Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 1C

Sports Saturday, February 26, 1977 SectloniSv Classifieds 3 9C Stocks, Business 10 12C Louisville Triumphs LOUISVILLE Wesley Cox scored 31 points to lead lOth ranked Louisville to a 91 80 win over Georgia Tech in Metro Conference basketbal Friday night. Cox hit 11 of 16 field goal attempts 'and all nine free throws as Louisville boosted Its season mark to 214. roBBBBrB Eric Girard 3 Wrestle Way Into State Semi's i i I IF today mmwimi Walker Pitch Off Target If this bonus baby, Floyd Bannister, ever tpps sucking his thumb and outgrows Pampers, lie could be dangerous. Dangerous, that is. to Na Jlonal League hitters.

But growing up is what's going to be tough for ttanmsier in mat tie has this baby sitteragent fiamed Gary Walker. Gary Walker He's the great one who dressed Jiggle Jackson In Yankee pinstripes 'after masterminding a $78 billion, 32 year contract (or whatever it was) for the former Oakland A and Baltimore Oriole. But that was Reggie Jackson, Nowr Walker is attempting to cast that same fames and fortune show on Houston Astros' general manager Tal Smith. He's using Bannister as the main attraction. Unfortunately for both, Smith won't pay the price.

And you can't blame him, Bannister was the top draft choice In all of in last year's major league draft. The Astros were fortunate enough to have exclusive rights to the Arizona State lefthander. But they weren't sure they could sign him, So, they did the logical thing. They asked. After the College World Series, Bannister agreed through a handshake to an estimated 100,000 bonus figure and everything looked peachy.

But that was only the beginning. After the draft Bannister hooked up with Walker, who talked the 22 year old out of the smallest of six figure contracts. When Bannister balked, the Astros bowed out that is. Six weeks went by. Good Start Finally, Bannister accepted the terms and took a whirlwind tour through the Astros' minor league system.

He was Impressive. Damn impressive. He was invited to spring training as a non roster participant and was offered a minor league contract. But that's where the controversy begins. He hasn't signed the contract.

He's not In camp. And he's certainly not impressing anyone. not signing right away last year Was difficult to understand, but it's even tougher to understand now," said Smith. "I'm disappointed. "This would be his first major league spring camp.

By not being herer he's missing all the fundamentals? "That's the idea of spring training," Smith continued. "Sure, he's out in Arizona in the good weathejvJte's 'young and I understand he's beerf working out on his own. But that's not the idea: If that was the way' it was, we'd Just let everybody work out on their own and let them all show up at our first game. "Floyd has less than 50 innings of professional experience and not one inning of major league experience. Walker is trying to negotiate a contract based on a salary he would be paid in the major leagues.

We're offering a Triple A salary. It seems kind of silly to be arguing over a triple A contract when he could be down here earning a major league contract. "We feel we gave him a substantial bonus, predicated on potential last year. Now It's his turn to show us." After a few choice words for Walker, Smith shrugged. "If Walker thinks we're going to compromise our situation, he's wrong." And believe it, Tal Smith Is a man of high conviction.

He practices what he preaches. He preaches the Houston Astros and fairness to all. What Bannister and Walker seem to have forgotten is that basic thing called growing up. Learning to walk Is a slow process. You have to take things one step at a time.

That's the way Smith learned. It's the only way he knows. IlKMI It TODAY MIAMI Three of eight Space Coast wrestlers posted double victories Friday to move Into Saturday's semifinal round of the state championship wrestling tournament at Miami Dade South Junior College. Dave Winn of Cocoa, who finished third a year ago at 102 pounds, dects toned Tony Haider of Rutherford 8 0 before stopping Mike Jones of Hollywood McArthur 4 0 in overtime to earn a semifinal berth. Teammate Tim Saunders (142) also took a pair of decisions, 16 4 and 14 10, over two South Florida rivals.

