Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 18

4C SPORTS Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Tuesday, June 22, 1999 NBA Finals if ft Stern seeks age limit to deter underclassmen Illusion back in regional NBA ratings free-falling The Associated Press NEW YORK If David Stern gets his way, no one under a certain age, perhaps 20, will be allowed to play in the NBA. The commissioner on Monday urged the players' union to agree on a minimum age or some other remedy to deter high school players and college freshmen and sophomores from entering the NBA draft. "A rule that relates to the entry level status of a player, if fairly done, might encourage certain kids, whose lives are literally ruined because they get and follow bad advice, from making bad decisions," Stern said. When the owners and players negotiated their collective bargaining agreement in January, they included a side letter calling for further talks on young players declaring themselves eligible for the draft. Aside from an absolute age limit, the sides are considering adding additional years to the rookie wage scale for players younger than a certain age.

The union would like to see a year taken off the four-year scale for any player completing four years of college. "I've got an open mind on the subject," union director Billy Hunter said. "It's obviously something we have to look at, along with the various ramifications and consequences it would produce." In the past several years, more and more underclassmen and high school players have entered the draft, in part to complete their years under the rookie wage scale so they can land a lucrative contract after their first one expires. "We understand what the lure of dollars are to talented people who can earn a lot of money, but we don't want our system to be viewed as providing an incentive for players to leave school early," Stern said. In the June 30 draft, there will be 39 players who had college eligibility remaining, including 1 1 sopho- Associated Press Spurs' David Robinson (50) goes up for a shot as Knicks' Marcus Cam-by defends during the first quarter of Monday night's game.

Continued from 1C Elliott: "If we lose (Monday), it's a whole new ballgame." And New York's Houston, the hot hand than Knicks rallied around: "We have dug ourselves a hole. But we know we can win it." For three days, the talk had been of San Antonio power, especially on the road. But when the Spurs showed up for the first time this year in Manhattan, they hardly seemed a team ready to go up 3-0 in the NBA Finals. Not with a ragged start that included two technicals the first 10 minutes and a 32-18 New York lead before the first period was over. Not with Tim Duncan, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds, scoreless the fourth quarter.

Not with Elliott 3-for-9, an outside force gone silent. Not with Mario Elie scoring only six points. Not with Elie and Jaren Jackson both in foul trouble early trying to guard Houston, creating mismatches on the perimeter that would haunt the Spurs all night. And not when the fourth quarter, the quarter the Spurs are always confident they will own, started with three straight turnovers and included only one San Antonio basket in the first six minutes. And Duncan shut down by Larry Johnson and friends.

"They were a little more aggressive," Duncan said. "They didn't let me get to the middle as much as I have before. But I missed some shots I usually hit." A 65-62 New York lead swelled to 78-68, and it would not be lost. Not all of it, anyway. San Antonio closed to 81-77 with three minutes left, giving the Knicks a chance for what would have been a fatal collapse.

Instead, Houston hit a jumper, and Marcus Camby followed with another. The issue was settled. "We knew eventually the shots would fall," Houston said. "They did what we usually do, hold off every run," Robinson said. "I think the concentration wasn't as high as it should have been Miracle holds The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla.

Nykesha Sales and Sheri Sam each scored 20 points and the Orlando Miracle held off a late rally for an 80-76 vic tory over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night. Orlando led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Michele Timms led Phoenix's comeback with two late 3-pointers to cut the lead to 76-73 with 1:01 remaining. Phoenix still trailed by three when Orlando's Amanda Wilson hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down. Taj McWilliams of the Miracle added a free throw and the Miracle denied Phoenix a clean 15, York points. Most of all, they had Houston.

When the Knicks lost a nine-point lead in the third period and missed 11 straight shots, it was Houston who buried a three-pointer as the shot clock ran out to end the dry spell, and give the Knicks a lead they would never lose. SAN ANTONIO (81) Elliott 3-9 0-0 7, Duncan 8-16 4-4 20, Robinson 6-12 13-17 25, Elie 2-6 1-1 6, AJohnson 5-90-010, Jackson 0-30-00, Daniels 3-3 0-0 8. Kerr 2-4 0-0 5, Rose 0-3 0-0 0, King 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-6518-2281. NEW YORK (89) LJohnson 6-163-416, Sprewell 9-22 6-10 24, Camby 2-4 1-2 5, Houston 10-24 1 2-12 34, Ward 1-4 0-0 2, Thomas 1-4 0-0 2, Dudley 1-20-02, Childs 1-21-2 4, Branson 0-00-00.

