripucka 10-17 2- 3 3 0 I'M Laimbeer 2 4- 4 4- 7 13 2 2 12 Long 21 4-10 0-0 4 0 1 9 Thomas 33 9-17 1- 2 2 14 2 19 Tolbert 20 2- 2 111 4 3 5 Russell II 2- 4 2- 2 1 3 2 4 Benson 22 2- 5 0- 0 2 10 4 Tyler 12 3-5 0-01 02 a Johnson 24 4- 9 4- 4 5 5 1 12 Thirdkill 70-4 0-01 00 0 Austin 7 1- 1 0- 0 2 0 1 2 Totals 45- 88 15-21 48l 31 19 106 Includes 9 team rebounds. Indiana 24 28 24 22-100 Detroit 24 21 37 24 106 Three-point shooting: Indiana-McKenna 0-2, Lowe 1-2; Detroit Long 1-1.

Steals: Indiana 10 (Sichting 3, JThomas 2, Lowe 2); Detroit 8 (Tolbert, Benson, VJohnson 2 each). Blocked shots: Indiana 4 (Williams, Kellogg, Waiters, Stipanovich); Detroit 6 (Tolbert 2, Third-kill, Laimbeer, Livingston, Austin). Errors: Indiana 20, Detroit 21. Technical fouls: None. Officials: Danny Crawford, Ken Mauer.

Attendance: 9,132. By DAVID BENNER Star Sportswriter Fort Wayne, Ind. Indiana Pacer Coach Jack McKinney was asked what one can do about Detroit Pistons' guard, Isiah Thomas. "Not too much," was the terse, to-the point reply. And that was precisely what the Pacers did with Thomas here Sunday night, not too much.

The former Indiana University All-American scored 19 points and had 14 assists as he helped lead Detroit to a 106100 victory in the final exhibition game for both teams. A sellout crowd of 9.132 turned out in Allen County Coliseum to see what could have been an Indiana University basketball reunion: Isiah Thomas. Kent Benson and Ray Tol-bert of the Pistons and Butch Carter and Jim Thomas of the Pacers. What they did see was why Thomas is one of the premier guards in the National Basketball Association today. "HE'S JUST a great player," said McKinney.

"You can't make him get rid of the ball because he won't. He's the key to their offense. When he does get rid of it, you can't let him get it back and when he passes, it usually goes to (Kelly) Tripucka." Which is basically where it went in the third quarter when Tripucka scored 16 of his game-high 28 points. That helped the Pistons go from a 5245 halftime deficit into an 8278 lead after three quarters. After that, the Pistons just kept Indiana at a teasing distance in handing the Pacers their third loss in eight exhibition games.

"The first half, we were very flat and we stayed in the game because we had terrific shooting (52 percent)," said McKinney. "Then in the second half, we wanted to get a little fire and we did, but we didn't shoot very well." That was very true. At the start of the fourth quarter, Indiana helped bury itself by missing its first five shots, turning the over five times and falling behind by 10 points. pointed by 31 and out-of-fensed by 328 yards, you've just taken a country thumpin'. That and not the officiating was the bottom line in Indiana 45-14 loss to a sound Wisconsin team Saturday.

And while rookie Hoosier coach Sam Wyche can be forgiven for trying to gain every edge for his Jeam, to label the officials' effort "a real tragedy" can only be viewed as a gross overstatement Especially when criticism of the calls or lack thereof is becom ing a recurring postgame theme, Sam's crying wolf so much under mines his credibility. Saturday, Wyche took the offi rials aside for a lecture before the game, was all over them during the contest, confronted them at half time and then leveled them with a verbal blast to the media after ward. AMONG OTHER things, he said he was "embarrassed" for the crew headed by referee Jim Keough. "The game was affected, al thobgh not necessarily decided, by the officials and that's a real trage dy, Wyche complained. Wyche was most upset with al leged holding by Badger offensive linemen.

He claimed Hoosier play ers had their jerseys torn by the holding of Wisconsin linemen, and that on two Badger touchdown passes, his defensive men were held. But both teams finished with the same number of penalties (six) for nearly identical yardage (57-55). The Badgers were twice penalized for holding. Indiana had no holding penalties. I.U.

defensive end Mark Smythe, who may have had a better per spective than his coach, put the game in a different light. Said Smythe, "I don't think there was that much (holding). I just think we (fldji't play very well." INDIANA'S INJURY problems on. defense particularly at the crucial position of linebacker and the 3-4 alignment's susceptibil ity to the run are really beginning to show. The Hoosiers are now allowing 229 rushing yards per game after Wisconsin lea Dy Gary Ellerson's 136 yards took them for 363 on the ground.