Cocoa's other entry In the two day event, Terry Joiner at 171, won his first match 22 0 before dropping a 8 5 decision to Booth Monforte of North Miami Beach. The trio's performance earned the Tigers 1214 points and a 10th place ranking, but left them far behind McArthur and Brandon in the battle for the team championship. The only other area wrestler to make the semis was Mark Gronowskl of Titusvllle. He came up with a pair of pins over John Krehen (3:48) of Tampa Hillsborough and Reggie Dows ton (2:48) of Miami Killlan. At 109, Astronaut's Derek Porter lost an openingopening round match 2 0 and was forced to move into the wrestleback portion of the tourney.

"Tltusvllle's 116 pounder, Pookle Mazion, took a decision in his opening match, 11 7, but suffered a knee injury in a 17 2 loss to Gary Bartlett of Tampa Jefferson. Dave L' Argent of Astronaut also won his first round contest at 171, 17 3, but dropped a 12 7 decision to Miami Southrldge's Tim Medley. Cocoa Beach's only entry at state, 189 pound Bob Shaffner, lost a first round 7 6 decision to Robert O'Brien of Jacksonville Bishop Kenny. The semifinal round begins at 10 a.m., wrest lebacks at 12:30 with consolation and championship bouts at and 7 :30 tonight. wmmmmmmmmm "IBBMaM ssLIHrVNirilV BBBBBBUBkJVSfiBBBB bBwBwBwBTBvjBBTbt BalBaV BwBwjBjBj BaaaaaaaaaaaaaMjaLJBVl BBBBBBBBBBBBBI BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBSaBBaBBrVsrVE BBBBBBBBBBBrC REV aaB aaaaaaaafl LHHvi bbbE mBbBBLOBBBB bM EftaBBBBBMliBBWalBBl SBaaaaVwVaaVULaaaaaB jsl5F ShbMHbI TODAY Stall riwto It's Titusville Vs.

Satellite tun MIHI. TERRIERS STEVE CHARRON FIRES AWAY Mustangs' Tom Hasty is too late on defense By SHELBY STROTHER TOOAV Bowls WW Tltusvllle's Terriers and the Satellite Scorpions each used strong second half performances Friday night to boost them into tonight's District 7, Class 4A boys championship game. First the Terriers, the tournament's top seed and the seventh ranked team In the state, shook off a determined Merritt Island team and went on to subdue the' Mustangs 80 57, behind Reggie Hannah's 34 points. Then the host Scorps hit 20 of 29 second balf shots to pull away from the Cocoa Tigers, 66 53. Game time for the championship game Is 8 m.

at the Satellite gymnasium. Hannah hit 16 of 20 shots despite being double teamed the entire game. The 6 8 pivot had 24 and 22 points respectively, mostly on short shots The Scorp defense, the Space Coast's second best Tltusvllle Ml 57 TITUIVILlf (00) ilmloo 0 0 1 0. MMkan 1 1 Clwrron IMI. Oorlol I 1 1 J.

Jock, mlllt McCM4 1 1 I harpo 1 4 4 Shvltr I 1 4 17, Honnon 14 1 Totalt HI MIUKITT ISLAND IS?) Wllllamt I 14 Noilv 4 1 Horn I 04 I. Wofch 1 OJ I. Plnottoa 4 14. I oorl 4 14 I Itootrt 1 04 DooiM i 44 4. TBioll IS THVtvIM II IT tl IJ M4HIII IXMO 11? Poulfr THUfvlllt IS, Mtrrltt land IS.

SI, Cocoa tl COCOA (111 Mm I 44 I. wnntntod 0 44 Uowvry 4 94 1. Lyont 0 III. Thomot II. Morn.

1 1 I i. Orewn 4 114, jociima 1 1 1 1. am I i jmi i I 4 TMoM 10 SATIU.ITI 1441 PtorioA I 04 4 Roynolol 04 4. Oroxom 4 1 1 10, SoHoa 10 1 4 II, Mc Cloun II 04 14, McCurrv 0 04 0, Gr44f 0 04 0. Totalt II 44 44 Cocoa ii ii MOTHTO 11 11 Poulo Cocoo 0, SafolIHa I during the regular season also caused the cold shooting Tigers problems.

