The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 19

The Salina Journal Thursday, April 13,1989 19 Pistons open up SVz-game lead over Cavaliers Detroit downs Cleveland, 107-95 AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Detroit's Isiah Thomas says the race for the NBA's best record is over and the Pistons have won it. "They might as well rest their guys because this race is over," Thomas said after the Pistons defeated the runner-up Cleveland Cavaliers 107-95 Wednesday night. "The thing about NBA roundup this team is that we can hurt you in so many ways. Every night it's a different person." On this night, Vinnie Johnson, starting in place of the injured Thomas, scored 17 of his 31 points as the Pistons took control in the second quarter and opened a lead over the Cavaliers in the Central Division.

The team with the best record enjoys the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. But Detroit coach Chuck Daly disagreed with Thomas that the Cavaliers are done. "It's not over," Daly said. "With (games against) New York and Cleveland coming up bang-bang things can change in a hurry. Cleveland may be the most talented starting five in the league.

They're an outstanding team and well-coached." The Pistons, who have won 22 of their last 24 games and 17 straight at home, have the league's best record at 59-18, the first time in franchise history they have been 40 games above .500. The Cavaliers have the second best record, 55-22. "Who knows what will happen," Cavaliers coach Lenny Wilkens said. "Detroit is in great shape, no question. I can't predict the future.

Detroit is going to have to win it; we're not going to give it to them." Johnson hit a jumper that gave Detroit a 30-23 lead with 11:27 remaining in the first half. But the Cavs, behind two 3- pointers and a 12-footer from Mark Price, who scored 16 points, went on a 19-11 run to take their first lead, 4241, with 4:46 left. Then Johnson got hot again, hitting two 3-pointers and scoring 10 points in the rest of the period to put the Pistons back on top 58-48 at half time. "I'm always pumped up," Johnson said. "Starting doesn't have much to do with it.

Tonight I felt like my shot would go, and it did." Detroit built its lead to 74-58 with 5:16 left in the third quarter. Cleveland's Mike Sanders made two baskets but Joe Detroit's Vinnie Johnson (right) puts up a shot over Cleveland's Mike Sanders during the Pistons' victory. Dumars scored six of his 19 points the rest of the way and Mark Aguirre, who scored 21, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Pistons ahead 87-68. "The bounces went their way tonight," Price said. "When you hit shots like that, you know things are going your way.

"We got some good shots. We got the ball down in the low post about three times and missed the shots. Then Vinnie got hot at the end of the first half. That put the momentum in their favor." HORNETS 104, KNICKS 99 Kelly Tripucka scored 25 points and the Charlotte Hornets broke a nine-game losing streak with a victory over the New York Knicks. The Hornets trailed 40-29 after the first quarter and then held the Knicks to 59 points the rest of the game, handing them their fifth home loss in eight games following a 26-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden.

Patrick Ewing scored 30 points for New York, including 21 of the Knicks' 41 in the second half. No one else had more than 14. Rex Chapman and Dell Curry had 18 each for the expansion Hornets, who have beaten New York twice in six meetings. SUNS 109, MAVERICKS 94 Jeff Hornacek scored 21 points and the Phoenix Suns rolled to their fifth consecutive victory, defeating Dallas despite the return of Roy Tarpley to the Mavericks' lineup. Tarpley missed 49 games while undergoing treatment for a cocaine-related suspension.

The Suns hit seven straight shots in the second period to stretch a three-point lead to 14 and continued to pull away. Phoenix led 70-47 early in the third period and coasted home. Tarpley, who was suspended Jan. 5 because of cocaine- related violations of the NBA's drug policy, came off the bench to score 16 points and grab 13 rebounds. However, Tarpley wasn't enough firepower for the fast- sinking Mavs, who have clinched their first losing season since 1982-83.

LAKERS 107, SPURS 100 Magic Johnson scored 24 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the San Antonio Spurs. Johnson added 10 rebounds and seven assists while A.C. Green and James Worthy each scored 17 points. The Spurs were led by Vernon Maxwell with 22 points. Jay Vincent and Willie Anderson each had 21.

Los Angeles took control with an 11-2 run late in the fourth quarter to snap an 88-88 tie. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had four of his 14 points during the burst, which gave the Lakers a 99-90 lead. Johnson scored the final nine points of the second quarter to give the Lakers a 57-50 halftime lead. He had 15 points and six assists at the break. Abdul-Jabbar, who was making his final appearance in San Antonio, had 10 first-half points.

Cloud County coach resigns From staff reports After six years, including four 20- victory seasons, Tony Hobson has resigned as head women's basketball coach at Cloud County Community College. Hobson said his decision was based on his desire to join a men's college coaching staff. "I decided that I wanted to try to get into a men's Kcftn program some- Hobson where," Hobson told the Journal Wednesday. "If I was going to do that, I wanted to let Cloud County know as soon as possible. I have no definite plans, except that I won't be coaching at Cloud County next year." Hobson has not resigned his teaching duties at the Concordia junior college, where he is an instructor in the business department.