Ellerson became the fourth op posing runner in tne last tive games to surpass 100 yards against I.U. And Saturday, not only were the holes there, but the Hoosiers compounded their problem with a multitude of missed tackles. The most obvious sign of prob lems up front is that a pair of defensive backs, Chris Sigler and Tom Hendrickson, led Indiana in tackles. Indiana also had zero pass rush tot once getting to Wisconsin quarterback Randy Wright. And Wright picked the Hoosiers apart for four touchdowns and 199 yards the air.

'I cannot think of a time when I have had that good a protection for a whole game," Wright said. "And you can't cover all of our receivers for five or six seconds. They are too good." THE WISCONSIN game was the first of four straight against first-division teams. Next up is a road trip to Iowa. Our heads are still high, said Wyche.

whose team fell to 23. "We always close every game with a team prayer and today we ended by saying, 'Well, Lord, you gave us a mountain to climb this time. But we'll see you at the We're not giving in. This coach ing staff has not condemned this team to a bad year. We feel we can still be a spoiler.

I assume we have to 'win out to go to a bowl. Since that's mathematically possible, well shoot for it. Now we play for pride, we play for ourselves, we play for our own self respect" Speaking of respect Sam, how about giving the officials some. LAPEL, THE rags to-riches high school football team which was devastated by the accidental death of its star player, Monte Turner, last week, bounced back to win its final regular-season game of the season, 14 12, at Shenandoah last Wednesday. The Tigers, who never had won more than three games in season, are now 8 2 with an eight- game winning streak going into the Class A playoffs against Sheridan.

You could tell at the end of the game they had been through a lot of emotion." said Coach Woody Fields. "The kids wore black armbands with Montr's number, 22, on thrm, and Monte's parents attended the game. But after the funeral Tuesday, we talked it out at practice, then never said anything more bout it. I've seen some kids be come mature young men in the last seven days" 0f4 Bill Benner DON'T READ THIS AD UNLESS YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR'S CONDITION DON'T GAMBLE ON THE WEATHER; BEAT THE FIRST FREEZE! PREPARE YOUR CAR EARLY BEFORE THE (USH. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPECIALS BELOW: 1.

WINTER IZATION: INCLUDES FLUSH SYSTEMREPLACE THERMOSTATINSTALL ANTIFREEZE TO 25 BELOW OVCHECK ALL HOSES BELTS ONLY $59.95 2 COMPLETE STARTER CHARGER SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ONLY $14.50 3 MINOR TUNE-UP ELECTRONIC IGNITION ONLY. 4 CYL ENG ONLY 6 CYL ENG ONLY 8 CYL ENG. ONLY $42.95 Prices applicable on AMCJEEP RENAULT only Present this coupon. Otter expires 113083. Call for appointment 357-8484.

WE ARE THE OLDEST EXCLUSIVE AMCJEEP DEALER IN THE INDY AREAI WE KNOW THE PRODUCT BESTI SERVICE HOURS: MON. THRU FRI. 7:30 A M. TO 5:30 P.M. By DAVE OVERPECK Star Sportswriter Monterey, Calif.

For the first time since 1978, the battle for the Indy Car national championship will go down to the last race. Teo Fabi did everything he had to do Sunday to keep the points competition alive, manhandling the field in the Cribari Wines 300 kilometers at Laguna Seca Raceway for a 22 second victory over Mario An-dretti in front of a record crowd estimated at 50,000. And he got the break he needed when points leader Al Unser Sr. lost the right half shaft in the Hertz Penske PC 11 with 11 laps to go in the 98-lap chase over Laguna's rolling, 1.9 mile road circuit. That dropped Unser to 11th on the day, worth just two points.

He had been running fifth worth 10 and exactly what he needed to clinch his second championship. Now he'll need to finish sixth or better in next Saturday's Miller Bobby Ball 150 at Phoenix to clinch. Fabi picked up 22 points for the victory, for the pole and for leading the most laps. So the standings now read: Unser Sr. 139, Fabi 124 and Andretti 117.