Cocoa hit on just nine of 37 shots in the first half. It still trailed by just two points (26 24) as forward George Thomas dropped In eight of his team high J.8 points in the half to keep It close. Satellite took over control of the game, however, in the third period. With guard Plrpo McCurry consistently breaking a Tiger press and passing off to McCloskey and Bolton tor easy layups, the Scorps raced, to a 46 33 lead. Bolton, who had 17 rebounds and blocked four shots, iced the victory with a slam dunk in the fourth period.

"We're looking forward to' playing Satellite," said Kirk Stewart flatly. "But give Merritt Island some credit. They controlled the offensive tempo on us until the third period. They were double teaming Reggie so we just moved him to the high post and that opened up Shuler for some shots." Satellite coach Bob Comparato sees tonight's game with the Terriers as one "where we'll have to play our best game of the 'year to win. We can't afford foul trouble and we can't concentrate too much on Hannah.

He's going to get his 30 points anyway. We've got to try and work on their other guys." SET UP DISTRICT REMATCH Cocoa Beach, Astro Winners Cocoa Bch Rockledge HOOUEOOI (Vl McGotngoA 1 0 4 2 Lyom 4 3 2 1. Taylor II 0 Jock tort 2 4 It. Randall 0 04 0 Smith 0 0 0 0 Martin 0 0 0 0, Johnson 2, Wllllamt 0 04 0 Total 4 COCOA ftlACH 144) McCob 4 2 2 10, Thurn 4 1 3 II. Winn 4 4 4 12, Adcos 4 2 2 10.

Ktnntv 0 0 0 0 Sar 21 Totals 25 I It Rack. 21 12 4 Cacao Btacll 211111444 fouls Rochitdo 14. Cocoa ftooch Astro 71, New Smyrna 68 ASTRONAUT (II) it Ovtaincv I 0 0 13, A Ovlancv 102 2, OtVott 0 44 II. C. Comnt worth I ill 21, Forouton 1 0 0 1, Mariholl 0 2 4 3 ColilniworthA.3 2 14 Tolalt 24 23 34 21 NCW SMYRNA ftEACH (41) Woottn 0 0 0 0 Wolth I 10 II.

Iwoc 1 3 2 4 Janktm 7 2 4 12. Hill tfalt 0 0 0 0 Marshall 1 0 I 4 Jon. kin I 1 19 Cummlna 2 3 4 Totalt 2S II 34 el Attronout I1 17 17 If 71 Now Smyrna Otoe 14 20 1141 Foul Attronout 19 Now Smyrna Btroch 24 Foulod out Mar thall, Jtrnklnt, Itoac. Jonkin Tochnlcal foul C. Col lint worth By MIKE SAPPINGTON TODAY Spoclol WrHor NEW SMYRNA BEACH Astronaut rallied from an eight point deficit in the third quarter Friday night to top New Smyrna Beach 71 68 and advance to the Class 3A, District 7 finals against Cocoa Beach, a 66 54 winner over Rockledge.

Tonight's game at 8 will mark the fourth consecutive year Astronaut and Cocoa Beach have played each other for the district title. Astronaut was the winner last year, with Cocoa Beach taking the title the previous two years. Astronaut, 23 5, and Cocoa Beach, 24 4, split two games during the regular season. Cocoa Beach took a 61 60 win in the first meeting, but Astronaut won the rematch 49 42. Against New Smyrna, Astronaut trailed 51 43 with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.

But Cris Collinsworth and Mike DeVoss 'turned the momentum around with 14 of the War Eagles' next 17 points. That surge lifted the sixth ranked War Eagles to a 60 58 lead midway through the fourth quarter. They kept tight control the rest of the way. In topping Rockledge in the first game, Fifth ranked Cocoa Beach jumped to a 21 8 first quarterquarter lead and held off the Raiders behind Mike Sears' career nigh 23 points and 13 rebounds. Rockledge made several runs to get back 1n the game, but never got closer than eight in the final minute.

