The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 57

The Indianapolis Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1991 Shootout in Anderson leaves No. 4 Highland standing "They were both similar and I don't know how you can make two different calls," said Held. Not too long later Anderson forward Prince McClendon committed his fifth foul and took a seat next to Held and Johnson. That drained the Indians' offense and strained Fuller, who scored only five points with Johnson out of the game. The Scots (5-1) took a 63-62 lead after three quarters and fizzled the offensive guns.

With Zachary and Ash, both outstanding By CURT CAVIN STAR STAFF WRITER Anderson, Ind. The shootout came two days early In the Wigwam. The long-awaited battle between No. 2 Anderson and No. 4 Anderson Highland turned into a basketball slugfest Wednesday night.

It also turned out to be a game long worth remembering. An estimated 8,500 quieted in the fourth quarter to rest. Randy Zachary scored 30 points to lift Highland to a 76-69 victory. It was the snapshooting of he and fellow Junior guard Brad Ash (20 points) that offset Kojak Fuller's 36 points. Highland shot 64 percent.

"Those two really shot the lights out," said Anderson coach Norm Held, whose team lost for the first time in seven games. "They took over; they showed they wouldn't lose." Both teams have to regroup in a hurry. The Indians play Michigan's No. 1 -ranked team, Battle Creek Central, in the first game of the Anderson Shootout here Friday. Five games and a day later.

Highland meets Dayton Dunbar Saturday. Against Anderson, Highland capitalized on the fouling out of defensive whiz Terry Johnson. The 5-9 guard, who Held commissioned to hawk Zachary, picked up his fourth and fifth fouls within 19 seconds late in the third quarter. Called for a block on one end, Johnson was called for a charge on the other. ball handlers, Coach Alan Darner exhausted the game by playing It patient, "I think both teams wore out, to tell you the truth," said Darner.

"We didn't mean not to shoot the ball, but In the last two and half minutes we decided to hold it." Fuller, who had to chase Zachary in the final 10 minutes, appeared noticeably tired. His final two shots were off the front rim and he didn't aggressively look for the shot late as he had previously. "You can't ask for more than he gave us," said Held. Fuller drained 10 of 14 shots in the first half for 26 points and nailed a three-pointer in a 7-0 Anderson run to open the third quarter. The Indians, who trailed twice by nine points early in the game, took a 55-49 lead on McClendon's rebound basket.

But Highland's defense locat-, ed Fuller and rebounded. The See HIGHLAND Page 7 Robin Miller Heat take revenge on Pacers Rahal buys into chance at Chevys BOBBY RAHAL will be named today as driver and owner of the Miller Genuine Draft Special for the 1992 CARTPGG Indy-car series. That's right. In a press gathering at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Rahal is expected to announce his group is buying out veteran car owner Pat Patrick. "I can't say anything other 4 than I'm very excited about what is going to come down tomorrow," said Rahal on Wednesday from the Indianapolis shop he'll be taking over.

So, you ask, why would an intelligent, talented, financially-secure race driver want to get into the overpriced, non-profit-making business of owning Indy cars? It's called necessity. By DAN PUNKIN STAR STAFF WRITER Miami One never really knows how an NBA team will perform night to night particularly the two teams which met at Miami Arena Wednesday night. The Miami Heat are very young, gifted and unpredictable. i The Indiana Pacers are older, occasionally, impressive, but still predictable. So here's what happened Wednesday night.

The Heat were coming off a league-record losing margin the night before at Cleveland (148-80). The Pacers were coming off a game they could have won the night before at Atlanta. They could have beat the Heat, too. But they didn't. This was the road, wasn't it? Mark the Pacers down as a head-on collision at 2-11 away from Market Square Arena after a 118-112 defeat to the Heat in overtime.