Hobson, a native of Belleville, took over the Cloud County women's program in 1983. His six-year record was 124-41, including a 19-10 mark this past season. His first three teams each won 23 games. He was the fifth coach for the Thunderettes in 19 years and leaves as the second-winningest coach, 19 wins behind Jerry McCarty, the coach he replaced. "I've been thinking about making this move for a couple of years," Hobson said.

"I was afraid if I didn't do it now, I might not do it. "I'm looking into a few college assistant positions. That's the route I want to take. There are two or three things happening, but nothing Briefly IV IV' IV IS' IV IV IV IN! (S4 fvJ IV C-J IN (VI NX P.V 1X1 I'M Uxi IXI IM IV IV NV Central wins swimming meet NEWTON Salina Central won nine of the 11 events Wednesday, including two each by Anita Price and Katy Stevenson, as the Mustangs won a four-team swimming and diving meet at Newton High School. The Mustangs piled up 392 points to edge runner-up Newton (370).

Salina South (247) was third and Wichita Collegiate (94) fourth. Price won the 200-freestyle (2:13.25) and 500-freestyle while Stevenson took home firsts in the 50-freestyle (28.50) and 100- freestyle Both also joined Alison Shaffer and Kristy Ray on the winning 400-f reestyle relay team Other Mustangs winning events included Shelley Marshall in diving (180.05), Elizabeth King in the 100-butterfly Shelli Koers in the 100-breaststroke (1:24.62) and Amanda Soderberg, Koers, Ray and Shaffer in the 200-medley relay (2:14.53. Salina South's lone victory came in the 200-intermediate medley as Daphne Waldo clicked off a time of 2:42.56. Central claims golf dual victory GREAT BEND Salina Central defeated Great Bend, Wednesday afternoon in a high school golf dual. Rex Gibson led Central with a 76, Ryan Nitz and Monte Brent each had 77s and Rob Yarochowicz had a 78.

The dual was scored as follows: one point for front-9 match play, one point for back-9 match play and one point for the 18-hole medal score. ACCK track meet on tap today Six college teams will be in Salina today to compete in the annual Associated Colleges of Central Kansas (ACCK) track and field meet. Kansas Wesleyan is the host team for the meet, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Salina Stadium. Finals in the running events are scheduledtostartatdp.m.

Joining Kansas Wesleyan in the meet will be Bethany, Bethel, McPherson, Sterling and Tabor. "We should have great participation in the meet," said Kansas Wesleyan track coach Chuck Malito. "This will give the people in this area a good opportunity to see the college teams from the surrounding area." Jayhawks rally for 6-3 victory LAWRENCE Kansas overcame a three-run deficit to defeat Southwest Missouri State, 6-3, Wednesday for its fifth consecutive victory. KU outfielder Jeff Mentel continued his torrid hitting with a home run, single and two runs batted in. The current Collegiate Baseball magazine's National Player of the Week now has eight home runs, including seven in the last two weeks.

The visiting Bears, now 21-7, held a 34 lead until the bottom of sixth inning when Mentel hit a two-run home run. Third baseman Mark Hummel tied the game with a homer in the bottom of the seventh and KU added three more runs in the eighth. Reliever Curtis Shaw (3-1) picked up the victory for the Jayhawks, who boosted their record to 20-17. K-State takes twinbillfrom Tarkio MANHATTAN Mike Hedrick and Dave Christensen provided strong starting pitching for Kansas State Wednesday afternoon as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader from Tarkio College, 5-3 and 4-3. The Wildcats, 22-9, will carry a three-game winning streak into a weekend series with Missouri in Columbia.

Salinan places in body building Barb Hess of Salina finished third in the women's heavyweight division at the Big Eight Body Building Championships held in Manhattan over the weekend. Bethany (Continued from Page 15) gle. The Swedes went right back on top with three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth for a 7-3 lead. The Coyotes tacked on single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings but Beth- si any got inning-ending double plays in both frames to avoid further -age. Tom Sanchez, 2-4, went the distance, on the mound for Wesleyan, allowing eight hits and only three walks.

"Tommy threw strikes and our outfielders made some good plays behind him," Bartow said. "We had some opportunities but Bethany made the plays when they had to." Bob Marin, 3-1, pitched innings of seven-hit ball for the victory and Jon Thornbrugh earned a save with innings of hitless relief. Both teams return to action on Saturday. Wesleyan will be in Wichita to play Friends University while Bethany will be at home against Ottawa in KCAC doubleheaders. Cut Beat Prices! lllllllllllllllllllllUIlllllllllllllllllllllUIIUIllllllllllllllllllllll V.

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