The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 39

1 i 1J -ft' rVlll I I i. (i Jl as Colonel futility hits 3-season high 4 I Special to The Courier-Journal UNIONDALE, N.Y. The New York Nets exploded for 39 points in the third quarter last night, then weathered a last-period Kentucky rally to hand the skidding Colonels their fourth straight defeat 118-115. The losing string equals Kentucky's longest, dry spell in the past three seasons. The Colonels, who never lost more than two in a row last winter while capturing the American Basketball Association Eastern Division title with a 68-16 record, last lost four in a row in March of 1971.

The time, ironically, the winless stretch began with a 122-120 loss to New York on March 17 and ended nine days later with a 122-115 victory over the Nets. One would have to go back to February, 1970, when the Colonels dropped six in a row, to find a period of frustration longer than the present one. Last night, rookie guard Brian Taylor and veteran back-court star Bill Mel-chionni, who combined for 22 of the Nets' third-quarter total, and journeyman forward George Carter did most of the damage. Carter, who is playing for his fifth team in as many years in the pros, hit on 14 Associated Press Fin a nasty fellow, just look at me STEVE OWENS of the Detroit Lions gives New Orleans Saint Bivian Lee (11) a nasty look as Owens tries to get by him during the Lions' 27-14 win yesterday in Detroit. Apparently Lee wasn't impressed and ran Owens out of bounds after Owens had gained 12 yards on a pass play.

Anderson helps Dolphins nail Jets, win title of 20 field shots, Melchionni on 12 of 19 and Taylor on 9 of 14 as the Nets collectively sank a sizzling 61.4 per cent of their shots (51-83). Picking up 19 of his points in the first half, Carter led all scorers with 30 points, while Melchionni had 29 and Taylor 33. Melchionni also handed out 12 assists and center Bill Paultz contributed 14 points and 19 rebounds. Kentucky, behind Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel, built a 57-53 lead at halftime, then stretched it to 67-61 before New York took a time-out with 9:38 left in the third quarter. By the time the Colonels could stop the action two minutes and 46 seconds later, New York had outscored them 14-2.

Simon sparks late drive Kentucky then poured in three quick baskets to knot the count at 75-75, but in two minutes time, Taylor and Melchionni combined to outscore the Colonels 8-1. By the time the Colonels escaped the disastrous period, they were down 92-82. That's when Kentucky began it's comeback. With reserve Walt Simon coming off the bench to collect 12 of his 14 points in the final quarter, Kentucky battled back to tie the game at 101-101 on a jump shot by Simon. Melchionni, however, hit a jumper, Carter added one from the corner and Bill Paultz tallied from 15 feet as New York reaced ahead 107-101.

Kentucky was unable to get closer than three points after that. Issel led the Colonel scoring with 26 points, while Gilmore added 25 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists. The defeat left Kentucky with a 7-11 record and mired in a divisional last-place tie with Memphis, which thumped Virginia 130-118 last night for its second straight victory. Kentucky will meet Memphis at 8:10 p.m, Wednesday in Louisville's Freedom Hall. KENTUCKY COLONELS 115 Player min fg fga ft fta reb a pf tp Issel 42 11 20 4 9 7 2 3 26 Virden 26 4 10 2 2 5 4 1 10 Gilmore 44 9 16 7 10 18 I 5 25 Mount 23 3 13 1 1 1 2 7 Dampier 39 7 15 1 1 3 7 3 15 Chamberlain 18 5 6 0 2 1 0 10 Simon 14 6 9 2 4 2 2 4 14 Gale 25 25004224 O'Brien 9 2 4 0 1 0 5 1 4 Team 3 Totals 240 49 98 17 29 45 32 21 115 NEW YORK NETS 118 Player mln fg fga ft fta reb a pf tp Washington 37 5 8 1 3 12 3 4 11 Carter 48 1 4 20 2 2 7 3 4 30 Paultz 45 7 14 0 0 19 4 4 14 Melchionni 46 1 2 19 5 5 2 1 2 3 29 Taylor 35 9 14 5 6 2 3 2 23 Roche 15 0 1 3 3 1 1 1 3 Chones 10 350001 46 Baum 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 Team Totals ..240 51 83 li 19.