Totals 31-7823-3089. San Antonio New York 21 25 17 19-81 24-89 3-Point Goals-San Antonio 5-13 (Daniels 2-2, Kerr 1-1, Elie 1-3, Elliott 1-5, Duncan 0-1, Jackson 0-1), New York 4-13 (Houston 2-4, Childs 1-1, LJohnson 1-5, Sprewell 0-1, Ward 0-2). Fouled out-Camby. Rebounds-San Antonio 44 (Duncan 12), New York 50 (Thomas 10). Assists-San Antonio 15 (AJohnson 4), New York 17 (Sprewell 5).

Total fouls-San Antonio 27, New York 23. Technicals-Robinson, San Antonio coach Popovicti, Elie, Camby. One in a series of stories profiling Sioux Falls soccer teams that will compete in the Snickers Region II Championships next week in Sioux Falls. By ANGELA JOHNSON Argus Leader Staff The Dakota Gold Illusion soc cer team is no stranger to the Kegion II Championships. The seasoned under-14 girls team competed last year in Cincinnati.

This year they have the advan tages of tournament experience, veteran players, and competing in tneir back yard. "Playing in Sioux Falls will be much to our advantage," said team member Erin Seidel. Coach Mike Torrenti said the team is more comfortable going into this year's tournament, com' pared to last year's. "Jitters and the weather really attected the girls, Torrenti said. It was so hot there." The Illusion finished fifth out of 12 teams last year, one point shy ot reaching semifinals.

"We fared the best of any Sioux falls team that was there, he said. Fifteen girls returned from last year's squad. The team's familylike mentality is a main reason for the team's success. "We have a really strong nucleus," Torrenti said. "On and off the field, they're great kids, and it makes my job easier." Seidel says her teammates are unselfish, and want only to help the team succeed.

"Our team works so well together," she said. "We're talented players, but we're great friends. That's one reason why we're so good." The mentality also reflects the team's discipline and maturity. "If they have differences, they put them aside," Torrenti said. "They don't have a problem following team rules." The Illusion will face teams from Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska in the preliminary round.

Torrenti said he is familiar with the Nebraska team and the Iowa team, the West Des Moines Odyssey. "We've played them three times this year lost twice, and tied once," Torrenti said. "Over the years, we go back and forth with them." Team captain Kate Buehler said the Illusion is hungry for a victory against the Odyssey. "I think we'll be more out to get mem, she said. To prepare for the tournament, college coaches from the Univer sity of Toledo, North Dakota State University, and the Univer sity of South Dakota came to Sioux Falls to put on camps for the team.

A highlight of the Illusion's sea son was winning their 100th game in four seasons in the Chal lenge Cup championship game in Kapid City earlier this month. Adding new, good players to the roster and keeping everyone healthy are priorities, Torrenti said. Seidel is one player this year who is nappy to be healthy. The 14-year-old broke her leg twice last season, and had to sit out the regional tournament. "It was frustrating, but I went and was able to support them, so I felt good about that," she said.

Seidel said she feels stronger this year and is excited to play in the tournament. "All our friends, family and neighbors will be there," she said. "I'm really psyched to play." Clash Continued from 1C "We do 20 to 40-yard sprints, and the boys have been working on their own, he said. The Clash will open the tournament against St. Troy Tsunami, a Minnesota team they have played twice this year.

Both games ended in a tie. O'Donnell said the team is eager Too much to Here's he ip NEW YORK (AP) Other than the night O.J. Simpson's freeway chase distracted viewers from basketball, last week's Game 2 got the lowest prime-time rating for the NBA Finals since 1978. NBC's coverage of Friday night's game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks posted a 9.6 rating and a 19 share. It was the lowest rating since June 17, 1994, when the Knicks-Rockets Game 5 drew a 8.0 the same night the nation was riveted by the police chase of Simpson in Southern California before his arrest in the killings of his wife and her friend.

Other than that, no game rated lower since the opener of the 1985 Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, which wasn't in prime time and got an 8.9. mores, five freshmen, two high schoolers and nine foreign players 20 years old or younger. Duke, which had never lost a player to the NBA before his eligibility was finished, is losing three players sophomores Elton Brand and William Avery and freshman Corey Maggette. Many in the NBA think the quality of play has suffered because so many players are coming into the league unprepared for basketball at such a high level. "So many believe they can play in the NBA, but so few actually do," Stern said.