Andretti can still match Unser's point total if he wins the pole, leads the most laps and wins at Phoenix. But Unser would have to finish out of the first 12 and Fabi would have to finish third or worse. THE 22 points under that scenario would let Mario match Unser's total, and the title would go to Andretti on the basis of most victories (three to Unser's one). But it's too much of a longshot for Mario to take it very seriously. "I don't think I'll lose much sleep over it," he said.

basics Sports ovkr lic.iitly BOB COLLINS I Headed in right direction Irish return to r.e.T. P-18580R13 Blk. $31.00 $1.75 P-18580R13 WSW 34.00 175 P-18575R14 WSW 39.00 190 P-19575R14 WSW 42.00 2 01 P-20575R15 Blk. 32.00 2 35 P-19575R15 Blk. 27.00 2.18 P-19575R14 Blk.

32.00 2.01 BY Generol's New All-Season WSW P-15580R13 $34.99 sisi P-19575R14 48.99 2u P-20575R14 50.99 2 29 P-20575R15 51.99 2 39 P-21575R15 52.99 251 P-22575R15 53.99 271 P-23575R15 57.99 2.90 VOU WOULD be forgiven for wondering if the Notre Dame offensive line was recruited from the Bureau of Weights and Measures. That front two deep has the height of a professional basketball team. The only way Goliath could make the squad would be as a small guard. Tackle to tackle the shortest men are 6 4. And the two runts, guard Ron Plantz and center Tim Scannell, would strain a cattle scale.

They punish the food line with a combined weight of 536 pounds. The interior line is so gigantic that flanker Milt Jackson, a mere 6-0, 181, looks like a prep player who wandered into the action. Tight end Mark Bavaro, 6-4, 246, is bigger than many college linebackers. When he gets in the center of the secondary he looks like Gulliver flailing his way through Lilliput. Bavaro has the speed and ability to get open and the size and strength to step on people some of whom are standing.

It's rumored his mother never knows how many plates to set for dinner, since he's liable to drag home two or three defensive backs. 1 Watch that tons of fun come off the ball, Allen Pinkett dash through with the speed of a bullet or huge fullbacks Chris Smith (231) and Mark Brooks (228) chip concrete with their shoulders, and you wonder why the Irish still mess with the cutesy stuff. But they do. THERE'S THE old line, "You dance with who brung you." Putting it another way, if it works don't fix it. When you have considerably more talent then the other people, you blow them off the ball, do your job and go home.

There is no percentage in running all over the backfield looking for daylight when it's right in front of you. And the Irish are winning now because they are getting back to basics. The high school stuff only appeared from time to time as they took apart Southern California, 27 6. Saturday. A reverse lost a yard and a couple of shovel passes tippy toed all around disaster.

But that stuff appears to be receding into somebody's book of golden memories. Mostly, the Irish stayed right in front of the Trojans and kept punching. After Notre Dame destroyed Purdue, 52 6, the ques- tion was: How good are the Irish? Two weeks later, the answer appeared to be, not very. But the bilges have been emptied and the man-of-war is churning through the water. The only question remaining is: How good are the Irish? They have won four in a row, outscoring the opposition, 126 15.

But they haven't exactly been battling the collegiate football Hall of Fame. For example, Saturday they were in against the worst Southern California team in over a decade. Colorado, South Carolina and Army may have enough combined talent to make one good team. THE IRISH are 5 2, four games to play. Last season they were 6-1-1 and coming off an impressive 31-16 victory over Pittsburgh before sniffing the gas and losing their last three.

They couldn't have looked much better than they did against Pitt. The consensus was that coach Gerry Faust finally had it all together. And look what happened! Pitt and Penn State are ahead, so the Irish could lose a couple more. They also could win all four games on the schedule. Either way, don't look for another el foldo.

This team has unity. The raw talent is harnessed; there is a better sense of direction. Like honest workmen, these young men punch the clock and ring other people's bells. Like all Notre Dame teams, they play with emotion. But it is more controlled than it was the last two seasons.

Execution equals efficiency, and they are executing with vigor. It should take a mighty effort by somebody to top them on the scoreboard. IFuiiTpiywsw I Generol Steel Rcdials i I SNOW TIRES Jp.i8575Ri4wsw $40,951 I A-78-13 $29.99 1 1 P-19575R14 39.95 1 I B-78-13 30.99 1 1 P-19575R14 44.95 1 1 E-78-14 35.99 1 1 p.20570R14 45.95 I I H.7HS 41.99 I P-SSS75R1S 53.95 55 3524 11. SI! IADELAKD m-f.