"Against Rockledge," said Sears, "you gotta get ahead. We couldn't let them stay even with Continued on Page 3C BkBBB RRu IRBBbbO' a MrBBbI BaBapjpF "rj iHimKmrrT BBOBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBTNa of tV JaBaaar' ibAt 's ii nBBBBBBBjBr ff Ah Lafa wBBBBLvBr ml jL, nfirV 0.BBBBBBr sVs A BwBBBr lo4uaBbC J. OafaW BM9' SOjOjfapi 4 JP "3 AHBBV '4oyaSSr 0 OJjoBaH 66 Putts' Jack 4 Up TODAY (ton pkh ky Scon Moctov An Easy Sweep Florida Institute of Technology forward Larry Hall found the Florida Bible defense easy to get around Friday night as easy as a 113 70 season ending win was for Norm Cockrell's Engineers. All 13 F.J.T. players, five of whom are seniors, had a hand in F.I.T.'s 15th win against 14 losses.

Box score, 2C. TV; Chs. 1, 11, at 4 p.m.; Scores, standings 2C LAUDERHUX (UP1) Jack Nicklaus, still unsatisfied with his game, charged to a slx under par 66 Friday and a whopping four shot lead after two rounds of the $250,000. Jackie Gleason In verrary Golf Classic. "My game is still not anywhere near where I want It to be, but I made an awful lot of putts," Nicklaus insisted.

The "Golden Bear," who won here a year ago when the event was played in conjunction with the Tournament Players' Championship, had a two round 136 to lead Raymond Floyd, Jerry McGee and Don Pooley by tour strokes, McGee also had a 66 Friday, Floyd shot a 68 and Pooley carded a 69, First round leader Gary Player slumped to a 73 over the par 72, 7,127 yard Inver rary course and was locked in a seven way tie at 141. 'Also In the logjam are non touring pro Curtis Strange, Fuzzy Zoeller, Bobby Wol zel, Jim Simons, Sam Far low and Danny Edwards, Nicklaus carded a 33 33 and blrdied four of the last five holes, sandwiching a bogey four In the middle when he hooked a three iron off the tee. He had only 28 putts, the longest being two of 20 feet. "It sounds funny, I know," Nicklaus said after complaining about his game. "But I'm still not totally satisfied.

I still need a few more tournament rounds." Nicklaus couldn't provide a specific explanation as to why he plays so well at Inverrary. In five years he has won once and finished second, third, fourth and sixth. "Obviously, I play the, course well," said golf's al time leading money winner, who is playing only his third event of the year, "I enjoy the golf course. It's not the type of course where you can just go out and shoot 63 on. But, again.

It is possible to shoot a 65 If you're playing well." McGee's said his 66 was "about as solid a round as I've ever played." McGee blrdied five of his last eight holes on his way to the six under par round, but he double bo geyed the first hole for the second day In a row. Floyd is playing his first tournament In nearly a month, and said his game has Improved greatly in the last three weeks. Lee Trevlno, playing his first tournament since he underwent major back surgery Nov. 22, shot a 69 Friday for an even par 144 total. Scores and Standinqs BASKETBALL SEC LPcn Tennessee 14 1 .933 Kentucky 13 1 .929 Alabama 11 3 .786 FLORIDA 8 6 .371 Miss.

St. 5 9 .337 LSU 6 9 .400 Auburn 5 9 .357 Vanderbilt 4 10 .286 Mississippi 4 11 .267 Georgia 2 13 Saturday's Games Miss, at FLORIDA Alabama at Kentucky LSU at Auburn Tennessee at Georgia Miss. St. at Vanderbilt NBA Friday's Results Golden St. 104, Buffalo 97 Detroit 112, Nets 108 N.

Orleans 124, Knlcks 107 Chicago 96, Atlanta 87 Denver 130, K. City 128 Houston at Portland Boston at Seattle Philadelphia at L.A. EASTERN CONFERENCE LPct GB Phlla. 35 21 .623 Boston 29 29 .300 N.Y. Knlcks 27 33 .450 10 Buffalo 23 36 JSO 13 N.Y.