Stern and deputy commissioner Russ Granik are awaiting word from an NCAA task force on a proposal to grant low interest loans of up to $20,000 to students likely to be drafted. do? wwwjcerox.com ext 101. miJl-- FT Our strength is playing 48 minutes of basketball and making the other team beat us, and we did not play 48 minutes of basketball tonight." On this night of the Knicks' test under fire, they started with suitable urgency, jumped to a 14-point lead, did not have a turnover the first period, never trailed and were tied only once. They had scored 63 points in Game 2, but had 32 before this first quarter was over. "It was just a matter," Houston said, "of getting the ball where we needed to get it." They attacked the Spurs' defense and got to the free throw line with a 23-18 edge, an element that had doomed them the first two games.

They not only had Houston and Sprewell, but also 16 points from Johnson a three-man wrecking crew that scored 74 of the 89 New off Phoenix WNBA 3-point attempt as time expired. Jennifer Gillom led Phoenix with 25 points and Timms added 16. PHOENIX (76) Davis-Wrigtitsil 0-1 0-0 0, Gillom 7-20 9-1 1 25, Askamp 4-8 1-2 9, Campbell 0-8 0-0 0, Timms 6-160-0 16, Harrison 3-8 1-2 7, Harrower 1-4 2-4 5, Pettis 3-9 0-0 8, Stepanova 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 2-41-1 6. Totals 26-79 14-20 76. ORLANDO (80) Congreaves 5-8 5-5 1 5, Sam 7-10 3-5 20, McWilliams 5-135-10 Saies 6-14 8-10 20.

SJohnson 0-4 4-8 4, Phillips 2-3 0-0 4 Ford 0-0 0-0 0. McGhee 0-0 0-0 0, Suber 0-0 0-0 0, AJohnson 0-2 0-0 0, Moore 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-55 25-38 80. Phoenix Orlando 40 36-76 40 40-80 3-Point Goals-Phoenix 10-29 (Timms 4-7, Pettis 2-6. Gillom 2-7.

Wilson 1-2. Harrower 1-4, Campbell 0-3), Orlando 3-13 (Sam 3-3. Congreaves 0-1, McWilliams 0-2, S.Johnson 0-3, Sales 0-4). Fouled out-Gillom. Rebounds-Phoenix 55 (Askamp 12), Orlando 46 (McWilliams 9).

Assists-Phoenix 20 (Timms 7). Orlando 18 (S.Johnson 9). Total louls-Phoenix 29. Orlando 21. Technicals-Phoenix coach Miller 2, Sam.

Ejected-Phoenix coach Miller. Championship 6 p.m. 1 adidas Hidden Valley Golf Course Brandon, S.D. A Fun Executive Golf Course The WW- Whole Family Can Enjoy! So Tee Times Required Available For Group Outings Excellent Practice Facility Lessons Available By Appointment Season Pass Punch Cards Available Senior Discount Weekday Mornings Tuesday Through Friday 214 Digital Copier if Document Centre 265 12 Mile 12 Mile E. of Brandon Exit, 1-90 582-2424 Document Centre 230 DocuColor Office 6 S3SESSS Midwest Regional June 2S Howard Wood Field Does digital copying, printing, faxing and finishing from your desktop sound good? How about scanning? Or color at the click of a button? Then find out more about our range of digital networkable solutions.

Choose from speeds up to 65ppm. And choose features that will help you finish whatever you have to do. Get all the help you need with just one call. rmWStWxT COMPANY XEROX June 26-SO Yankton Trail Park Minnesota Avenue 1-229 Sioux Falls Action starts at 3 a.m. daily FREE Admission and Parking For Schedule information, call (60S) 371-2025 or visit our Web srte at www.region2.com to play the team agam, and hopes this time they come out on top.

"Both times we've played them we've been short of players," he said. "Hopefully we'll have our full squad." The Clash also will play familiar teams from North Dakota and Ohio in the first round. "In the first three games, we're looking to come out with at least two wins. If we play well, we have a good opportunity to make it to semifinals." O'Donnell said several of the boys are familiar with regional play by watching older siblings, but this is an opportunity to experience it firsthand. "This time they get to play," he said.

"They're excited." Start the conversation by calling: 1-800-ASK-XEROX, Xerox Authorized Sales Agents Advanced Business Systems 4200 S. Itemise Avenue SuitelO Sioux Falls 605-361-6540 Chevrolet Kodak Milk Chugs Shout 13? XKROV The IhK-iimenl Compam. the dieital and the idenlifinB VrnA prcKtml names and number herein are trademarks of FRO (IKIf)RlTin i. -of ero emiroumemal leadership pals, this m.Klel ma conlain some reeyled eomponenls thai are rt-rondiltoned l-OnlURATlOY In support.