I "I really didn't think last night would have any effect on this team," said Heat coach Kevin Lough-ery, "I thought that we played a terrific game," said Pacers coach Bob Hill. "To fight that hard and come back and to play that well, and for that to happen at the end of the game is the reason It's hard to win on the road In the NBA." In a resilient effort by both teams, the Heat earned the 'E for extra effort after overcoming a 14-polnt early second-quarter deficit and building an 11 -point cushion late in the third quarter. The Pacers battled back, and Reggie Miller's two free throws with 59 seconds left in regulation forged a tie that would stick until Rik Smlts scored twice early in OT. Two young stallions named Steve Smith and Glen Rice willed the Heat back on top. Rice's three-pointer put the Heat back In front After misfires by Smlts and Vem Fleming, the; Heat would stay there.

Grant Long and Smith each hit beat-the-shot-clock Jumpers to make it 114-109 with 37.9 seconds to go. Detlef Schrempf drove and ate a leather sandwich courtesy of Alec Kessler. This one was history, and the Pacers were on their way to 11-15 and wondering what they have to do. "It's a combination of many things," saidt Schrempf, who was basically superb with 21 points and 11 rebounds. "It seems like everything goes wrong for us down the stretch." Here's a sampling of what went wrong.

Heat center Rony Seikaly got whistled for his sixth foul after pushing off on Smits after Miller's tying freer; throws. The Pacers had plenty of time, but Chuckt Person launched an off-balance three-pointer 13 ticks left on the shot clock. The Heat got the rebound and called time with 1 17.8 seconds to go. Smith went one-on-one with i See PACERS Page 8 The only way Rahal was going to be powered by the dominating Chevrolet' engine for '92 was to disassociate himself from Patrick. When the 1986Indiana- Rahal polls 500 winner signed on with Patrick last Sept.

1 he was hoping the dispute between Ilmor Engineering, which controls the Chevy program, and Patrick could be resolved. Patrick Racing has been persona non grata with Ilmor since 1988 because it sent a Chevy engine to Alfa Romeo and also hired a key Ilmor engineer. Alfa, which reportedly spent $36 million in a three-year Indy-car deal with Patrick from 1989 to 1991 was thought to have used the Chevy for technical guidance although Judging from their track record, the Italians evidently weren't very good at copying. Patrick opted not to pick up his option with Alfa for 192 and, big surprise, nobody else in CART wanted it either. Still, despite Alfa's unimpressive showing (no wins in three years) on the CART circuit, Ilmor obviously holds a grudge.

Even though Jim McGee, Morris Nunn and Chip Ganassi were all partners in Patrick Racing at the time See MILLER Page 7 ASSOCIATED PRESS Miami's Bimbo Coles beats Vem Fleming to the basket and scores a layup for the Heat in the first half Wednesday. I3 Duquesne, LaSalle set to join MCC? It would be big win for Colts DRAFT PROSPECTS Here are some of the scenarios involving the Colts' 1992 draft choices: Colts have first pick whether they win or lose versus Tampa Bay. Colts have second pick (Bucs' pick) if they win versus Tampa Bay. Colts (Bucs' pick) draft ahead of Cincinnati If Tampa Bay finishes tied with Bengals with either two or three wins. Green Bay drafts ahead of Cincinnati and Colts (Bucs' pick) If all three Green Bay, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay finish 3-13.

Colts (Bucs' pick) draft ahead of Rams, assuming Rams and Tampa Bay both are 3-13, if San Francisco or Washington win, or if San Francisco and Washington lose but Atlanta and San Diego win. Rams draft ahead of Colts (Bucs pick), assuming both Rams and Tampa Bay are 3-13, if San Francisco, Washington, Atlanta and San Diego all lose. SCORES I I I leaving to Join the Great Midwest I basketball conference along with DePaul, Alabama-Birmingham, Memphis State and Cincinnati. On Dec. 8, Duquesne University president John Murray said his team was considering the MCC, and noted LaSalle was watching with great interest.

"LaSalle Is watching Du- quesne," Murray said. quesne is in an Influential position." Both schools indicated they would not join the MCC unless a home-and-home series could be worked out with Notre Dame in men's basketball. The Irish par- ticipate in all MCC sports except basketball. Murray indicated the two eastern schools would Insist the conference change its name. LaSalle is located in Phlladel- phla and Duquesne is In Pittsburgh.