45 27 22 118 KENTUCKY COLONELS 31 26 25 33-115 NEW YORK NETS 27 26 39 26-111 Three-point field goal shooting (included In above totals): Issel 0-1, Dampier 0-2, Simon 0-2. Paultz 0-1, Melchionni 0-1. Shooting percentages: Kentucky 50; New York 61.4. Errors: Kentucky 17 (Issel 2, Virden 2. Gilmore 4.

Mount 2, Dampier 5. Chamberlain 2); New York 22 (Washington 2, Carter 7, Paultz 3, Melchionni 4, Taylor 2, Baum 1, Chones 3). HfMHanM 170 Associated Press MIAMI There was no victory celebration in the Miami Dolphin locker room yesterday after they clinched the American Football Conference's Eastern Division title with a 28-24 victory over the New York Jets. Coach Don Shula said the Dolphins want to win the Super Bowl before they get excited. "We've won 10 in a row.

We're happy. Everything's positive," said Shula, quickly adding, "We've got to get this football team ready to start the playoffs." "Certainly winning is important, foremost," said Shula, whose Dolphins are 10-0 and within four games of becoming only the third National League team in history to go undefeated in regular season play. But the coach made it clear all emphasis from now on will be placed on the playoffs and said, "If anybody's injured, we're going to try to get them healthy." Lead changes hands He said wide receiver Paul Warfield wasn't used against the Jets for fear of more damage to his bruised foot. Safety Dick Anderson set up two of the Dolphins' touchdowns, including the winning score, with a pass interception and fumble recovery against the Jets, now 6-4 and second in the AFC East. Anderson, a 5-year veteran from Colorado, intercepted Joe Namath's first pass of the game at the Jet 33 early in the first quarter.

Earl Morrall passed nine yards to Howard Twilley for a 7-0 Miami lead seven plays later. With the Jets leading 24-21 early in the fourth quarter, Anderson fell on a fumble by the Jets' Cliff McClain at the New York 27. Four plays later, Mercury Morris snaked 14 yards around the left side for the winning touchdown, his 11th of the season. Seemingly ageless Morrall, now 38, found his receivers covered and kept the ball for a 31-yard touchdown run which gave the Dolphins a 21-17 lead early in the third quarter. The Jets, who led 17-14 at halftime, came right back with an 80-yard drive to go ahead 24-21 with Namath throwing the final four yards to tight end Wayne Stewart.

The drive was kept alive when the Dolphins were called for roughing the kicker on a fourth down punt, giving New York a first down. New York, still in contention for the fourth playoff spot which goes to a runner-up team with the best record in the AFC, lost two opportunities to go two touchdowns ahead of the Dolphins in the first half. Still, New York led at halftime mainly because of Namath, who figured in on 14 of his team's first 17 points. Namath used short passes to lead the Jets 80 yards in 13 plays for their first score, climaxed by a one-yard run by Rig-gins. Morris fumbled a pitch-out at the Mami 38 and Earlie Thomas recovered for New York to set up a 28-yard touchdown pass from Namath to Rich Caster for the Jets' second tally.

Namath completed 14 of 22 passes for 175 yards, but the Jets could not stop the Miami rushing game which netted 214 yards in 45 carries. Miami made 20 first downs to New York's 14. Pro football scoreboard Hadl steers Chargers past Chiefs 27-17 Statistics Jets Dolphins First downs 14 20 Rushes-yards 32-108 45-214 Passing yards 175 132 Passes 14-23-1 8-17-1 Punts 4-47 4-40 Fumbles-lost 2-1 42 Penalties-yards 6-47 3-30 NEW YORK JETS 7 10 7 0-24 MIAMI DOLPHINS 7 7 7 721 Mia. Twilley, 9, pass from Morrall (Yepremian kick). NY-Riggins, 1, run (Howfield kick).

NY-Caster, 29, pass from Namath (Howfield kick). NY FG, Howfield, 33. Mia Morris, 1 run (Yepremian kick). Mia Morrall, 31, run (Yepremian kick). NY-Stewart, 4, pass from Namath (Howfield kick).

Mia Morris, 14, run (Yepremian kick). Attendance 80,010. Pts. Op. 278 127 303 220 195 277 159 205 133 323 Pts.

Op. 257 160 THURSDAY New York Jets at Detroit, 12 noon. San Francisco at Dallas, 3:30 p.m. SUNDAY Buffalo at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Cincinnati at Chicago, 2 p.m.