Nets 19 41 .317 18 Central Division Washington 34 24 .586 Houston 32 25 .561 1V4 Cleveland 31 26 .544 2 San Antonio 32 27 .542 214 N.Orleans 26 33 .441 Atlanta 24 37 ,393 UM WESTERN CONFERENCE Midwest Division Denver 39 20 .661 Detroit 37 25 .597 3tf Kansas City 30 31 .492 Indiana 27 33 .450 Chicago 26 34 .433 Milwaukee 21 43 .328 Pacific Division Los Angeles 36 22 .621 Portland 37 24 .607 Golden St. 33 28 .541 4 Seattle 31 30 ..508 Phoenix 26 33 .441 10yi Saturday's Games Indiana at Knlcks San Antonio at Atlanta Chicago at Cleveland Milw. at Washington Boston at Phoenix HOCKEY NHL Friday's Result Islanders 2, Cleveland 1 Atlanta 6, Minnesota 2 Washington 4, Toronto 2 Boston at Colorado Lata Thursday Result" Vancouver 2, L.A. 2 CAMPBELL CONFERENCe Patrick Division I Pti. Phlla.

38 13 12 84 Islanders 37 16 9 83 Atlanta 26 25 11 63 Rangers 23 26 13 59 Smyth) Division St. Louis 27 28 6 60 Chicago 22 31 10 54 Colorado 19 33 10 48 Minnesota 13 32 15 Vancouver 17 38 7 41 WALES CONFERENCE Norrls Division Montreal 43 7 10 .100 Pittsburgh 28 25 11 63 Los Angeles 22 27 12 56 Washington 18 33 13 49 Detroit 16 37 8 40 Adams Division Buffalo 37 IS 6 80 Boston 34 21 6 74 Toronto 29 23 9 67 Cleveland 18 33 10 46 Continued on Page 2C Bayi's Best in Mile; 4 Wo rid Marks in AAU Rshingfi yForecasJi TODAY Win Sorvkm Filbert Bay! outdueled Niall O'Shaughnessy In the mile, Francie Larrieu Lutz and Tommy Hayne.s each won two events and Jane Frederick and Rosalyn Bryant were among four Individual world record breakers Friday night at the AAU Indoor Track and Field Championships In New York. The meet was fnarred by a controversy In the men's high jump, In which three of the world's top competitors Dwlght Stones, Tom Woods and Bill si Jankunls wlthdrew after some entrants couldn't compete because they entered late. Bayl won In 3:59.3, one tenth of a second ahead of the University of Arkansas senior from Ireland. Lutz took the two mile In 9:38.2 and the mile In 4: 43.1.

Haynes won the triple Jump for the third consecutive year (55 2)4) nd the long Jump (26 V4) Frederick clipped one tenth of a second off the 60 yard high hurdles mark with a 7.3. Bryant reduced by a tenth of a second the 220 yard mark (23.4). Susan Brodock won the mile walk The one men's record came in the two mile walk: Todd Scully In 13 .02.3. In Baton Rouge, Willie Smith of Auburn ran the fastest 440 In the U.S. this year, In the Southeastern Conference meet (47.2).

Gary England of Alabama set an SEC shot record (62 5V4). Auburn's Harvey Glance won the 60 yard dash In 39 to break the SEC record held by six men. Including Glance. II warming trend continues, look (or Improved bass fishing on the St. Johns River and Central Florida lakes.

Cocoa's Lake Poinsett yielding good bass strings. Most are using plastic worms. Klsslmmee Chain el Lake also should produce good bass, as wel as speckled perch. Offshore boater will find next excellent catches of snapper, grouper and ''other bottom fish over the reefs. Trailer will have go outside Sebastian Inlet and southeast for soma scattered king mackertl.

Whiting good bet In the surf for those using freshly cut shrimp. Also few blueflsh and la spots pompano..