Currently, Duquesne is 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the Atlantic 10. LaSalle is 2-2 overall. 0-1 in the Metro Atlantic. Current MCC members are Butler, Evarisville, DaytonLoyo- la. 111., Xavler and Detroit Mercy.

STAR STAFF REPORT LaSalle University of the Metro Atlantic Conference and Duquesne of the Atlantic 10 could join the Midwestern Collegiate Conference as early as today. A news conference is set for noon today at Hlnkle Fieldhouse at Butler University. Assistant Commissioner Mike Hermann would not confirm or deny Wednesday night that the league's expansion would be the topic of discussion. However, It was confirmed two weeks ago that both schools had expressed interest in Joining the MCC. An unidentified source told the Albany, N.Y., Times-Union that LaSalle delivered a letter of resignation Wednesday to the Metro Atlantic league office.

Metro Atlantic officials were unavailable for comment late Wednesday. Attempts to reach officials at Duquesne and LaSalle were also unsuccessful. The MCC has been searching for at least, two new clubs since Saint LouW University and Mar-C quette announced they were By MIKE CHAPPELL STAR STAFF WRITER The players Just want to win. But to the Colts' management, there will be more than pride at stake Sunday when Indianapolis visits Tampa Bay. Already clutching the first pick in the 1992 draft by virtue of their league-worst record (1-14), the Colts can gobble up the second pick they acquired Tampa Bay's first-rounder a year ago for Chris Chandler by handling the 2-13 Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium.

The only other team In NFL history to possess the first two selections in a draft was the Chicago Cardinals in 1958.. But veteran center Brian Bal-dlnger. won't be thinking about draft picks when he takes the field. "I don't care if they package, the draft picks and send them to Pluto. Let's just go out there and win a football game," he said Wednesday.

"I dCh't think the players or coaches have any, time to be NBA Miami 118 Pacers 112 New Jersey 102 Cleveland 93 Boston 131 Milwaukee 117 Utah 107 Philadelphia 105 Detroit 117 Charlotte 97 Washington 96 San Antonio 93 Denver 123 Phoenix 109 Golden State 104 LA Clippers 100 COLLEGE BASKETBALL AP TOP 25 (2) Arizona 127 No. Arizona 81 Georgia 66 (13) Ga. Tech 65 (20) Alabama 107 Citadel 67 (21) Wake Forest 74 VMI 43 (23) Georgetown 69 St. Leo 51 (4) Ohio State at UC-Santa Barbara BIG TEN, STATE DIVISION I. CITY Marian 92 Earlham 44 WL 4 Ice 6 Milwaukee 0 concerned about the draft situation," explained General Manager Jim Irsay.

Rest assured, however, that Irsay and the rest of Indianapolis' personnel specialists are concerned. "(Sunday) is Interesting because a win here betters your draft situation," he said. "You know what teams have to do in order to move up from fourth or fifth to second. The price Is very high. "I don't think my dad and I will go Into the locker room before the game and try to give a speech of that nature, but there's no question this is a great opportunity for the entire franchise." The opportunity Is to virtually control the flow of the '92 draft.

"(Possessing one and two) gives you a wide range of.ways to deal," Irsay said. "Certainly it gives you the ability to sign the two best players in the country." Although the talent pool won't be completely filled until Feb. 1 that's when juniors must declare for the draft the Colts could be mulling over the likes of Helsman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, defensive lineman Steve Emtman, offensive tackles Bob Whitfield and Greg Skrepenak, running back Vaughn Dunbar, defensive back Terrell Buckley, linebacker guentin Coryatt and wide receiver Carl Pickens. Or, they could be mulling over the prospects of trading either one, or both, of their Green Bay, which has two first-round picks, reportedly covets Houston quarterback David Kllnglerf) And Washington. See COLTS Page 8.