Denver at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Green Bay at Washington, 1 p.m. Houston at San Diego, 4 p.m. Kansas City at Oakland, 4 p.m. Los Angeles at New Orleans, 2 p.m.

Minnesota at Pittsburgh, p.m. New England at Baltimore, 2 p.m. Philadelphia at New York Giants, 1 p.m. NEXT MONDAY St. Louis at Miami, 9 p.m.

175 172 256 Pts. Or. 266 189 219 183 196 241 201 269 Pts. Op. 227 124 245 223 156 198 Standings AMERICAN CONFERENCE Eastern Division Team w.

L. T. Pet. Miami 10 0 0 1.000 New York Jets 6 4 0 .600 Buffalo 3 7 0 .300 Baltimore 3 7 0 .300 New England 7 8 0 .200 Central Division Team w. L.

T. Pet. Pittsburgh 7 3 0 .700 Cleveland 7 3 0 .700 Cincinnati 5 5 0 .500 Houston .1 1 .100 Western Division Team W. L. T.

Pel. Oakland 6 3 1 .650 Kansas City 5 5 0 .500 San Diego 3 4 1 .350 Denver 3 7 0 .300 NATIONAL CONFERENCE Eastern Division Team W. L. T. Pet.

Washington 1 0 -BB9 Dallas 0 2 0 .800 New York Giants 6 4 0 .600 St. Louis 2 7 1 .250 Philadelphia 2 7 1 .250 Central Division Team W. L. T. Pet.

Green Bay 7 3 .700 Detroit 6 4 .600 Minnesota 6 4 0 .600 Chicago 3 6 1 .350 Western Division Team W. L. T. Pet. Atlanta 5 4 0 .556 Los Angeles 5 4 1 .550 San Francisco 5 4 .550 New Orleans 1 I 1 .150 Yesterday's results Baltimore 20, Cincinnati 19.

Buffalo 27, New England 24. Dallas 28, Philadelphia 7. Green Bay 23, Houston 10. Detroit 27, New Orleans 14. New York Giants 13, St.

Louis 7. Miami 28, New York Jets 24. Oakland 37, Denver 20. Cleveland 26, Pittsburgh 24. San Diego 27, Kansas City 17.

San Francisco 34, Chicago 21. Minnesota 45, Los Angeles 41. Schedule TONIGHT Atlanta at Washington, 9 p.m. 129 208 93 222 Pts. Op.

202 171 240 199 244 176 170 199 Pts. On. It" Aowk 199 183 219 193 266 196 149 280 Associated Press Flying high MIAMI running back Mercury Morris soars into the air trying to pick up a first down yesterday against the Jets. Miami won 28-24 to stay undefeated. Associated Press KANSAS CITY Smiling all the while, San Diego coach Harland Svare changed his tune after his Chargers upended the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17 yesterday.

"It was the end of a long dry spell for us," Svare sad. "I was tired of singing the same song it was different today. We had no turnovers." Svare was particularly proud of the Chargers secondary, which came up with four interceptions, and of quarterback John Hadl, who often with passes to rushing star Cid Edwards directed the victory. Chiefs coach Hank Stram admitted "it's going -to be tough to get back in the playoffs now" in the American Football Conference Western Division. Oakland, which beat Denver 37-20, will take a IVi game lead over the Chiefs into next week's game with Kansas City in Oakland.

"We had the opportunity to do it ourselves," Stram added dejectedly. "Now we have to have help from somebody else to get in there." Chiefs fans suffer, too The 79,011 fans attending the game had insult added to injury just before half-time. It wasn't bad enough that the favored Chiefs were trailing 24-7. To make matters worse, it was announced that a water main break had made the plush new Arrowhead Stadium's rest-rooms inoperable. The fans, who already were braving 30-degree temperatures and a hefty wind, were asked to refrain from using the facilities.

Hadl got the Chargers rolling by teaming with Edwards on a 61-yard pass play. The play, during which Edwards broke tackle after tackle, set up a three-yard scoring run by ex-Chief Mike Garrett. Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson tossed four yards to Wendell Hayes to even the count minutes later, but then the roof caved in on the Chiefs. Before halftime, San Diego's Dennis Partee kicked a 46-yard field goal, Hadl smashed a yard for a touchdown and the veteraa, quarterback also flipped a 20-yard scoring pass to Gary Garrison just 22 seconds before the intermission. The Chiefs tried everything, even sending JeTrel Wilson, who normally does nothing but punt, out to pass in the last period.

Wilson completed the pitch from punt formation to Nate Allen, firing the Chiefs to their second touchdown. But San Diego's Pete Barnes picked off a pass by reserve quarterback Mike Livingston in the waning moments to snuff out Kansas City's last hopes. Hadl completed 17 of 28 passes for 216 yards. Edwards caught six for 82 yards and added 62 yards on 12 rushes. ys ft V- Huberl Robert Kiper 1 1 I ilBtlllll (x L- Bujksjlrnily rj I MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAVE AT FIRSTBANK.

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Rrstbank with you all the way Cowboys win, but Landry sees nothing but errors Associated Press nine time for losses of 79 yards in a PHILADELPHIA Dallas coach Tom game that was close only until the Dallas Landry talked more like a coach whose got moving in the second quar- team had lost after his Cowboys beat the ter. Philadelphia Eagles yesterday 28-7 in Dallas took a 2-0 first period lead on National Football League v. game. a safety when Eagle center Steve Smith "We dropped passes, had two poor snapped the ball over punter Bill Brad-punts and missed several defensive ley's head, fell behind as the Eagles plays," said Landry after his defense had scored on Larry Watkins' 15-yard touch-limited the Eagles to a net of six yards down run, forged ahead on Walt Garri-passing and 120 yards rushing. son's three-yard TD reception and Tony Landry wasn't ready to say that the ritsch tK42-yardAieu g0al ZA Cowboys famed Doomsday Defense had 1 uj scres John Ni- regained its savage reputation after be- land and Calvm Hill and another safety inf riddled for 100 points in the previous tn fconi safety also was the result four games.

"The defense gave up a a bad.snaf fm on touchdown early, which really encouraged marked only the sth imet NL hls" the Eagles since they hadn't scored in a toJ a team scored two safeties in one long time," moaned Landry in the Cow- boys' dressing room. Actually, it was the Craig Morton ed the first Eagles' touchdown in 15 quarters. Dallas ffencse, as Je completed 11 of 21 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown. "We will have to play better than we He left the 'ame in the fourth period Aid today if we hope to win Thursday favor of lat seasons NFL Plaer of (against San Francisco) and against the Year, Roger who made his Washington a few weeks. Our defense first appearae since fracturing a shoul- played better than it has in the past der inwthe exhibition season.

Staubach couple of weeks, but it still had break- completed one of three for 16 yards, downs early. Hm carried the ball 15 times for 100 i yards while Garrison gained 48 on 11 Cowboys chasing Redskins carries as the Cowboys beat the Eagles ii iu i li. for the second time this season. Landry felt the turning point in the victory, which moved Dallas to within half a game of the leading Washington Red- jiuiibucs skins in the National Conference East, First downs "T2M was the Eagles fumble of the second half KVTarts Its kickoff. Dallas recovered at the 25 and n-24-2 io-17-i moved for a quick touchdown.

"After Fumbies-iost 3 3-2 that, we were all right" Landry said. io 7 Dallas now is 8-2 and the Redskins, who Philadelphia 7000-7 olav Atlanta on Mnnrtav nichf'e tpWi. Dilr Safety, Bradley tackled In end zone. Phil piety midiiid on juonaay nieni leievi- watkins, 15, run (Dempsev kick). Dal Garrison, 3, Sion game, are 8-1.

from Morton (Fritsch kick). Dal FG, Frltsch, THo rlalon 42. Dal Niland recovered fumble In end zona (Frltsch ine COWDOy defenders sacked quarter- kick). Dal-Safaty, ball centered out of end zona. backs Pete Liske and rookie John Reaves iAyjK klck)- i Chargers Chiefs First downs 17 22 Rushes yards 34-108 23-94 Passing yards 186 269 Passes 28-17-0 41-25-4 Pun's 6-40 3-44 Fumbles lost 3-0 3-2 penalties yards ...1 7.55 5.38 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 7 17 3 0-27 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 7 0 3 7-17 SD-Garrett, 3, run (Partee kick).

KC-Hayes, 4, SD FG, Partee 1 llrBCIPST NATIONAL BANK OF LOUISVILLE MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION ACCOUNTS INSURED TO $20,000..